Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, has reignited his criticism of the Dubai Tennis Championships. The American star as soon as boycotted the occasion in 2009 to help Israeli participant Shahar Pe’er, who was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates. Organizers cited potential fan boycotts amid Israel’s Gaza offensive and security considerations for Pe’er.
Roddick’s 2009 Boycott
Roddick selected to not defend his earlier 12 months’s title in solidarity with Pe’er. Venus Williams additionally voiced help. The controversy led to main repercussions: The Wall Road Journal withdrew sponsorship, and Tennis Channel canceled protection.
Roddick acknowledged on the time, “I actually did not agree with what went on over there. I do not know if it is the very best factor to combine politics and sports activities, and that was most likely a giant a part of it. It is simply disappointing that displays on a match that most likely did not have a lot to do with the choice. However, I simply do not feel like there is a want for that in a sporting occasion.”
The WTA fined the match a document £220,000 ($300,000). Pe’er acquired £30,650 in prize cash and 130 rating factors as compensation, matching her prior common earnings. In 2010, Pe’er competed below tight safety, reaching the semi-finals earlier than dropping to Venus Williams.
2026 Event Tensions
Now, in the course of the 2026 version, Roddick targets competitors director Salah Tahlak. Tahlak proposed rating level deductions and fines for late withdrawals from the obligatory WTA 1000 occasion, after Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek pulled out a day earlier than the draw.
On his Served podcast, Roddick argued February is a “horrible slot” for such tournaments, predicting frequent top-player absences. He questioned, “So he [Tahlak] desires to dock factors that they’ve already gained elsewhere? They’ve earned these factors. Are you able to think about somebody successful a playoff sport after which somebody taking it away someway? He’s going to dock factors from six months in the past? How does that even work?”
Roddick continued, “Each level they’ve on their level complete proper now could be earned as a result of they’ve gained matches and now we’re going to dock factors? I don’t assume that could be very effectively thought out. That doesn’t make sense to me. You’re going to dock them cash, so you will take that as a result of they will’t play your match for one cause or one other, that’s already bizarre after which you will take factors away. That doesn’t make any sense.”
Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam winner, cited a schedule change for her withdrawal and prompt skipping obligatory occasions might help restoration. Sabalenka bypassed each Doha and Dubai, concentrating on Indian Wells beginning March 4 as her first WTA 1000 of the 12 months.
The 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships conclude Saturday with the boys’s singles ultimate.
