Not long now....Im really nervous :banghead:

Seems it'll be a real slugfest. An early exchange of breaks and it's been locked on deuce at Peer's serve at 1-all. Already 22 points played!

But it's Serena who wins the 23rd and the break for 2-1.

Serena serving to consolidate her break and go up 3-1. So far no-one has held serve though :rolleyes:

Im sure you've seen Peer and Serena's matches this year so far, and they're really good aren't they? Peer is one of the few people with a game that can frustrate Serena, like Jennifer Capriati. A new rivalry perhaps :)

Their encounters are a nice clash of Peer's excellent defence against Serena's formidable attacking (though of course neither woman is a slouch in carrying out the other role). The Israeli went away a little in the second set in Miami but the tiebreaker in the first and 8-6 in the third down in Oz is proof of a good match-up.

Sure enough Peer nearly lets slip 0-30 but gets the break for 2-all. :P

Peer breaks back :rolleyes:

Come on Serena save some break points for a change.

Serena breaks again but this time consolidates for 4-2. She's threatening at 15-30 on Peer's serve.

Have to say I shouldn't be surprised given the AO and Miami but I'm impressed with how she's hit the ground running. I have high hopes for her reaching the semis against Jankovic; with each having split their last two matches it'll have a bit of spice to it.

Peer holds serve to 30 Serena servnig at 4-3.

Come on Serena :D

Serena 1st % keeps dropping and dropping. She can't get one in when she needs it :hide:

Yet she still hold for 5-3 :D

Break her now :chesire:

set point number two take it!!!! :angry1:

Ooooh and the set is Serena's 63 :D Keep it up :ok:

Quite a fight but Serena holds to open the 2nd :D

Well what a fight Serena's last service game must have been 15 points at least! She is just not serving well though, I can't understand :o

But then we go to 0-40 on Shahar's serve, never even on clay have I know her to find holding to hard yet breaking comparatively easy!

Serena serving at 3-1 :D

Finally Serena wins 63 63

But what a tough match 1 and 3/4 hour. I hope it does her good.

It's testament to just how good she is that while playing that poorly she can still win with a scoreline like that.

What's worrying though is how her serve let her down, 1st serves only at 50% and she couldn't get them at the crucial points when she wanted them.

Anyway she won in the end. I hope this helps her, as her next match with Patty will be tough, we all remember the Charleston fiasco :hide:

From reading the above posts it certainly sounds like it was a tough match, though Peer was never going to be easy.

Serena's form will pick up I'm sure, she needs these tough matches to make her match-tough anyway. At least it didn't go to 3 sets.

Serena wasnt particulary fluid today, but her game was there when she had to call upon it. Serena is hitting that forehand well i must say, seems to really have polished that shot up and is finishing her shot better. Serve was a bit off, only 47% first serves in, but i'm liking the kick serve which she implemented today and the various uses of angles and deep ball combinations. Really pushed peer around the court today.

Serena is moving well also. Looking good for Serena in Rome so far :D

Will have to be careful with Patty though. I always feel Patty has a slightly better chance against Serena than Venus, purely because i think Venus is a better mover. However if Serena is serving at least over 50%, she'll be hitting Patty off court.

Go Serena! :D