World No. 11 Shahar Peer Enters Family Circle Cup
February 16, 2011
Top-Ranked Israeli Player to Make Third Appearance in Charleston
CHARLESTON, SC – February 16, 2011 – World No. 11 Shahar Peer has officially entered the 2011 Family Circle Cup. Peer, whose world ranking has set a new record for a player from Israel, joins World No. 5 and defending champion Samantha Stosur, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchova, and Melanie Oudin in a stellar player field assembling on Daniel Island. Marking the tournament’s 39th consecutive year, the Family Circle Cup is scheduled April 2-10, 2011 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in the Best Tennis Town in America, Charleston, SC.
“Shahar Peer is a very talented tennis player who also transcends the game as an Israeli national hero,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager. “She is playing the best tennis of her career, and has a very large and supportive fan base in Charleston, so we really look forward to watching her compete on Daniel Island this April.”
Throughout her 8-year WTA career, Peer has notched five singles titles, 309 singles victories, over $3.7 million in prize money, and posted three Top 20 seasons. She has also competed on the Israeli Fed Cup Team from 2002-2009 and 2011, and her nation’s Olympic Team in 2008.
The 23-year-old’s 2010 season was highlighted by reaching the finals at Hobart, third round at the Australian Open, fourth round at both Roland Garros and the US Open, and setting the Israeli ranking record as the year-end World No. 13 player.
Peer has continued her success into 2011, reaching the third round at the Australian Open, and improving her personal best and Israeli mark to World No. 11 on January 31st.
Her philanthropic involvement centers around the Foundation for the Advancement of Excellent Youth, Peer’s charitable organization designed to assist outstanding youth in Israel. Each year, this foundation supports a number of extremely talented children with the potential to achieve excellence and become successful in their field. Peer’s official web site is www.shaharpeer.co.il.
Peer was the Family Circle Cup’s No. 5 seed in 2007, unseeded in 2005, and despite a 0-2 record in Charleston, she has accumulated $10,530 in prize money at this event.
“I’ve really enjoyed competing at the Family Circle Cup, and I’m excited to return to Charleston this spring,” commented Peer. “I’ve received a lot of fan support at this event, so I’m looking forward to participating in this historic tournament again.”
Ticket packages, travel packages, individual session tickets, and Game, Set, Rock! Tennis. Amplified. presented by Dove tickets are on-sale now at familycirclecup.com, where fans can also visit for continuous updates on player commitments as the event approaches.
The Family Circle Tennis Center
The Family Circle Tennis Center, home of the Family Circle Cup, is a public facility owned by the City of Charleston and operated by Meredith Corporation that also hosts a variety of additional events including concerts, festivals, tennis tournaments and other activities throughout the year. Charleston, South Carolina bested 81 U.S. cities in being voted the Best Tennis Town in America in the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) 2010 contest. The Family Circle Cup receives four days of live broadcast domestically on ESPN2, and is viewed internationally by over 25 countries, featuring over 140 hours of live and delayed global broadcast time, reaching 4.33 million viewers worldwide. With over 21 million readers, Family Circle is one of the most widely read monthly magazines in America and is one of 14 leading subscription magazines owned by Meredith Corporation. The Tennis Center features a 10,200 seat stadium, Grand Lawn, 17 tennis courts lighted for night play, Pro Shop, and a full service event management staff capable of handling all aspects of an event including ticketing, operations, sales, marketing, public relations, and food & beverage. For tickets or more info, call (843) 856-7900 or visit familycirclecup.com.
