Pro Tennis Fan

Shahar Peer’s Coach Talks About Visit to Dubai

 
By Mike McIntyre

 It was just over a year ago that I first took serious notice of Shahar Peer. Unfortunately it was not due to her results on the tennis court but rather for the uproar that was generated when she attempted to join the playing field in the 2009 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. As the 45^th ranked in the world at the time, Peer should have been allowed to participate in the tournament. Instead, her request for a visa into the United Arab Emirates was denied, and tournament officials hid behind claims of security concerns to justify their decision. The tournament proceeded despite Peer’s exclusion, although the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour levied a fine of $300,000 on the tournament and threatened to remove the event from the schedule in 2010 if Peer was not allowed to compete.

Fast-forward one year and Peer’s first visit to Dubai turned out to be a Cinderella story that captivated those both inside and outside of the tennis world. Despite being up against some of the best players on the tour, the now 22^nd ranked Peer put in one of the best showings of her young career. Along the way to the semi-finals, she defeated 13^th seeded Yanina Wickmayer, 2009 finalist Virginie Razzano, top seeded Caroline Wozniacki and 8^th seeded Li Na before falling to eventual champion Venus Williams, 6-1, 6-4.

In many ways Peer’s visit was groundbreaking and resulted in success both on the court with her play and off it as well with her courage and positive attitude. Many players would not have risked their safety by venturing into such a situation. The Emirates do not allow Israeli’s into their country and for that reason alone Peer’s conduct and bravery have been most admirable. There were no incidents during her stay in Dubai and she spoke positively about the experience.

Still, there were restrictions placed on her during her stay that take away from the wonderful story this should be. Again using the crutch of safety as their justification, tournament officials confined Peer to her own separate locker room, made her play all of her matches on a remote outside court, denied regular media access to her and even limited her stay in Dubai to the tournament site or her hotel room.

Throughout it all however, Peer maintained a grounded and upbeat attitude and looked upon the experience as a step in the right direction both personally and professionally speaking. Two days after the women’s tournament ended, I had the opportunity to interview Peer’s coach, Pablo Giacopelli and delve further into the significance that this tournament has had for them both and for the future of Shahar’s career.

Giacopelli began coaching Shahar Peer back in November of 2008. He had just finished coaching Kaia Kanepi where he helped her ranking go from 80^th to 25^th in the world and attain the quarter-finals of the French Open. Giacopelli heard that Peer was looking for a coach and her manager Amit Naor heard that the coach was looking for a new player. The rest as they say is history.

Here is the Q&A that followed between Pablo and I. It is an interesting glimpse into the professional relationship between a player and coach as well as an in-depth look into their recent trip to Dubai.

 

Pro Tennis Fan: What are some areas of Shahar’s game that you have seen progress since you became her coach and what areas still remain to improve upon?

Pablo Giacopelli: Her whole game has changed. When we started working together Shahar was a counter puncher that relied very much of the other person making mistakes and her taking opportunities that were presented to her instead of her creating these opportunities for herself. To change this is a very difficult thing to do as you are essentially changing the very nature of the player and the way they play the game. Still, I knew that this was the only way to move forward and for her to turn her career around. We began working on her forehand and serve and patterns of play that would bring order into her game.

These changes of course took longer than they should have done because of two unexpected interruptions we had with the visa denial in Dubai last year and Shahar getting a stress fracture on her right foot which took her out of the game for ten weeks. Once we got the three months of solid tennis I knew we needed to have for her to assimilate these changes then things began to come together. I think these areas I have mentioned can still improve as she uses them and puts them into practice over and over. Her physical fitness has also improved though I believe she can still become stronger and quicker around the court.

Pro Tennis Fan: What do you think her potential is?

Pablo Giacopelli: I believe that she is definitely a top 15 player with potential to become a top 10 in time. I say in time as I believe that breaking into the top ten takes time and perseverance and it is through this time that you to build the necessary elements that will then help you to stay within the top ten once you get there. Usually those that burst with a bang into the top 10 also leave with a bang before they know it. (This is) something that happened to Shahar in the past, though she only reached a career high ranking of 15. We are working hard to help her grow as a player and a person so that the same fall does not take place next time she reaches the top.

Pro Tennis Fan: Did Shahar ever think of staying away from the Dubai event or was she always 100% interested in competing there?

Pablo Giacopelli: Not going to Dubai was never an option especially after what had happened last year and the fact that the tournament was made to guarantee her a visa and even a place in the draw through a wild card if she did not gain direct entry into the event this year in case her ranking was not high enough though this was not the case.

