Peer in 1st Career Final at WTA Pattaya

Posted on February 12, 2006

No. 4-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer advanced to her career-first WTA final Saturday, defeating Austrian Sybille Bammer 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals at the WTA stop in Pattaya.

"I broke in the first game but didn't really find my game after that and she was playing a little bit better," said Peer, who came from a break down in the first. "But then I picked up my game and I'm happy for that."

In the final Peer will face unseeded Croat Jelena Kostanic, who ousted No. 5 seed Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-3, 6-3.

It is the second career WTA final for Kostanic, losing in the championship match at Helsinki in 2003.

"I had to be consistent against her because she runs very good and is a very good player," said Kostanic on Llagostera Vives. "I said to myself that actually my first set was a lot tougher than the ones before, so I was trying to be more persistent in the second set and not go down as I did in my previous matches. So I was aware of it and tried not to do the same mistake again."

It will be a first-time meeting in the final between Peer and Kostanic.

The all-Chinese doubles final in Pattaya will pit Aussie Open champions Yan Zi and Zheng Jie against 2004 Athens Olympic gold medal champions Li Ting and Sun TianTian. Li and Sun lead 8-6 in their career encounters.