UAE will let Israel's Ram play - US Congressman

NEW YORK: Male Israeli tennis player Andy Ram will get a visa to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships, a US congressman said on Wednesday, adding that as a result he will not ask the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) to cancel the event.

In the wake of the Gulf state's denial of a visa for female Israeli player Shahar Peer, Representative Anthony Weiner of New York had scheduled a news conference on Wednesday to press the ATP to withdraw its backing for the tournament, a spokesman for the Brooklyn congressman said.

But Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to Washington, has now assured Weiner that the male doubles player, Andy Ram, will be allowed to play in the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which starts Monday.