Match Point

Call it tennis diplomacy. A lithe, 20-year-old Israeli with sun-streaked hair and a laser-accurate forehand is smashing down one barrier in the Arab-Israeli conflict: the unofficial boycott that has kept Israeli tennis players out of the mega-money tournaments held in the gulf states.

Shahar Peer, ranked 17th on the women's tennis tour, requested a berth in the Qatar Open, which runs from Feb. 18-24 in the capital city, Doha, and offers a $2.5 million purse. To her surprise, Peer found she was pushing against an open door; both the Qatar tournament organizers and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) agreed that she could compete. "They all welcomed me warmly," she told TIME at the end of a grueling practice session in Tel Aviv with her part-time coach, Conchita Mart ínez, a 1994 Wimbledon champion. Tennis officials assured the young Israeli that she would be given round-the-clock security in Qatar, and one member of her entourage was told that Peer would be treated "like the Emir's wife."

Israel and Qatar do not have diplomatic ties, and no matter how hard Peer battles on the Doha hard courts, or how many Arab fans she wins over, she doesn't expect to ease hostilities overnight. "I'm here to play tennis," she says. "But if this opens up a window for the younger generation, with Arabs and Israelis working together for peace, I'd be happy." If Peer is treated well in Qatar, other top Israeli players may apply to compete in Dubai's prestigious championship, which follows Doha.

Letting an Israeli onto the tennis courts serves to Qatar's advantage. The emirate is competing to host the 2016 Olympic Games, so it is keen to sell itself as a politics-free oasis in the roiling Middle East. Behind the scenes, say diplomats, Qatar is also one of several moderate Arab states trying to broker peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. "We'd love to open an embassy there," says Israeli Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Amira Oron. "But for now, it's impossible."

Peer wanted to compete in the Qatar Open in previous years, but she was doing her obligatory military service, and Israel bans its soldiers from visiting Arab countries. "Believe me, basic army training was nowhere near as hard as my tennis workout," says Peer, who, even at age 6, would roll out of bed at 5 a.m. to hit the courts. At 5 ft. 7 in. (1.74 m) and 132 lbs. (60 kg), she admits she isn't "physically huge," but she makes up for it in speed. Off court, she paces restlessly, as if she can't wait to get back to devouring opponents.

In Qatar, Peer will be one of the few players on the women's circuit who speaks some words of Arabic, which she studied briefly in school. Religious prejudices are never an issue for her; in previous years, she teamed up in doubles with Sania Mirza, a Muslim from India. There was little complaint in Israel, but in India, extremist Muslim clerics were outraged at Mirza.

Peer says her most powerful weapon is that she's "strong, mentally." Most likely, it won't be the Arab spectators in Qatar who test her mettle but a formidable tennis rival, the glamorous Russian Maria Sharapova. When the two dueled recently in Israel, Peer whipped up the home crowd, which hooted and ridiculed the Russian's habit of grunting loudly when she slams the ball. Seething, Sharapova buckled down and demolished Peer, winning 6-1, 6-1. Peer was later scolded by Israeli sports officials for inciting the crowd against Sharapova. As she heads to Qatar, Peer may have a running start at bringing Israelis and Arabs a tad closer. But on court she still has a few lessons to learn in diplomacy.