ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Israeli Sharar Peer, denied a visa to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships, said she was confident WTA officials would take action regarding the "injustice."
Peer, ranked 48th in the world, was to have played in this week's $2 million tournament beginning Monday but was denied an entry visa by officials of the United Arab Emirates.
"While this is a very difficult moment for me personally and professionally … I firmly believe my fellow competitors should not be harmed the way I was," Peer said in a statement.
The Dubai stop is one of the richest on the WTA schedule and it draws most of the top players in the world but the action against Peer threatens its status. The ATP -- the men's tour -- is in Dubai next week and said it may reconsider the stop for next year's schedule. The Tennis Channel has canceled its coverage of the event because of Peer's treatment.
"Going forward, I am confident that the (WTA) tour will take the appropriate actions to ensure that this injustice is not allowed to occur in the future," Peer said.
WTA Chairman Larry Scott said following the visa denial the WTA is "deeply disappointed" and officials "will review appropriate future actions with regard to the future of the Dubai tournament."
