Peer was denied a visa to take part in this year’s Dubai Championships as the UAE Government does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.  The Championship was later fined $300,000 by the Women’s Tennis Association and even the future of the event was in serious doubt. Peer, who was scheduled to play Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze in Dubai, was awarded $44,250 from the fine collected. It was an amount equal to the average prize money she earned per tournament in 2008. She also got 130 ranking points, an amount equal to the points she earned during the same week in 2008.

The WTA, in a statement then said the actions were taken to redress the wrongs suffered by Sahar Peer. 

Later, the Dubai Championships organisers issued a visa for Andy Ram, another player from Israel. Ram, a doubles specialist, lost his first round match, but he returned a happy man as the Israeli was treated really well by the organisers in Dubai.

Peer, who is currently playing in the Miami Sony Ericsson Open, was really happy after receiving the invitation from the Dubai Tennis Championships to play in 2010. After her victory over 16-year-old Tamaryn Hendler of Belgium in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Thursday, Peer, the world number 46, said: “I’m glad I’ve been invited to play in Dubai. It’s good for tennis.”

The 22-year-old player from Macabim turned pro in 2004 and has been a consistent performer on the women’s tour. She has won three singles and three doubles titles in her 
career so far.