Pro Tennis Fan: Was there any apprehension or fear on the part of Shahar, yourself or her father about going to Dubai? Did you feel safe throughout the event?

Pablo Giacopelli: I believe that there was a concern from both sides as we unfortunately are indirectly part of a bigger conflict that has been going on for centuries, which we have nothing to do with or have contributed in any way towards making it happen. This conflict of course brings with many ramifications for both sides and one of those is the possible unfortunate event of falling prey to it. During our time in Dubai we felt safe and very well cared for by the people that were in charge of taking care of us and our safety.

Pro Tennis Fan: Do you feel the security measures taken were justified or were things blown out of proportion?

Pablo Giacopelli: This unfortunately is something I cannot comment on as I was not aware of all that could have been potentially been going on behind the scenes, especially after the assassination of a top Hamas general on Dubai soil. In other words, what I or we might have considered over the top might have been justified by the possible threats the security people were aware of that we were not.

 Pro Tennis Fan: Did you have any restrictions placed on you while in Dubai or were they just placed on Shahar?

Pablo Giacopelli: The only restrictions I had placed upon me were to not discuss the security issues with anyone, which I think was fair enough considering the situation and possible risks at hand. The restrictions that Shahar had did not apply to me at all as I am not Israeli and I was not staying with them.

Pro Tennis Fan: What did Shahar do with so much free time at the hotel and how did she feel about being confined there? Were you not allowed to stay at the same hotel?

Pablo Giacopelli: She only had a considerable amount of free time after she lost in the doubles as she had been playing up to that point two matches a day with the last matches finishing around 6 pm or thereabouts. After that she spent her time on the internet at the hotel and just reading and spending time with herself and dad who was staying with her. I chose to stay in a different hotel though I could have stayed with them. On a side note, I believe every situation in life presents you with an opportunity, and without exception this one did just that as it allowed Shahar time to think and focus on things that perhaps in the past she had not been able to or aware of because of how she used her free time when she had no restrictions on her movements.

Pro Tennis Fan: Is it true the press was not allowed to ask her questions during the tournament?

Pablo Giacopelli: The press was allowed to speak to her. The only thing that was different the first few days we were there was that only one member of the press was allowed to come to the place where she was whilst at the tournament and ask her all the questions and then on his or her own return to the press room share out her answers to the rest of the media and journalists. As the days went by more and more people seemed to come to speak to her after her matches. I was of course available without restriction and in fact spoke to various journalists every day.

Pro Tennis Fan: How much attention has this story received back in Israel?

Pablo Giacopelli: The story has been huge for two reasons. One the history it has and the history it was making and two the huge run and success Shahar had whilst in Dubai. After returning (to Israel) it is still getting much press as it was a truly historical breakthrough not just for her tennis but also for an Israeli woman to play in a place like Dubai for the first time.

Pro Tennis Fan: Shahar is a top-25 player, but her results in Dubai and the quality of players she defeated were most impressive. To what do you attribute her excellent play throughout the tournament? Was the adversity she faced off the court partly responsible for her determined play on the court?

Pablo Giacopelli: I think it is important to take notice of the fact that she is a climbing top 25 player and not one that has been there for the last 2 years. In fact I believe after Dubai she should be once again in the top 20. Her impressive run is a continuation of the momentum she has been building up since the US Open last year. I believe that is the evidence of all the work we have been doing. Of course these type of situations tend to spark something inside Shahar, however, I don’t believe she would have done this well, no matter how big the spark was, if her level of tennis was not where is at today which as we saw was good enough to beat two top 10 players, a top 15, and the last year’s runner-up in Dubai.

Pro Tennis Fan: How was she able to maintain such a positive attitude about this entire experience? Did all of the restrictions frustrate her to a certain degree?

Pablo Giacopelli: Well we prepared ourselves before going there mentally as we knew that it would be a completely different experience to what we were normally used to. I obviously went out of my way to reassure her and encourage her at all times that she was there to play and to show the tennis world what she was made of. We focused on one thing at a time each day and one challenge at a time. We did not focus on what was going on around us believe it or not and as difficult as that was at times. I think the only frustration she had was that she could not see the beautiful place Dubai is or go up to the top of the tallest building in the world.

 Pro Tennis Fan: Do you think Shahar will play this event in the future even if all of the extreme security measures are taken again?

Pablo Giacopelli: I think we need to focus on the now and live and enjoy the moment. I see no reason why Shahar would not return to this event next year, however having said that I think that’s a question to be answered nearer the time.

