The third-seeded American next meets Victoria Azarenka of Belarus who defeated Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-4.
Playing on a side court because of the security concerns which have surrounded Peer all week, Williams quickly stamped her authority on a strangely ineffective opponent who had beaten three seeds on her way to the semifinals.
Williams broke for a 2-0 lead when Peer made a backhand error and then for 4-0 when the Israeli double-faulted.
An exchange of breaks in the next two games left Williams serving for the set which she closed out with a beautifully executed forehand winner down the line.
A fourth double-fault gave the American a break for 1-0 in the second set but Peer hit back to level at 2-2 and then dug deep to fend off five break points in a nine-deuce game to hold for 3-2.
Even though her reprieve was short, with Williams breaking again to lead 4-3, Peer held five break points to recover the break before the defending champion held for 5-3.
Peer battled to the end, saving three match points before netting a backhand on the fourth.
“I started well and felt like I was playing very aggressively and just basically taking a lot of time away from her,” Williams told reporters.
“Then she also made some loose shots but also most likely because of my play.”
Peer, who was kept separate from the other players and given tight security during her stay in the Gulf emirate, had nothing but positive reflections on one of the most successful weeks of her career.
“It was a different experience but a nice one,” she said. “I’m sure I will remember this tournament for the rest of my life.
“There are no complaints. I think I achieved a lot in this tournament professionally and also mentally for myself. I think I’ve been going through a lot of things and I’m really happy how I managed this week.”
Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates which, like most Arab countries, has no diplomatic ties with the Jewish state and Israelis are routinely denied entry. Fourth seed Azarenka’s all-court game and ability to hit deep gave her the advantage over Radwanska and she tied up the opening set by winning the last two games to love.
Radwanska was more adventurous in the second and after breaking serve in the third game went on to lead 3-1.
Azarenka though recovered to win the last four games, levelling at 4-4 with a stop volley and breaking again for the match when seventh seed Radwanska netted a forehand.
Soderling upset by Llodra in Marseille quarters
In Marseille, France, top-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden lost to Michael Llodra of France on Friday, falling 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Open 13.
Llodra, runner-up to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last year in an all-French final, never lost his serve and had 15 aces.
“I have great sensations,” Llodra said. “I knew it would be difficult to return his serve, but I waited for the good opportunity and I was able to keep my nerves under control.”
Tsonga joined Llodra in the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over lucky loser Illya Marchenko of Ukraine.
In a quarterfinal between two big servers, Llodra and Soderling offered few rallies but strong play at the net.
Soderling, who earned his fifth career title in Rotterdam last week, lost control of the first set in the tiebreaker when he missed two consecutive forehands.
Llodra, who beat seventh-seeded Marcos Baghdatis in the second round, made the decisive break for a 2-0 advantage in the second set, and won the match when Soderling sent a passing shot wide on the first match point.
“I knew he would be nervous after losing the first set and I put the pressure on him,” Llodra said. “It paid off.”
Llodra will play the winner of the quarterfinal between Mischa Zverev of Germany and wild card Guillaume Rufin of France.
Tsonga was inconsistent against Marchenko, squandering eight of 11 break points.
Tsonga, who reached the Australian Open semifinals, showed his nerves toward the end when he wasted two match points with backhand errors.
“Today it was not a great show, but I did what was needed to go through,” said Tsonga, who will take on either fellow Frenchmen Gael Monfils or Julien Benneteau.
