Australia: Peer loses in women's doubles final
Israeli tennis star and her Belarusian partner surrender to Bondarenko sisters in three sets. 'We made silly mistakes and lost a number of crucial points,' Peer says
Shahar Peer and Victoria Azarenka lost in the finals of the women’s doubles event at the Australian Open tournament early Friday.
The Israeli tennis star and her Belarusian partner, who were ranked 12th, hoped to win the their first Grand Slam event but surrendered to Ukrainian sisters Olena and Kateryna Bondarenko in three sets, 6:2, 1:6, 4:6.
Bondarenko sisters lift cup (Photo: AP)
The match lasted nearly two hours and was uncharacteristically dominated by baseline rallies.
It was the first time the Bondarenko sisters had won a doubles title in their 38th tournament playing together.
Their previous best was reaching three semi-finals in WTA Tour events.
Peer said following the loss "a final is a final and I hope it will help me progress in the singles events. We played well in the first set but we weren't as good in the second.
"We made silly mistakes and lost a number of crucial points," she said. "All in all it was a decent game and it's a shame we woke up a little late in the third set."
Photo: AP
Peer, who is due to return to Israel on Sunday, added that "the tournament was a bit disappointing as far as the singles event was concerned, but the doubles tournament was successful and now I am looking forward to the meeting against the Russians in the Federation Cup.
Israeli duo Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich (8) are scheduled to face Frenchmen Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra (7) in the men's doubles final early Saturday (Israel time).
Reuters contributed to the report
