Well this is a whole lot of bullshit. All the hoopla surrounding Shahar Peer possibly playing Dubai is all for not. The UAE has denied her Visa request:
"We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the UAE denying Shahar Peer a Visa that would permit her to enter the country to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships," WTA chairman and CEO Larry Scott said in a statement. "Ms. Peer has earned the right to play in the tournament and it is regrettable that the UAE is denying her this right."
"The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour believes very strongly, and has a clear rule and policy, that no host country should deny a player the right to compete at a tournament for which she has qualified by ranking," Scott said. "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."
Kinda odd considering, oh I don't know, the fact that SHE WAS GRANTED A VISA TO PLAY THERE LAST YEAR. Hmmm...I wonder what's changed since then?
I would love to hear what the UAE's defense is. It wouldn't shock if me they claimed that she was a security risk, insofar as they were "worried" as to what would happen if she played there and that denying her a visa "is for her own protection." Or will they own up to it and admit that it's political? Who knows.
Apparently under the rules the WTA could cancel the tournament based on the tournament director's "failure" to secure a visa for all the players. But the WTA has, not surprisingly, chosen not to do so. And I have no doubt that the tourney directors knew the WTA wouldn't take it out on them anyway. I mean really, what repurcussions, other than canceling the tourney, would hurt them?
You stay classy, UAE.
