Tennis Swirls Into The City Of Dubai

Lawn Tennis, Paris Open, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Tennis Swirls Into The City Of Dubai
By Tripp Mateschitz, Lawn Tennis Correspondent, Posted: Monday, February 16, 2009 5:20pm PST USA

Tennis Swirls Into The City Of Dubai, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Dubai--(lawntennismag.com) In Dubai, you can arrive from the airport to the world's tallest and most expensive hotel, the Burj Al Arab, via Rolls Royce or via helicopter. This week the WTA Tour lands in the magical Dubai, but not without controversy.

During the day, modern skyscrapers that multiply by the day peer over clouds to tower over the beaches of Dubai. And at night a light show which might rival Las Vegas' signals the electric atmosphere of the former oil mecca.

In recent years Dubai has transformed itself into a one of the most important centers of finance, travel

Dubai, UAE

This week the WTA Tour lands in the magical Dubai, but not without controversy.

and entertainment in the world thanks to many eyepopping projects and an economy which seems almost untouched by the global recession.

Under construction and scheduled for a September completion date is the 160 stories tall, Burj Dubai skyscraper which already has taken the title as the world's tallest building, despite being incomplete.

And at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships this week, women's professional tennis takes the stage as an unprecedented nine of the top ten players are all entered including the world number one Serena Williams of the USA, her sister and the Wimbledon champion, Venus Williams and the French Open champion, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.

Entered into the singles draw however, but later removed was Shahar Peer of Israel who told us in 2007 that she “can't play Dubai.” The WTA Tour confirmed earlier this month that Peer would compete this year in Dubai, but the United Arab Emirates has refused a visa to the Israeli player.

Peer said in a statement, “I am very disappointed that I have been prevented from playing in the Dubai tournament. I think a red line has been crossed here that could harm the purity of the sport and other sports. I have always believed that politics and sports should not be mixed.”

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