My thanks go out to Pablo for taking the time to speak with us and share his story with Pro Tennis Fan. I would also like to acknowledge the ITUSA Tennis Academy where Pablo is based for their assistance.

Shahar Peer Falls to Venus Williams but Triumphs in Dubai

By Mike McIntyre

Shahar Peer's magical run in Dubai came to an end on Friday with Venus Williams prevailing in their semi-final encounter by a score of 6-1, 6-4 on a remote outer court at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. Williams attained her third career victory over Peer in as many attempts. Despite the loss, Peer's results this past week have become one of the feel-good stories of the 2010 professional tennis season.

After being banned from entering the United Arab Emirates a year ago, Peer has demonstrated great courage in showing up to compete and has made the most of her first trip to the country by advancing to the semi-finals. Along the way she has defeated some serious competition in the form of 13th seeded Yanina Wickmayer, 2009 finalist Virginie Razzano, top seeded Caroline Wozniacki and 8th seeded and Australian Open semi-finalist Li Na. Peer is certainly making up for lost time isn't she?

The road to the semi-finals has not been an easy one on and off the court. Aside from the tough opponents she has faced across the net, Peer has also faced much adversity and restrictions away from competition. This cinderella story is not without its less than ideal circumstances.

The world's 22nd ranked player has received no scheduling accommodations from the tournament, as each one of her matches have been played at 11:00am local time, despite the fact that often she has played in the doubles competition as well the day before. This is the first time-slot on the schedule and is played during the hottest period of the day as well.

Peer has only been allowed at the tournament venue to practice or play her matches - no viewing other matches or fraternizing with other players. In fact, fraternizing with her fellow competitors is next to impossible since the Israeli has not been allowed to use the players locker room. Instead, she has been secluded in her own separate change room the entire week.

That isn't the only area where Peer has been segregated from others. She is staying at her own hotel and apparently has an entire floor to herself due to "security concerns." Even her own coach is staying elsewhere. Peer has been forced to remain at the hotel at all times when she is not at the tournament site. She is not allowed out to see any of the city at any time. She has basically been treated like a prisoner during the times of the Roman Empire and only allowed out when it is her time to fight in front of the crowd. Except at least the gladiators were allowed to fight in the coliseum.

In Peer's case, she has been confined to the much smaller courts #1 for every match she has played. Even when facing off against top seeded Caroline Wozniacki she was confined to this court and this routine will continue on Friday against Venus Williams. Would tournament organizers have continued this ridiculous practice if she had made it to the finals? While this tactic has likely worked to Peer's favor, (as she has developed a comfort level with the court no-doubt) it also seems absurd to force two deserving semi-finalists to play in such a distant and obscure setting. And how about the limitations this places on tennis fans wanting to watch?

While I admire Shahar for deciding to make the difficult decision to show up in Dubai after the way she was discriminated against a year ago, I can't imagine how she has managed to endure the despicable manner in which she is being treated while in Dubai. I have not heard anything about the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour standing up for Peer in the face of such bigotry, nor do I expect that we will. A year ago they meekly fined the tournament $300,000 and threatened to pull the plug on the event if any player was refused entry in 2010. They lacked the ability to take a true stand then and it seems they are repeating the same cowardly mistakes again now.

If a WTA player is going to be admitted into a tournament, then she should be allowed to be present with the same privileges and freedoms as everyone else. No isolation treatment and no segregation from her fellow players. This is the Twenty-first century and all athletes on tour deserve better than this from their employer and from the tournaments that they chose to play in. If Dubai cannot put aside its blatantly racist attitudes then it is not worthy of hosting an event like this in the future. Time to move on and find another platform to showcase the best female tennis players the world has to offer - without exception.

Shahar Peer Wins Again in Dubai

By Mike McIntyre

Shahar Peer's first tournament in Dubai is turning out to be quite the memorable experience so far. Israel's best tennis player defeated top seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 7-5 on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals against Li Na at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.

This story has captivated me since a year ago when Peer was refused entry into the United Arab Emirates to compete in the tournament due to her Israeli citizenship.

Despite her inclusion this year, there are still numerous restrictions being placed on Peer during her stay in Dubai. While I'm working on an article that outlines these measures, check out her coach - Pablo Giacopelli - as he blogs about their experiences in Dubai. On top of clearly being an excellent instructor, Giacopelli has a fluid writing style and sly sense of humor that I've enjoyed reading. He also provides excellent insight into the manner in which Peer is being received during her stay in the Emirates.

For more Shahar Peer news, check her out on Twitter or her official website. 

Stay tuned in the days ahead for my complete article on Shahar Peer and the real story of her first visit to Dubai.

