Marquee names to miss Dubai men's tennis

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Four of the top 10 men's players will skip this week's Dubai Tennis Championships -- three because of injuries and one for political reasons.

Among the missing when the event in the United Arab Emirates starts Monday will be American Andy Roddick, the defending champion, who says he based his decision on the treatment of Israeli player Shahar Peer. Her request for a visa so she could compete in a just-concluded women's tournament in Dubai was rejected.

"I don't know if it's the best thing to mix politics and sports (but) that was probably a big part of it," Roddick recently told The Commercial Appeal in Memphis.

Peer's request was denied, but compatriot Andy Ram was cleared late last week to play in the men's tournament.

Others not playing at Dubai are No. 2 Roger Federer (back), No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko and No. 9 Fernando Verdasco (ankle).

Davydenko, from Russia, said he is injured, but did not disclose details.