WTA Tour - Dubai future in doubt after Peer row

Eurosport - Mon, 16 Feb 08:08:00 2009

The future of the $2 million Dubai Tennis Championship was questioned by the WTA after Israeli player Shahar Peer was denied an entry visa to the United Arab Emirates.

TENNIS 2007 Shahar Peer - 0

"We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the United Arab Emirates denying Shahar Peer a visa that would permit her to enter the country to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships," Women's Tennis Association Tour CEO Larry Scott said in a statement.

"(Peer) has earned the right to play in the tournament and it is regrettable that the UAE is denying her this right," he added.

"The Tour has decided to allow the tournament to continue to be played this week, pending further review by the Tour's Board of Directors.

"The Tour is reviewing appropriate remedies for Ms Peer and also will review appropriate future actions with regard to the future of the Dubai tournament."

WTA rules state that no host country can deny a player the right to compete at any event on the tour for which she has qualified by ranking.

The Dubai event is one of the most prestigious on the WTA Tour and this week features every player from the world's top 10 except the injured Nadia Petrova.

Like most Arab countries, the UAE has no diplomatic ties with the Jewish state and Israeli citizens are routinely denied entry.

There was no immediate comment from either Dubai Duty Free, owners and organisers of the event, or the UAE government.

Israel Tennis Association chief executive, Moshe Haviv, appealed to the Tour to ensure that Peer's ranking would not be harmed through her inability to play in Dubai.

In a letter addressed to Scott, the ITA also expressed "great surprise" at the UAE government's decision.

Peer, a former top 20 player currently ranked 48th in the world, became the first Israeli to play in a tour event in the Gulf Arab region when she took part in the Qatar Open in February 2008.

"I really got a warm welcome from the tournament," she said at the time. "When you go on the court you don't think about politics. You just want to play your tennis."

Qatar, which had low-level ties with Israel including an Israeli trade office in its capital, suspended those relations in protest against the three-week Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip that ended in January.

The Gaza offensive, which killed 1,300 Palestinians and 14 Israelis, caused deep anger around the Arab and Muslim worlds.

Seven-times grand slam champion Venus Williams said the players were behind Peer.

"I think the tournament would like to have Shahar Peer here if it was their choice," she added.

Russian world number seven Svetlana Kuznetsova added: "There has been so much effort by other players to come here I don't think it would be the right decision to cancel it for today, but maybe next time they should do something.

"I think the Tour is going to find the solution."

Reuters

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  1. Sabad B
    It's only oil money anyway.Take the oil­ revenue away from Arabs and they would go back to being­ nomads again and living in tents.......................

    From Nicky, on Tue 17 Feb 6:27PM
  2. Any Israelli players must be banned. I just cannot­ stand watching a tennis match and at the same time­ think that this particular player from israel is one of­ millions of israellis who support the GAZAN HOLOCOUST.­ Over 1000 lives were BRUTALLY taken JUST last month by­ this girl. Where are your human sides. Are they gone?.

    From SabadB, on Tue 17 Feb 3:05PM
  3. I just do not like venus. You took the millions of­ dollar in A muslim country in Doha last year just by­ playing tennnis for a week. And now you are hating the­ muslim. With your attitude your tennis does not worth a­ penny.

    From SabadB, on Tue 17 Feb 3:01PM
  4. assalam alaikum

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 8:18PM
  5. assalam alaikum, Sherry G

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 8:07PM
  6. no region in the world is perfect, we all need alittle­ bit of improvement.we must as a people, work together­ learn from each other to make our world a better place.