Shahar Peer Wins Opening Match in Dubai

By Mike McIntyre

Shahar Peer of Israel made the most of her first opportunity to play tennis in the United Arab Emirates, by defeating 13th seeded Yanina Wickmayer 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the opening round of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. It was her first career victory over Wickmayer - one of the hottest players on tour so far in 2010.

Despite a slow start, Peer rebounded to win the final two sets and advance to the second round where she will face last year's finalist, Virginie Razzano of France.

"There are a lot of emotions coming after this win. It's more than beating Yanina, it's more of me handling all the stuff around and able to put everything on the side and just play tennis, and just concentrate on the (match) and not the politics," Peer said.

This is a big step forward for Peer, as well as the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and the tournament itself. A year ago Peer was denied entry to the country due to supposed safety concerns. The real reason was the fact that Peer was from Israel and the Emirates does not allow Israeli's to acquire a visa to visit the country.

Monday's match against Wickmayer featured heavy security that included metal detectors for all spectators and several plain-clothes policemen in the crowd.

While this is certainly a sign of progress, Peer's coach, Pablo Giacopelli, has told the media that Peer is only allowed to travel between her hotel and the tournament venue. Not exactly being welcomed with open arms, is it? 

Still, Peer has handled the situation with nothing but a positive attitude. She was clearly very pleased with the outcome on day one.

"I really wanted to win this match, not only because of tennis, but because I want to make a statement that politics and sport should not be involved."

The statement has been heard loud and clear. Bravo Shahar.

Shahar Peer Ready for Dubai Debut

By Mike McIntyre

It was a year ago that Israel's Shahar Peer had the misfortune of becoming embroiled in one of the biggest controversy's in the history of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. While Serena-gate was quite the event at the U.S. Open, it pales in comparison to the seriousness of the political and racial tensions that surrounded Peer's situation in the United Arab Emirates last February.

Siting safety concerns, tournament organizers refused to allow Peer to participate in the event and she was denied her visa request into the country. Officially the Emirates has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

Despite the fact that Peer was not allowed into the tournament and the country, the WTA Tour decided to proceed with the event. While no female players pulled-out of the draw in defense of their fellow competitor, Andy Roddick refused to show up on the men's side. Tournament champion Venus Williams was quite vocal on the subject throughout the week and made a point of how she expected 2010 to be different when she made her victory speech on court.

I was in Dubai covering the event the day that Peer's exclusion was made official. I could not believe that such a decision was being upheld. Isn't this the 21st Century? Is this type of discrimination truly allowed to exist, so openly and blatantly in front of us? The event proceeded as if everything was normal - but everyone there felt a little bit uncomfortable about the situation and the lack of a tangible response.

The debate on whether more players should have refused to play is a tough one. This is their livelihood's and since the event was allowed to continue, they could have faced sanctions for withdrawing. The real shame should fall on the Tour itself, for allowing the event to continue despite one of its player's exclusion. Throwing a $300,000 fine at the tournament was an empty gesture that lacked any real backbone. I somehow doubt that contributed to Dubai's current economic strife.

Peer amazingly managed to keep her composure about the entire incident and spoke very calmly, yet firmly, about how the ordeal made her feel. She tried to look on the positive response that the situation evoked from observers around the globe.

"I didn't know it would be such a big thing in the media all over the world," Peer said, "but I'm really happy that it was, because it showed that sport and politics shouldn't be involved."

I have been waiting to see if the Emirates and tournament organizers would follow through on their promise to change the rules for the 2010 ladies event. The possibility of finding a loophole to deny Peer entry again this year was a very real one in my mind. Instead, Peer is set to begin her tournament with a first round match against rising Belgian star Yanina Wickmayer. The tournament is looking ahead, and so should we..

“There is no question that what happened last year was unfortunate on many fronts,” tournament director Salah Tahlak told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “Our focus today, however, is on looking forward, on continuing to building on our outstanding event.”

While enjoying the right to play in Dubai is an accomplishment in itself, Peer is focused towards her results on the tennis court. Those results may be tough to come by, as her match against Wickmayer will be a tough one. Wickmayer has been having some solid results so far this year, winning the tournament in Brisbane before making it to the fourth round of the Australian Open.

Regardless of her result, Peer is taking a giant step forward by appearing in Dubai. Some athletes might have backed down and refused to ever attempt to play in the event ever again. Some players have skipped other events for far less valid reasons - but not Peer. She has displayed incredible courage, confidence and grace in the manner she has handled this process and should be proud of the end result she has rightly achieved.