DUBAI, United Arab Emirates(AP) Shahar Peer has upset top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-2, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championship, a year after she was refused a visa to play in the tournament.
The Israeli had at least one break opportunity on each of Wozniacki's 10 service games. She had never previously even taken a set off the 2009 U.S. Open finalist in three previous matches.
Peer closed it out on her fifth match point in a second set that contained seven breaks. The third-ranked Wozniacki held serve only twice in the match.
Last year, the organizers were fined $300,000 by the WTA for Peer being unable to play in the event after a visa was denied by the United Arab Emirates government, citing security reasons.