(NZPA-New Zealand) Israeli Shahar Peer was the target, but it was her tennis opponent who ended up struggling with a small but noisy protest outside the ASB Classic in Auckland Wednesday. Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova said, "It was tough to play during the protest....I lost the first set because I was not concentrating. I was thinking about that and not my tennis." The protesters, who are against Israel's policies, could be clearly heard on the court, shouting with the help of a megaphone and accompanied by drums. Peer described the loudness of the chanting as "really, really bad," but said it also motivated her: "When I was hearing that, it made me play better to prove I can also play with the noise." "I also want peace in the world," she said. "But I don't think this is the place for this protest."
2010-01-06 07:48:15Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive