Monday, February 23, 2009

BUSINESS NEWS

WTA Tour Levies Penalties on Dubai

Following a special meeting of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Board in connection with the decision by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this past week to deny the visa application of Israeli Tour player Shahar Peer, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced that effective immediately it is taking the actions described below.
Commenting on today’s actions, Larry Scott, Chairman & CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour stated: “The actions taken today are intended to redress the wrongs suffered by Shahar Peer, who was victimized by an unjust policy of discrimination by the UAE.  These actions are also intended to send a clear message that our Tour will not tolerate discrimination of any kind and that we will never allow this situation to happen again, in UAE or elsewhere.  Thanks to the courage of Shahar, and all those individuals and organizations – including her fellow players – that supported her, the UAE has changed it’s policy and another barrier of discrimination has fallen.”
Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Actions in re Shahar Peer, Anna Lena Groenefeld and Dubai Tournament:
Shahar Peer Ranking Points - The awarding of 130 ranking points to Shahar Peer – an amount equal to the points that she earned during the same week in 2008 (week of Memphis) that she was unable to defend this past week in Dubai as a result of the denial of her entry visa by UAE.  Such points will remain on Ms. Peer’s ranking until such time as she has had an opportunity to earn equivalent points at the next tournament offering ranking points equal to the Dubai tournament.
Shahar Peer Prize Money – The awarding of US$44,250 to Shahar Peer – an amount equal to the average prize money that she earned per tournament (singles and doubles) in 2008, grossed up to take account for the increased prize money on offer at 2009 tournaments.
Anna Lena Groenefeld Prize Money – The awarding of US$7,950 to Anna Lena Groenefeld, who was to be Shahar Peer’s doubles partner in Dubai and who was unable to compete in doubles with Ms. Peer as a result of the denial of Ms. Peer’s entry visa by UAE.  This amount is equal to the average prize money that she earned per tournament in doubles in 2008, grossed up to take account for the increased prize money on offer at 2009 tournaments.
Dubai Tennis Championships Financial Penalty – The fining of the Dubai tournament US$300,000 for breach of Tour Rules, By-Laws and conditions of membership related to the denial of entry to Shahar Peer.  This fine amount represents the highest fine ever levied against a Tour member.  Proceeds from the fine shall be used to compensate each of Ms. Peer and Ms. Groenefeld, with the balance to be donated to a charity or charities, to be determined by the Tour in consultation with Ms. Peer.
Dubai Tennis Championships Financial Performance Guarantee – The posting by the Dubai tournament of a US$2 million financial performance guarantee by July 1, 2009 that the conditions described below will be satisfied.
Dubai Tennis Championships Conditions for Continued Membership – The establishment of a series of conditions to be met by the Dubai tournament in order to maintain its membership and be included on the Tour’s 2010 calendar, including: (i) confirmation of the written assurances already received that all players who qualify for the tournament shall, regardless of nationality, or any other reason, be allowed to play in the Dubai event and shall be issued entry visas or permits, (ii) proof of approved UAE entry permit to enter the UAE for any Israeli player a minimum of eight (8) weeks prior to the start of the 2010 Dubai tournament, and (iii) guarantee that Ms. Peer shall be offered a wildcard to play the Dubai tournament in 2010 in the event that she does not qualify by ranking.
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Dubai Defends Tournament’s Actions

Contrition was not paramount in the mind of tournament director Salah Tahlak as he faced up to the reality of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's $US300,000 fine levied against  the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships following last week's decision not to allow Israel's Shahar Peer a visa to enter the United Arab Emirates.
A further bond of $US2 million has been placed against the tournament to ensure history does not repeat itself next year. There is a process for appeal which is currently being debated by Dubai tournament officials although it is highly unlikely they will progress down that path, especially in the light of them saving weighty appearance guarantees to the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and Fernando Verdasco who have all withdrawn from the men's event that begins in earnest today.
Colm McLoughlin, managing director of tournament owners and organizers Dubai Duty Free who set up the event 17 years ago intimated he just wants to draw a line under the events of last week and now move forward positively into the future.
However Tahlak was quite firm when he announced: "I would not say we are sorry. I can't comment on whether there will be an apology issued.
"We have done a lot as far as the tournament goes. We have done our best. It is not our responsibility to issue a visa. It is for other departments' responsibility. They also did their best. We should not mix politics with sport. We are purely sport. We have done a lot for tennis in the region, especially in the UAE."
Dubai Duty Free is one of the global sponsors of the WTA Tour and Tahlak continued: "We have done a lot for the WTA. We are doing our best. We are one of the world-wide sponsors. Tennis will go on here and things will go back to normal.
"We are still working for them. We will have to look at it from our point of view. The tournament is going great. The tickets were all sold in hours. We have to concentrate on the sports section. 
"This is not the first time that something like this has happened in the Pan Arab world. We are concentrating on our tournament. We know what we are doing. Yes, we respect all the rules and regulations of the WTA but we have our own rules regarding what to do and where to follow and we have concentrate on them. When it comes to our visa entry permit section, that is a separate issue and that has been dealt with.
"Whatever damage has been over the last few days I don't think will be a permanent damage to us. We will work on it positively. We are still here to develop tennis in this country. We are still investing in the sport. We are moving to a new stadium. That tells you we are committed to hosting tennis in the UAE."
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Roddick Drops Out of Dubai

