International Tennis should cancel this tournament...

If Israelis cannot compete, then it shouldn't be sanctioned...

Israeli tennis star Shahar Pe'er has been denied a visa for this week's WTA tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Pe'er had been due to make history at the week-long Dubai Tennis Championships as no Israeli has ever played in Dubai, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

Her brother and spokesman Shlomi Pe'er told the Jerusalem Post that he had received assurances that a visa would be issued in the months leading up to the event and was only informed otherwise on Saturday night, two days before the tournament was due to start.

The 21-year-old had even been included in the first round draw where she had been due to play Russian Anna Chakvetadze.