Even though Israel's Shahar Peer is by far the biggest surprise packet of the Dubai Open, she will not be scheduled on to the centre court for her quarter- final against China's Li Na. It is not considered worth the security risk to move the first woman athlete from her country ever to compete in the United Arab Emirates from the more easily protected, distant outside court on which she has been prospering. And even after Peer sensationally beat the top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets, she herself prefers to remain playing in the cosy area next to the trees and the small retail areas, under the lee of the Emirates building. Out there access is limited, the gate is small, and spectators watch from one end only. One camera can film everyone who comes and goes, and it is less difficult for the 21 bodyguards said to be protecting the world number 22 from Macabim. All this is happening amidst fears of reprisals in the aftermath of the assassination of a Hamas founder member here last month, allegedly by Israeli agents. Another reason for Peer's fourth match being scheduled in the same place is that she is now feeling comfortable there. 'I like my court,' she said. 'I'm doing well there. 'I hope I'm going to stay there. I knew from the beginning that I would probably play most of my matches there. Also I'm really enjoying this court. I'm used to it and I hope I'm going to stay there.' Whether that will still be possible if Peer were to upset the seedings again, which on current form is quite possible, and earn a semi-final with Venus Williams, is an unanswered question, but it seems unlikely. According to Alan Mills, the former Wimbledon referee who is tournament referee here the situation is being reviewed day by day. 'It's security and police, and they dictate what happens,' Mills said. 'They have discussions with the tournament and come to some arrangement, and as far as we are concerned she's playing on court one. 'We take it day by day. We have asked, if she gets to the final where are 5,000 people going to sit? That's something obviously they have to get in hand, as to what they are going to do. They haven't indicated yet.' Peer's capacity to cause these upsets in such embattled circumstances, which also involve bodyguards at breakfast and using changing facilities apart from other players, is because she takes inspiration from pioneering something of international value. 'I talked to Pablo (Giacopelli) my coach and said: Oh my God, I'm so excited to be there,'' Peer said. 'When I landed here there was something going on in my heart that was a little bit more than when you go to a usual tournament. 'It means a lot for me and that was why I was so, so happy after my first-round win. I never cried after I won a match before. I've always only cried when I've lost matches, but never after I win, so it really meant a lot for me.!' Whilst drawing strength from the situation, the former Israeli soldier also has to block some of it out, in order to focus sufficiently to compete at the highest level she has ever achieved. 'Yeah. I'm trying to do it as much possible and I think I'm doing it pretty well,' she said, then adding a remark about Arab hospitality which may encourage those who see what is happening as crucial to Dubai's chance of one day getting an Olympic Games. 'I get really amazing treatment here and they are so nice to me, all the people around me that are taking care of me,' Peer said. 'Fantastic. There is no complaints, only compliments to give them.' But what happens if she wins again and faces the five times former Wimbledon champion, with 5,000 people having paid for tickets to see her, will create an entirely new scenario - and one with a fiendishly difficult balance of judgements. 