Dubai Bends Over, Takes It In The...Wallet.

Not a bad job by Larry & Co. in making sure (a) Dubai is punished, (b) Shahar and ALG are recompensed, and (c) ensuring this nonsense won't happen again.  All while, at least to me, Dubai gets a bit of egg on their face and called out as an untrustworthy business partner.  I would have liked to have seen Shahar and ALG get more money but the average is probably fair.

• Ranking Points: Peer gets 130 points, which is the amount she did not get to defend this week.  The points stay on until she gets an opportunity to earn equivalent points at the next tournament offering rankings pints equal to Dubai (i.e. another Premier non-mandatory tournament).

• Prize Money: Shahar gets $44,250, an amount equal to the average prize money that she earned per tournament in 2008. ALG gets $7,950, an amount is equal to the average prize money that she earned per tournament in doubles in 2008.

• Dubai Tennis Championships Financial Penalty: Dubai is fined $300,000, which is the highest fine ever levied against a Tour member. Proceeds from the fine shall be used to compensate Peer and ALG, with the balance to be donated to a charity or charities, to be determined by the Tour in consultation with Shahar.

• Dubai Tennis Championships Conditions for Continued Membership: The establishment of a series of conditions to be met by the Dubai tournament in order to maintain its membership and be included on the Tour's 2010 calendar, including

(i) confirmation of the written assurances already received that all players who qualify for the tournament shall, regardless of nationality, or any other reason, be allowed to play in the Dubai event and shall be issued entry visas or permits,

(ii) proof of approved UAE entry permit to enter the UAE for any Israeli player a minimum of eight weeks prior to the start of the 2010 Dubai tournament, and

(iii) guarantee that Ms. Peer shall be offered a wildcard to play the Dubai tournament in 2010 in the event that she does not qualify by ranking.

• Dubai Tennis Championships Financial Performance Guarantee: The tournament must post a $2M financial performance guarantee by July 1, 2009.  Failure to satisfy the conditions outlined above will result in forfeiture.

Now the fun part will be watching how Dubai tries to weasel itself out of this one.  Because you know they'll try.