Protests targeting Israel's Shahar Peer continued at the Auckland WTA event for the second straight day, with one person arrested by police for disorderly behavior.
New Zealand wire service NZPA reported that a small group of 10 protesters, armed with a megaphone, chanted slogans like "blood, blood on your hands," "freedom for Palestine," and "go home, Shahar." The noise could be heard on the outside court where Peer's second-round match against Madelena Rybarikova was taking place.
Police broke up the protests after the first set.
The demonstrators belonged to local activist groups opposed to Israel's treatment of Palestinians. According to a release put out by one of the groups, the arrest took place when a protester refused police requests to hand over the megaphone.
Police officials also asked for assurance that future protests would not involve the use of a drum or megaphone, said the release. "Meanwhile reports from Gaza in the past 24 hours indicate an Israeli air strike has killed one Palestinian and wounded another three," it continued.
Peer said the noise was disruptive but only increased her determination. "Like yesterday, when I was hearing that, it made me play better to prove I can also play with the noise," she said after a 6-0, 6-1 win.
Rybarikova felt she was distracted by the demonstration. "I lost the first set because I was not concentrating. I was thinking about that and not my tennis."
More protests are planned for tomorrow.
"I also want peace in the world," said Peer. "But I don't think this is the place for this protest."