Injury forces UAE No 1 to pull out

Dubai: Omar Behroozian, the UAE's top player, will not be playing in the Dubai Tennis Championships for the first time in eight years.

Behroozian, who has been the mainstay of the UAE's exploits in the Davis Cup for more than a decade, was forced out from accepting a traditional wild card entry due to a ligament tear on his left knee.

"It is truly unfortunate that I will miss playing in this tournament for the first time in eight years," Behroozian told Gulf News.

Behroozian had been having a problem with his left knee in the recent past, but commitments on the ITF Tour in the Gulf and Europe kept him busy. But he collapsed while running during a friendly football match at the beginning of the month.

Immediate surgery

"I normally play a bit of football for fitness," the player said. "I visited my doctor and he has recommended immediate surgery. It's part of the game. This injury was waiting to happen and now there is nothing I can do about it, but try and look at the positives."

In all likelihood, the injury will keep the player out for at least six months. "After the surgery is the physiotherapy and recuperation period, so it will be a long road ahead," he added.

"I only hope the organisers will give the wild card entry to another member from the UAE squad."