http://www.onthebaselinetennisnews.com/ Andy Roddick Boycotts Dubai Tournament After Peer Visa Denial
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Feb 21, 2009 | Print | ShareThis
None of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players boycotted the tournament after hearing that Shahar Peer was denied entrance into Dubai, yet one week later a welcome advocate has emerged.
ATP Tour player Andy Roddick has publicly protested Dubai’s decision by pulling out of next week’s men’s tournament.
Roddick, currently ranked number sixth in the world, won the title in the United Arab Emirates in 2008.
As the defending champion, Roddick will lose the opportunity to defend his ranking points from last year. However, for the American, it is worth the sacrifice.
“There were a lot of factors why I should probably go, and obviously having played well there doesn’t make it any easier,” said Roddick from Memphis, Tennessee after reaching the semifinals at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
While Dubai refused to allow Shahar Peer entrance into the country, they did reconsider their position by allowing Peer’s countryman Andy Ram entrance for the upcoming men’s event. The tournament has been fined $300,000 by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour for failing to abide by the Tour’s entry rule
Andy Roddick not Israeli not Jewish but a person with honor.Ram Israeli Jewish no Honor