Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., March 29, 2009 Nisan 4, 5769 | | Israel Time: 12:23 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 22:29 21/02/2009
Venus Williams hails 'brave' Peer after winning UAE tourney
By The Associated Press
Tags: UAE, Israel News, Andy Ram 

Venus Williams hailed 'brave' Israeli tennis star Shahar Peer after winning the Dubai Tennis Championship on Saturday. Peer was denied entry into the United Arab Emirates for the tournament.

"I felt like I had to talk about her," Williams said. "I thought it was brave of her to come here and try and play despite knowing that it is not going to be easy for her. My dad grew up in an area where if you spoke too much, it was your life. So I felt I had a small opportunity to say something where everyone will listen."

Williams earlier beat Virginie Razzano of France 6-4, 6-2 in the final of the championship to claim her 40th singles title.
Advertisement

She added: "I am not here to rock any boat or upset people, I am just here to do things that are right, and I think right things are already happening next week and right things will happen next year."

"Obviously, Andy Ram got his visa, so I'll be happy to come and defend next year. If everyone is not given the equal opportunity to play, I'd rethink but I love this tournament. They really care about the players."

Earlier Saturday, the director of Dubai's tennis tournament said Israeli player Andy Ram will have all the security he needs to play in the ATP Tour event starting Monday.

Salah Tahlak told reporters that Dubai is a safe place and organizers will make sure Ram has the necessary security to participate in the men's tournament.

Organizers cited security concerns for the decision to deny Peer a visa, which prompted protests from the Women's Tennis Association and fellow players.

UAE authorities granted Ram permission to enter the country on Thursday. Ram is ranked No.7 in the world in doubles.

WTA fines Dubai organizers $300,000 for denying Peer visa

The WTA fined Dubai Tennis Championships organizers a record $300,000 Friday after Peer was denied a visa by the UAE.

The Women's Tennis Association also took steps to compensate Peer and ensure she and other Israeli players won't be shut out of future tournaments in the federation.

Organizers said at the time that they feared fan anger over Israel's recent military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip would spill into riots if Peer were to play. The UAE and Israel do not have diplomatic relations.

Part of the fine - more than double the previous largest levied by the WTA - will go to Peer and doubles partner Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany to make up for the prize money they could have won at the lucrative tournament.

"I think what we hope with this decision is that we're sending a very clear message that we're not going to tolerate discrimination of any kind," tour CEO Larry Scott told The Associated Press. "We wanted to send a clear signal that this is the most egregious action the world of tennis has seen in recent history. And we felt that it should be at least double what the previous highest penalty was."

As important, Scott said, was requiring the organizers to post a $2 million performance guarantee - something normally not required by established, financially sound events like the Dubai Tennis Championships.
"There's never been any significant issue with them before," Scott said.

The WTA was able to hold the tournament accountable in part because of its association with Dubai Duty Free, a government enterprise, Scott said. The event's Web site includes the statement that it is "Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai."

Peer, who will receive $44,250, was also given 130 ranking points, equivalent to the ones she earned in the same week last year. She'll keep them until she plays in another tournament that offers a chance at the same amount she could have won in Dubai.

Groenefeld will get $7,950, roughly equivalent to her average doubles take from last year. The balance of the fine will go to a charity that will be chosen by the tour and Peer.

Dubai organizers also must confirm that qualifying Israeli players will get visas at least eight weeks in advance to remain on the tour schedule for 2010. Additionally, Peer will be guaranteed a wild-card entry if she doesn't qualify.


Related articles:
  • UAE denies Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer visa for tournament
  • 'Politics and sports don't mix,' Israeli tennis player says after UAE ban
  • Andy Ram says receiving visa to play tennis in UAE 'a very good surprise'
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    First night in Cairo
    Gideon Levy recalls his trip to cover the first talks between Israel and Egypt.
    Collective suicide
    New book analyzing suicide notes of Israeli Jews offers 'self-portrait' of Israeli society.
      1.   TENNIS 21:06  |  mikeh 21/02/09
      2.   mikeh 22:41  |  Jake1948 21/02/09
      3.   Visa Issues 22:56  |  Mo 21/02/09
      4.   BOYCOTT those who support global Jihad next time. 23:23  |  PETER SM 21/02/09
      5.   What a hypocrite! 23:31  |  James 21/02/09
      6.   Venus Williams is no Arthur Ashe 23:39  |  Howard 21/02/09
      7.   Tennis anyone? 23:50  |  Connie 21/02/09
      8.   VENUS WILLIAMS HAS POLITICAL OR MEDIA AMBITIONS IN USA? 00:01  |  JACKAL 22/02/09
      9.   PEER was prepared to go into the lions den and also put up 00:35  |  PETER SM 22/02/09
      10.   Durban II delegates, please note ... 00:39  |  Morris Valentine 22/02/09
      11.   Arab Efforts At Discrimination Stopped 00:49  |  Baruch Gold 22/02/09
      12.   Pointless 01:25  |  Steve from Raleigh 22/02/09
      13.   hypocrisy 02:02  |  Eduardo Arismendi 22/02/09
      14.   JACKAL AND YOU HAVE SHARIA STUFFED DOWN YOUR THROATS 03:34  |  PETER SM 22/02/09
      15.   World Cup is comming up. 03:35  |  Jay 22/02/09
      16.   God bless Venus Williams 04:12  |  Thanks 22/02/09
      17.   ICRC next? 05:03  |  philtlucre 22/02/09
      18.   JAY world cup soccer in the murder capital of the world 06:36  |  PETER SM 22/02/09
      19.   Venus Williams what does she know 06:37  |  L A 22/02/09
      20.   L A Are you saying most homes in Gaza were destroyed? 07:09  |  PETER SM 22/02/09
      21.   LA VENUS williamsw & the world knows most Gazan homes were NOT 09:56  |  PETER SM 22/02/09
      22.   Eduardo... 10:09  |  Bert 22/02/09
      23.   re:L A 15:29  |  UsedToPostHere 28/03/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Israel goes to the polls
    Conflict in Gaza
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    08:48 Report: Israel used unmanned drones to attack Sudan convoys
    08:50 Tensions rise within Likud as Netanyahu mulls cabinet appointments
    11:35 Settlers using government transition to step up construction
    10:38 Cabinet Secretary: Chances for Shalit deal are slim
    11:49 Iran to complete hospital that Israel started building in Mauritania
    09:34 IDF lets rabbis blur boundaries between religion and state
    09:35 A comprehensive Mideast peace is a fantasy
    23:11 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    08:32 Peres lobbies to allay EU fears of Netanyahu government
    11:06 Natural gas reserve discovered off Hadera coast
    22:35 'Germany soft on Iran due to financial considerations'
    03:17 Media allege corruption in massive Israel-India arms deal
    03:36 Olmert to cost the state NIS 10m over the next five years
    08:18 Remand of actor Assi Dayan for domestic violence extended
    09:06 Healer hails TV personality Yaron London as official messiah
    03:46 Blood transfusion mix-up results end in death of Haifa woman
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved