THE LOW DOWN: Shahar denied visa by UAE, cannot compete in Dubai

Shahar Peer won't be allowed to compete in Dubai next week.

The United Arab Emirates have declined the Israeli lady baller's request for a visa which would have made her the first person from her country to compete in the UAE.

However WTA policy states "no player should be barred from competing in a tournament for which she has qualified" and Dubai could therefore lose its membership to the Tour next year.

WTA CEO Larry Scott released the following statement:

We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) denying Shahar Peer a visa that would permit her to enter the country to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Ms. Peer has earned the right to play in the tournament and it is regrettable that the UAE is denying her this right.

Following various consultations, the Tour has decided to allow the tournament to continue to be played this week, pending further review by the Tour's Board of Directors.

Shahar and her family have been in Thailand where she was competing in Pattaya City and upon hearing of the decision were described by Scott as "extremely upset and disappointed" about the news.

Earlier this year, the 21-year old was subject to protests in Auckland following her country's invasion of Gaza and last February became the first person from her country to compete at a tourney in one of the Persian Gulf states.

I find the decision by the UAE to be completely unfair from a sporting perspective and extremely unprofessional as a member of the WTA Tour. It most certainly violates the policy of allowing a lady baller to compete in a tourney she qualifies for and they should therefore deal with whatever consequences are attributed.

Moreover, after all of the monies the WTA Tour has funneled into extending their reach into this area of the world and building a tennis tradition, the organization must be gravely disappointed.

But these purely money-making moves usually have unfortunate consequences and the WTA executives may now need to rework this strategy.

(image via Getty)

(UPDATED) THE LOW DOWN: Shrieka withdraws from Paris + Dubai, officials cite "failure to fully recover" from shoulder injury

More bad news for the MIA Maria Sharapova.

The 3-time Grand Slammer, who's been forced out of action since last August with a balky right shoulder, has withdrawn from next week's Paris Open and Dubai the following week after failing to fully recover, tournament officials confirmed.

This announcement is murky at best but it could mean a few things: either her shoulder is still tender from surgery, her overall competitive fitness still needs a lot of work, or, worst case scenario, it's been reinjured.

In any case, the Shrieka camp must be seriously worried about her long-term prospects considering this is her dominant side.

The WTA Tour desperately needs her back in the fold so this is very troubling news.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Shrieka finally released a statement about the withdrawal via her website -

I'm very disappointed to be unable to compete in the upcoming Open GDF SUEZ and Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, both of which are great events that I was very much hoping to be able to play. My shoulder continues to improve every day and I am working very hard on the practice court. I'm looking forward to being back on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour very soon.

(image via Getty)

FASHION FIX: Ivanovic wins with coral-pink adidas dress but loses in Dubai

Change up: Ana Ivanovic, playing at the Dubai Duty Free Open this week, changed up her adidas Winter Edge Dress by switching out the turquoise colorway for a coral-pink jewel tone. Though I still think the turquoise complements the Serbian's dark features and olive skin better than the coral-pink, it's a good move especially if she's going to wear the same style dress.

Unfortunately, the new tennis gear didn't help her game today as the World No. 2 was taken down by a resurgent Elena Dementieva 7-5, 3-6, 3-6. Could the ankle injury she suffered in Doha still be effecting her game?

(images via HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images)

PHOTO OP: Jankovic + falconer friend hit up Dubai player party

Not so odd pairing: Serbian baller Jelena Jankovic was spotted at the Dubai Duty Free Open player party this week accompanied by falconer friend. The World No. 4 struggled against a game Sania Mirza but reached the quarterfinals of the tourney with 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over her Indian opponent.

Question: Why does this whole image seem so "Jelena" to me?

(image via Getty)