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Shahar Peer - Source: Photosport -
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Protests against an Israeli tennis player at the ASB Classic
boiled over as five people were arrested on Thursday.
They were all members of Global Peace and Justice and were calling
for Shahar Peer to withdraw from the tournament.
It was meant to be a peaceful protest against Peer and the conflict with Palestine in Gaza.
They say they are targeting Peer because there is an international consensus that the best way to challenge Israel's "brutal oppression of Palestinians" is through an international boycott, disinvestment and sanctions campaign.
The group says in a statement this is just the second time in recent history when such a consensus has developed - the first being on apartheid in South Africa.
"If there's an annoyance to people playing tennis then I'm sorry about that but that annoyance pales into insignificance when you consider the daily oppression of millions of Palestinians," says John Minto from Global Peace and Justice.
The veteran activist was one of those arrested after a number of complaints were made about the noise.
"The general feedback is frustration around wanting to come and watch exciting tennis, and getting distracted by the noise outside," says Greig Bramwell from Tennis Auckland.
The protests again had no effect on Peer's performance as she won her quarter-final two sets to one.
"You know I'm trying to focus on myself and not about them coming or not coming and just trying to focus on my tennis," Peer says.
Having dealt with scenes like this all week Peer is prepared for whatever they throw at her on and off the court.
"If I win the tournament it just shows that I don't need to think about it and politics should not be at play," says Peer.
With the semi-final on Friday the protesters are not sure if they will be back but Peer is ready to fire with or without them.
The protesters have plans in place for a protest march from Aotea Square in Auckland to the police station on Saturday trying to get the charges dropped.
