Shahar Peer loses in final of Baku Cup
Israel's tennis champ beaten decisively by 18-year-old Elina Svitolina of Ukraine
After making it all the way to the final match of the Baku Cup tennis championship, her first final appearance since 2011, Israel’s Shahar Peer lost decisively Sunday to newcomer Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.
Svitolina, 18, landed four aces and broke Peer decisively in each set to claim her second career title and win the cup 6-4, 6-4. Svitolina, the 2010 French Open junior champion, won her first professional championship last November in Pune, India.
To reach the final, Peer clobbered Tadeja Majeric of Slovenia 6-0, 6-4 in the semi-finals on Friday. The 149-ranked Peer was bidding for a sixth career title in her first final appearance since losing in Washington in July 2011.
Peer, who held the highest ranking of any Israeli ever when she reached #11 in 2011, has been in a slump since, failing to earn a spot in any WTA singles finals.