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 7:53PM
  7. my sincere appologies,i did not realise you where a­ woman,i would not even dream of insulting a woman.i am­ very current with middle eastern affair,probaly true in­ your region,because you have moderates but same doesnt­ apply everywhere,u must agree with me on this issue,i­ do alot of fact checking, the media isnt exactly­ african friendly.i watch a lot of Al jazeera and other­ news and other news media,there are ristrictions on­ what women are allowed to do.once again my appologies

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 7:50PM
  8. Don't believe these videos you are watching, they­ are not true. you told me you have a muslim friend...I­ hope he/she will tell you anything about the real Islam­ which believes in Judism and Christianity because they­ are all from one god.I am a woman and I have all the­ rights to do whatever I want. For your information, and­ this is something personal, allow me to tell you about.­ My husband and my kids play tennis and they are begging­ me to play with them always but it's me who I­ don't want to play. Women in Arab countries are­ free, don't listen to any one who tells you the­ opposite thing. I invite you to see by your own eyes,­ if you don't believe!! Good night

    From Sherry G, on Mon 16 Feb 7:32PM
  9. i am african, and i have been treated wrongly in that­ region too,in europe and America, subject to degrading­ searches etc.

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 7:26PM
  10. Thank you very much!! but please dont neglect what­ I'm telling you of how all muslims are treated and­ you want them to be very happy with this.

    From Sherry G, on Mon 16 Feb 7:20PM
  11. MR Chidi kadi cu di, i hope i said that right, how­ london i hope say things nor dey very bad,i sorry say i­ loose my temper,not very like me.i dey salute

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 7:19PM
  12. Sherry g, we all have our methods, i simply think that­ inrespective of her nationality the circumstances­ surrounding her denial is wrong.i withdraw my­ insults.Citi c is right

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 7:16PM
  13. Citi C,my appologies.i am realy not being political,i­ do feel sad about everything.she is an innocent,but­ innocent suffer went politics get heated.my­ contributions is sanction on any country that flunk the­ rules and regulation of any sporting body and­ compensation for the affected athlete(s). she should be­ paid in full the first price money and her rankings­ increased

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 7:11PM
  14. Sherry g,seriuosly that region has issues that needs­ careful delibarations, not radicals that aims to spread­ terror,the so called Dubai open is a sham, where not­ even an arabic woman has never played,why is this i­ ask,because women a lesser humans.sad very sad,really­ look inwards,one finger pointing at Israel and 3 at­ you.

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 7:06PM
  15. WAR OF WORDS HAS NEVER SOLVE ANY PROBLEM. ANTHONIOZTS­ AND SHERRY G, YOUR USING PEER AS YOUR FIGHTING GROUND,­ WITHOUT OFFERING A LASTING TO SOLUTION IS WORTHLESS.­ YOUR POLITICAL BELIEVE, SYMPATHY IS FAR TOO SHORT TO­ GIVE MY SWEET PEER AND OTHERS ALIKE, THE CHANCE TO­ ENGAGE IN SPORTING AND OTHER HUMAN ENDEAVOUR WITHOUT­ SUCH OR SIMILAR INCIDENCE IN FUTURE.

    MR. CHIDI, London

    From Citi C, on Mon 16 Feb 7:01PM
  16. Sherry G,seriuosly that region has issue that needs­ careful deliberations not radicals who aim to spread­ terror.girls are married off at ten,women locked up as­ sex slaves,even in the Dubai, so called open no Arab­ woman has ever played,why is that i ask.simple women in­ that region a lesser humans,sad.look inwards and see­ where ur finger are pointing one to Israel 4 at u.

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 7:01PM
  17. Calm down Antoniozts. You lost your temper, eventhough­ I didn't tell you anything wrong. I'm just­ defending others rights which you want to swallow. I­ just want you to know that insults show the picture of­ the one who are using them.

    From Sherry G, on Mon 16 Feb 6:59PM
  18. SUCH A SHAME FOR SHARAH PEER SHE IS SUCH A NICE YOUNG­ LADY AND GOOD TENNIS PLAYER.LETS HOPE WTA CAN SORT­ SOMETHING OUT FOR NEXT YEAR.

    From AJ, on Mon 16 Feb 6:59PM
  19. i saw a video of a small hungry boys hands cut off for­ stealing out of hunger,in your region, girl left to­ burn in thier school because they had uncovered­ heads,etc the list is endless, u are pigs and cowards

    From Eromosele, on Mon 16 Feb 6:53PM
  20. You are wrong, I'm not from UAE but I know other­ countries' rights.

    From Sherry G, on Mon 16 Feb 6:50PM
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