Andy Roddick has defended his decision to skip this week's Barclays Championships in Dubai, saying it gives him more time to prepare for Davis Cup against Switzerland next week.
The American defending champion pulled the plug in protest over the visa ban during last week's women's event of Shahar Peer. American Jewish groups rose up in their fury over the move by the moderate Gulf emirate, which later let Israeli Andy Ram in for men's doubles this week.
"I think a big part of it is I didn't really agree with what went on over there," said Roddick, Memphis winner at the weekend. "I made the trip over there last year after playing here.
"With the time that I've spent in the UAE, I have been treated great. Everybody I've come across there has just been extraordinary to deal with.
"It's just unfortunate that someone in the government can make a decision that reflects upon a tournament, which is actually a great event. I think it's just a disappointing that when you see a headline and it revolves around tennis. Something like that is disappointing to see."
Unlike the injured pair of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Roddick chose to mix his politics and sport by rebuffing Dubai. "There were a lot of factors why I should probably go. Obviously that I've played well there doesn't make it any easier.
"Whether it was Dubai or Abu Dhabi this year for an exhibition, I've had great times there. I've really enjoyed myself."
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Murray Contemplates His Future

Andy Murray, the current form player of men's game who this week is bidding for a clean sweep of the Arabian Gulf tennis riches at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, is not contemplating life for several years to come without the constant threat of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at the pinnacle of the ATP World Tour.
After winning the year opening Capitala World Championship exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi and following up a week later with a successful defense of the ExxonMobil Qatar Open in Doha, Murray has proved himself very much a man of the desert.
The absence of three times champion Federer, 2006 winner Nadal and last year's champion Andy Roddick, makes Murray the hot favorite to win again with the major threat being world no.3 Novak Djokovic who will have to acclimatize after flying in from Marseille's semi-finals.
But Murray is taking nothing for granted, either this week or looking further into the future.  Nadal is missing to rest his troublesome knees while Federer revealed he is suffering from back problems.

Murray believes both are some temporary problems. "Everyone thought Rafa's knees were an issue 18 months ago," said the Scot. "Then all of a sudden he's won a ridiculous amount of matches and become no.1 in the world.
"Roger's motivation is obviously to the Slams. So perhaps his performances have dropped a bit in smaller tournaments, but in the big tournaments he's still been awesome. They're two of the best players of all time so to get in front of them and be no.1 would be an unbelievable achievement."
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Murray Won’t Miss the Tour’s Top Players in Dubai

Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Gilles Simon cut lonely figures as the only Top 10 players present for the Barclays Championships, with the Scot due for a Davis Cup preview in his first-round encounter.
But Murray has been living the good life since his arrival late last week, booked into a suite at the seven-star Burj AlArab hotel originally intended for Rafael Nadal.
The Scot said the luxury digs contain sitting room larger than his London apartment. "I went for a run around my suite this morning," he joked after his first night in his lap of luxury.
After the injury pullouts of Nadal (knee), Federer (back) and Nikolay Davydenko (heel) and the political protest no-show from American holder Andy Roddick, the star-power factor this week has been diminished.
But Murray, winner of his last event this month in Rotterdam over the unfit Nadal, can at least make the most of his first round as he prepares for Britain's Davis Cup zonal tie March 6-8 in Glasgow against the Ukraine.
The Scot ranked fourth in the world starts against Sergiy Stakhovsky, whom he defeated in the US Open junior final of 2005.
Murray also beat the No. 79 in January on his way to the Doha title to start the year. "There were not a lot of issues in that match," he said of the straight-sets win.
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Murray Plans to Get Better on the Tour

