Ram 'happy' to be allowed to compete

Dubai: Organisers of the Dubai men's ATP Tennis Championships starting tomorrow have assured Israeli player Andy Ram he will receive the necessary security to participate in the tournament.

Ram was on Thursday granted a special permit to enter the country a week after another Israeli player, Shahar Peer, was denied entry to play in the women's tournament which concluded yesterday.

Salah Tahlak, Director of the Dubai Tennis Championships, told reporters yesterday that Dubai is a safe place and that the organisers would ensure Ram has the necessary security.

Speaking at the Open 12 tournament Ram said: "I was very happy for the decision to give me the visa. After last week when they denied the visa for Shahar Peer, it was a surprising decision for me but I think it was a good surprise, a very good surprise."

Earlier yesterday the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) fined the Dubai Tennis Championships $300,000 (Dh1,1 million) over the Peer incident and said they will have to post a $2 million financial performance guarantee and also ensure that all qualified players could be entered and that any Israeli player be given an entry visa at least eight weeks prior to the event.

Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Colm McLoughlin told the DPA news agency that they will decide in the next few days whether to appeal the fine.

"There is an appeal situation within the WTA rules," McLoughlin said. "But we haven't gone into detail on anything yet." He also pointed out that the Dubai Duty Free is a worldwide sponsor of the WTA Tour.

Commenting on the decision by defending champion Andy Roddick to withdraw from the men's championships, McLoughlin said: "I have no concerns. We have heard that Roddick was on the start of a hernia. I didn't hear any other reports."