The Dubai Tennis Championship has been a lightning rod for controversy through the years.
Andy Roddick has spoken out concerning the Dubai-based event (Picture: Getty)
US tennis icon Andy Roddick as soon as refused to play on the Dubai Tennis Championships in 2009 out of help for Israeli star Shahar Pe’er, who was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates. The outspoken 2003 US Open champion opted to not play within the event, which is at present holding its 2026 version, after Per’er was denied entry. Organisers reportedly feared that Pe’er’s presence would have led to boycotts by native tennis followers following Israel’s navy offensive within the Gaza Strip on the time. There have been additionally fears for the participant’s security.
Quick ahead to the current day and Roddick has taken purpose on the event this 12 months too after competitors director Salah Tahlak threatened a ranking-points deduction proposal after Aryna Sabalenkaand Iga Swiatek withdrew from the WTA 1000 occasion simply at some point earlier than the event’s draw. The Dubai chief referred to as on the WTA to sanction gamers in the event that they pull out of a compulsory event whereas additionally suggesting that monetary penalties weren’t a passable punishment.
Talking on his Served podcast, Roddick claimed February was “a horrible slot” for WTA 1000 tournaments and that the highest gamers on the planet withdrawing would all the time happen.
He mentioned: “So he [Tahlak] needs to dock factors that they’ve already gained someplace else? They’ve earned these factors. Are you able to think about somebody successful a playoff sport after which somebody taking it away by some means? He’s going to dock factors from six months in the past? How does that even work?
The 2026 Dubai Tennis Match will wrap on Saturday with the boys’s singles last.
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