Israelis handed tough draws at Australian Open

Shahar Peer will begin her Australian Open campaign on Monday up against one of her former double winners.

The 26-year-old Israeli, who’s currently ranked 83rd in the world rankings, has been drawn against Romanian Monica Niculescu, who she has partnered in several doubles tournaments over the past couple of years. Peer reached the quarter-finals of the tournament back in 2007, though has failed to go further than the second round in the past two years. Should she defeat her former partner, she will then face either Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni or the world number 15, German Sabine Lisicki.

Julia Glushko, ranked 89th in the world, will be making her second appearance at the tournament, and faces a tough proposition, being drawn against the world number 26, Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic.

Israel’s only representative in the men’s singles competition is Dudi Sela, who’s ranked at 72 in the world, he faces a first round match against Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen. Should he reach the second round – which would be the first time in four years – he will face either Russian Alex Bogomolov Jr, or the 15th seed Italian Fabio Fognini. His best showing in Melbourne was when he reached the third round in 2009.

Amir Weintraub was beaten in the qualifiers when he lost his first round match against Australian Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich will be competing in the men’s doubles, with the draw announced early next week.