For the past three months, former tennis player Shahar Far-Ram has lived in New York.
Her husband, Dr. Elon Ram, specializes in heart surgery at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, and together with him and their two young children, they moved to the United States, where Ram does a subspecialty.
"At first, the transition was a bit tough because of the children," Peer says in a special interview with "Israel Today."
"Right now we are here for another year and a half, not sure yet if we will stay after that. Overall we are having a lot of fun as a family, we have a lot of time together without interruptions and without commitments."
When you say Israeli tennis, you say Shahar Pe'er.
She holds the record ranking of an Israeli player - 11 in the world, reached the quarterfinals in singles in two Grand Slam tournaments - Australia and the USA in 2007, and the doubles final - Australia in 2008, and was even selected to light a beacon on Independence Day in 2014.
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Glory to your spouse,
Last October, Peer surprised an entire country when she was exposed in the parrot costume in the reality show "The Singer in a Mask."
"It was a cool experience," she describes.
"The timing was not that good because it started when I was pregnant. The measurements, meetings and photos were after the birth so it was a bit difficult, but overall it was a very nice experience. Fast (first dismissed, Czech), but nice."
Do you keep singing?
"No, not really. It's behind me."
Glory in the singer in a mask.
No longer singing, Photo: Channel 12
Kuznetsova's case
in the second Wimbledon tournament kicked off.
In 2008, Peer reached one of the greatest achievements of her career, when she was stopped only in the quarterfinals, after knocking out in the third round the world ranked ninth Dinara Safina.
Share with us your experiences from Wimbledon.
"I will not lie, this was not my favorite competition. The change between Roland Garros and Wimbledon (played less than a month apart, Czech Republic) is very radical.
"Personally, I liked playing on grass less than on clay, but what's more, Wimbledon has some magic."
How is it conducted there?
"You usually rent a house close by, because the countryside is outside London. You cook and order food and act like you're in a normal house, on rainy and waiting days you go back to your house to rest. I have very good memories since, especially of the year I came in eighth. I came in pairs once. For the quarterfinals, and also with Yoni Erlich in mixed doubles, I made a beautiful way. "
"It was not the Grand Slam I was waiting for, but there was something exciting about it. On the one hand, the prestige, the 'strawberries and cream' tradition, the construction of the roofs. On the other hand, there was a mess on rainy days. In the end, anyone who doesn't understand tennis knows "The Wimbledon tournament thanks to the white uniform and special shoes. Another thing - you are not allowed to practice on the pitches of the competition itself until half an hour before the game. There were a lot of unique things."
Was not her favorite tournament, Photo: getty
Is there one story you particularly remember?
“Right at the beginning of my career my sister’s husband (before they were married, Czech) came to surprise her at Wimbledon while she was with me, his first time in a tennis tournament so he tried to be nice.
There are no fences in the training grounds.
I was on the last pitch and the great Svetlana Kuznetsova was also there.
He wanted to help me and took my bag.
After we finished there I asked him 'what are you carrying?'
Because I also had a bag on my back.
He told me 'your bag'.
I told him 'this is not ours!'.
Turns out he accidentally took her bag, so we quickly returned it.
It was funny".
Did you ever have a problem with the white clothing?
"No, you always get the clothes from your sponsor, and he knows the rules."
Later, the former tennis player recalls another story: "The winners of the tournament would have enjoyed a special gala party held in their honor. The juniors also participated, but only those who reached the finals. In singles I was not close, but in doubles I lost in the semifinals. I remember I was not interested. Whether I win the tournament or not - the main thing is to get to this party with the winners (Rafael Nadal in men, Venus Williams in women, Czech Republic).
It was a bit disappointing. "
What do you think about the state of world women's tennis? On the one hand there is a high level, and on the other hand the instability continues. why is it happening?
"I do not really know why this is happening. The generation has changed, the corona has also affected, it's all together. For many years there has been no stability, when I played there was more. We all grew old, and it did not turn out that there were too many players in control."
And there’s Serena Williams, one of the few who has been stable for a long time. What do you think of her return to Wimbledon at the age of 40, after a year off the pitch?
"The truth is I did not even know she was returning to Wimbledon, I follow less. The fact that she is not there is clear, but it will be very difficult for her."
Serena, back to the white tournament, Photo: getty
Would you recommend her to keep trying or retire?
"Neither I nor anyone else should tell her what to do, Federer was also told to 'retire' and then he took the Australian Championship two years in a row. She has made an amazing career, and if she still has the desire to play and train then it's amazing. I did not have it. "I did not want to do it anymore. She gave it her whole life and her right to choose when to retire."
The door is still open
Even though you stated that tennis is behind you, do you have anything you miss?
"Honestly, do not miss at all. Neither competitions nor training. If I decide I close a chapter in life, then this is it. That's why it took me a whole year to make the decision to retire. I do not feel it is lacking, I do not have the desire, I have exhausted."
From the side, the "cut" you made to your career can seem a bit strange.
"True. I had no desire to continue nor did I want to stay in the field. I always said that when I had a family and children, I would give my all, and there I am now. I was told 'miss the adrenaline, you will see', but it did not happen. I was good and nice. And my career was for myself, now I'm in a different place. "
Does not rule out possible return, Photo: AP
Sure you had offers to stay in the field.
"I was offered, both in the union and in the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality, all kinds of sports positions, coaching. But to coach? Absolutely not. I did not feel like it. I felt I needed my peace, without commitments and without a schedule.
I wanted to get up in the morning and there would be no pressure for me to do anything. "
In the current state of Israeli tennis, someone like you could have greatly contributed to the system.
"Thank you very much first of all. I do not know, I do not think I am so good at training. Not sure how much I would have contributed."
Still, is there anything that will bring you back?
"Maybe, I do not like to say no. I will say 'Never Say Never'. I do not know what will happen."
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