Andy Murray, with wins over the top three this year and with two titles under his belt, is arguably the best player in the world so far this season. But the Brit says he hasn’t even started yet.
"I still think I can get better, there’s no question about that," he said in Dubai, where he is seeded two behind Novak Djokovic. "I mean I’m only 21. Just because I’ve been on the tour for quite a few years people expect things to happen very soon. You know, guys like Nadal are an exception to the rule. You play your best tennis when you’re in your mid-20s. He’s played his best the last couple of years, so I’ll just keep working away.
"My consistency has got better and it just comes down to playing well in the big tournaments and that’s what’s going to make my ranking higher and hopefully win me a Grand Slam. I’m physically better, forehand’s got better, I think serving more consistently. They’ve not been huge differences, but just five percent here or there especially at the top level of sports does make a big difference.
"Unforced errors has not been my problem really in my career. Minding ways to win matches when I wasn’t playing my best was very important, and just being a little bit more aggressive and getting stronger has helped me so I can hit the ball harder and be a little bit more balanced when I’m in trouble."
And he believes his successful rivalry with the three players ranked above him bodes well for the game, especially now he has turned the tables on the Serb. Djokovic won their first four encounters, but Murray has won the last two, plus the exhibition match earlier this year in Abu Dhabi.
"We obviously played each other quite a few times last year and obviously I played better against him the last few times where I struggled in the past, but he’s obviously won his first Grand Slam and has been very close to being number two in the world on a couple of occasions. I hope we can play again at each other for quite a few years, the same with Nadal, and hopefully Federer is going to be around for three or four more years at least. So as long as we can stay fit and healthy it could be a very good time for tennis."
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Murray is Enjoying the Perks of Being at the Top

Dubai’s No.2 seed and World No.4 Andy Murray enjoyed a short voyage aboard a luxury yacht off the coastline of Dubai in advance of his first round match against Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky. It was the first time the Scot had stepped aboard a luxury yacht, and he did so in front of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel. The 21-year-old boarded the 85-foot yacht at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Marina. The outing headed towards the Palm Jumeirah before passing the Al Qasr hotel, The Madinat Jumeirah resort and Wild Wadi Water Park before returning to Burj al Arab. "This is the first time I’ve ever been on a boat like this before," said Murray. "It was great fun and probably the best player activity I’ve done whilst I’ve been on the Tour".
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Federer is Not in the Draw in Dubai, But he is There

He might not be playing at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships this week, but Roger Federer is in Dubai to give a speech about how to be successful in business.
He made an appearance at an exclusive event ‘Meet and Greet’ by Jura, for whom he is a Brand Ambassador for the Swiss coffee machine manufacturer. Federer took part in a panel discussion and shared his tips on what it takes to stay on top, even when the going gets tough.

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Britain Has a Woman in the WTA Top 50

Britain finally has a female player inside the world's top 50 of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour for the first time in 16 years after Anne Keothavong ended a long wait that began when former top tenner Jo Durie slipped down the rankings.
Keothavong, a semi-finalist at last week's Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, moved up to 48th position when the new rankings rolled off the WTA computer.
"There haven't been too many British women who have been able to achieve that," said Keothavong who has climbed more than 80 places in the rankings since being placed 134 this time last year. "It's another indication of how much I've improved when you look at where I was ranked 12 months ago.
The London-based daughter of Laos born parents first turned professional nearly eight years ago but has faced a constant struggle because of injuries, inconsistent form and a seemingly ever-changing structure at Britain's Lawn Tennis Association.
She has benefitted from a more settled system under Carl Maes and Nigel Sears at the LTA's Roehampton headquarters but said: "There have been times when I've questioned whether I should move on and do something different but I never stopped loving tennis and I was willing to try something different which paid off for me.
"If I knew what I know now I could've been in the top 50 years ago but I was influenced by some unprofessional people which didn't help, although ultimately it's down to the individual.
"I'm now working with coaches I trust and with their help I'll continue to improve further. I still believe there are unprofessional people working at the LTA and it saddens me because I want to see British tennis get even better."

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We Hear---
--- that Alex Bogomolov has taken a position at a New York City academy while he rehabs after an injury.
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THIS WEEK
MEN
Acapulco
Delray Beach
Dubai
WOMEN
Acapulco
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NEXT WEEK
MEN
Davis Cup
WOMEN
Monterrey
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