Sisters Serena and Venus Williams are not playing in Indian Wells, although fans would love to see them there! So, why aren’t they? If you follow tennis at all, then most likely you know. It’s a decision they have made together and they are standing by each other on this one, even if there are consequences.

The details of what happened are definitely a bit sketchy. No one seems to have the real story.

Since 2001, the details surrounding Venus and Serena’s choice to not play Indian Wells have been a bit sketchy. Reports have alleged that they, along with their father Richard, were victims of racial discrimination from hecklers in the crowd, after Venus pulled out of her semi-final match against Serena, just prior to stepping onto the court.

Heckling and general bad-mouthing from the crowd continued when Serena accepted the winner’s trophy. Eight years later, the sisters are still united in their stance to not play Indian Wells ever again. Whether you agree or disagree with their decision, you can’t help but respect their unwavering commitment to their values.

 

I don’t blame them and am glad to see them stand together for something they believe in. There may be some consequences for the sisters this year.

The WTA has put new regulations in place this year and it gets very, very interesting. Read what those regulations are and what options Serena and Venus may have here.

Any thoughts on this?

Image Credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Why Are Serena and Venus Not at Indian Wells?

Even despite all of the controversy, he appeared relaxed and focused on the match with his fellow tennis partner Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe.

In a statement, Ram said, "It was obviously something big, history here, what’s been done, the first Israeli coming to play sport in Dubai”.

Ram took to the court just a week after Israeli women’s player Shahar Peer was denied a visa. I was hoping that Ram would be given a visa and allowed to play. It’s unfortunate that he had to be escorted onto the court by two body guards, but the match went ahead with out any troubles.

Source

Image Credit: Newscom

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Andy Ram Becomes First Israeli Tennis Player to Play in United Arab Emirates

They did compensate Peer and have ensured that her and other Israeli players will not be shut out of any future tournaments in the federation. Their reasoning behind this whole ordeal was the fear that because of the anger against Israel’s recent military offensive in the Gaza Strip, riots would happen during her match.

Part of the $300,000 will go to Peer and her doubles partner Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany. This is to make up for the $2 million dollar prize money that they could have won.

Dubai organizers have also said that Israeli players will get visas at least eight week in advance in order to remain on the 2010 tour schedule.

In other Dubai news, Andy Roddick has pulled out of the tournament and said that he would not defend his title there.

"I really didn’t agree with what went on over there. I don’t know if it’s the best thing to mix politics and sports, and that was probably a big part of it,” Roddick said.

Read the rest below.

He went on to say, "It’s just disappointing that reflects on a tournament that probably didn’t have much to do with the decision. Nevertheless, I just don’t feel like there’s a need for that in a sporting event. I don’t think you make political statements through sports.”

I completely agree. We have to make politics and sports separate. There will always be tension in our world between different countries, but sports is a place where everyone should be able to come together and put out differences aside. This is one reason why I love the Olympics so much. To see so many countries under one roof just amazes me. I hope the world of tennis has learned from this whole Dubai ordeal.

Source: NBC Sports

Image Credit: Newscom

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WTA Fines Dubai Championships Organizers

Yesterday, I shared with you the statement made by the Tennis Channel regarding the Israeli player, Shahar Peer, who was barred from playing in the Dubai Championships.

The tournament organizer made a statement regarding the decision saying “Peer’s ‘presence would have antagonized our fans’ because of the attacks in Gaza, which left about 1,300 Palestinians dead, at least half of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials.”

Another Israeli player is stuck in France hoping to make it in the Sunday draw. Andy Ram is in Marseilles, France, and awaiting word if he will be allowed into Dubai. Ram is ranked No. 7 in the world in doubles.

Ram’s lawyer, Amit Naor, told The Associated Press, "Andy wants to play, he’s not interested in all the other stuff," Naor said. "He’s not looking for trouble, he’s looking to play … we thought politics was already out of sports."

Sports is a place where politics has to be set aside. It’s a time when countries should be able to come together and showcase their best athletes. Instead, people are being barred and left out and there is something very wrong with that.

I understand that tournament officials want to make sure that everyone is safe, but it’s just despicable that a country has to be highlighted like this and that their best players are being punished.

