Israeli Peer buoyed by New York support

NEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters) Israeli Shahar Peer said crowd support at the US Open was a key reason she was able to reach a grand slam quarter-final for the second time this year.

''There are so many Jewish here, so many Israelis, that I have huge support here,'' said Peer, who needed just 72 minutes to defeat Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 6-1 yesterday and reach the last eight.

''I go on the court and I feel like I'm playing in Israel,'' she said. ''It's so much fun. It's really nice to play when you have so much support.'' Peer landed 69 percent of her first serves and enjoyed a 20-4 advantage in winners to breeze by Radwanska and set up a meeting with Russian sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze.

Radwanska, 18, was bounced from the Open just one round after staging the biggest upset of the event, a third-round, three-set knockout of defending champion Maria Sharapova.

''I think she was playing very good,'' Radwanska said of Peer.

''She's a very tough player. A very good forehand, backhand, all sides. She did not miss the easy balls.'' The 20-year-old Peer converted five of seven break opportunities to oust Radwanska.

GIVE EVERYTHING Peer said it would be a ''huge'' accomplishment if she could beat Chakvetadze and become the first Israeli woman to make the semi-finals of a grand slam event.

But, she added: ''I have to not think about those things and just play my game and go out there and give everything I have.'' The 19th-ranked Peer advanced to the last eight of the Australian Open this year before losing a three-set affair to eventual champion Serena Williams.

Peer said she often sees Israeli flags in the stands at Flushing Meadows and hears shouts of encouragement in Hebrew.

''I'm happy I'm reaching the quarters here,'' she said. ''I just want to keep on. My first round was not good. But round by round I'm playing better and better.

''I hope I will keep playing better.'' REUTERS BJR KN0656