What are your thoughts on this whole situation?

Check out some pictures below of protestors wanting Shahar Peer to leave the ASB Classic in New Zealand in early January.

Source: Wizbangsports.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Dubai Officials Have a Decision to Make

German tennis player Boris Becker was recently broken up with via text message. Sandy Meyer-Woelden, Becker’s 25 year-old fiance, reportedly broke off her wedding with Becker.

Becker said, "I suddenly got an SMS from Sandy… saying that this was it, that this was over. To make sure how serious she was she sent me five others saying the same thing. I was completely surprised"

He also said that the break-up ‘trampled his soul’. Ouch! How painful and over a text message. What the heck was she thinking?! Sometimes technology is not a good thing. Remember the days when men and women had to actually meet face to face for those hard conversations? Now it’s as easy as a few characters punched into a phone. Pathetic.

Source: Switched

Image Credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Boris Becker Was Dumped Over a Text Message

Connors was taken into custody after he refused to leave an area near the entrance of the Thunderdome. There was a confrontation of some sort, and he was asked to leave and decided he didn’t want to.

Police took him into custody at the beginning of the game and as of early this morning, he has not been booked yet.

Connors was a champion tennis star in the 1970’s and most recently stepped down as Andy Roddick’s coach after nearly two years of working together. He has always been known for his out of control temperament and it seems things are getting any better.

Source: ESPN

Image Credit: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Jimmy Connors Arrested Outside Campus Arena

Problems have been broiling around the ATP’s decisions as of late, specifically the chairman Etienne De Villiers. The players are unhappy and the ATP is getting heavy-handed: a perfect formula for disaster.

There’s probably going to be people against having the top three players on the council, but I think – on many levels – it’s going to be good for the sport. It means the top players in the world aren’t just existing, taking what they can get from the sport. It means they actually care about where their sport is going and how it gets to where it’s going.

Whether it’s right or acceptable or beneficial for the rest of the population, the world’s top players have a lot of influence and pull with a lot of important people. I’d like to see it used for a good thing.

Post from: EveryJoe

Top Three in the World Added to Player’s Council

While Dee had lost 54 consecutive International Tennis Federation matches, he had won 20 other professional matches in the three-year period. Apparently Dee had contacted all three companies and asked for printed apologies but no dice so Dee is doing what world citizens have done over and over: suing them.

I do remember reading those articles about the “world’s worst” tennis player and thinking that it was pretty vague, non-informative, a little sketch. This is a blog – a platform for opinions and rants – but you can’t just spout off stuff like that. Or at least clarify. Or something, ya know? And who knows – maybe Dee is just playing dirty and trying to get his while he can. I don’t know…and that statement pretty much says how much faith I have in the goodness of the human race.

Just remember this when you think of the world’s worst tennis player: apparently it’s not Robert Dee.

Post from: EveryJoe

Tennis Player Sues for Libel

Spanish tennis officials chose Madrid as the site for the Davis Cup semifinal with the United States. Players – including Rafael Nadal – had said Madrid was one of the worst locations to choose since the Americans would be benefitted by the high altitude.

Madrid is Europe’s highest capital at 600 meters and will be better for Andy Roddick’s fast serves than the coastal cities. So naturally, the Spanish team is – for lack of a better term – pissed off.

Maybe it’s just me, but I kind of thought the Spanish tennis officials would want to favor their country’s team if at all possible. I know – obviously it’s just me.

Post from: EveryJoe

Spanish Team Upset with Davis Cup Location

The incident supposedly occured in early March and with Hanley’s recent bail posted, the British tabloids have jumped all over the news. Hanley lost in the Rome Masters earlier this week and is expected to play Hamburg.

What is the deal with this rash of tennis players embroiled in illegal/criminal doings lately? Not to say Hanley is guilty – a thing like date-rape is difficult to prove. It’s going to be even harder to make the case stick against a person of Hanley’s status. (It’s not right, but it is how it is.)

It’s all a game of information and Hanley is staring at a love-40 hole, but I’m going to bet he’s got a few aces ready to send cross-court. Who knows? Maybe one of his aces is that he’s actually innocent.

Post from: EveryJoe

Australian Bailed Out After Date-Rape Accusations