Shahar Peer became the first Israeli woman tennis player to compete in the United Arab Emirates Monday when she beat Yanina Wickmayer in the Dubai Open. Peer was denied a visa to compete in the UAE in 2009 and the Women's Tennis Organization Tour fined tournament organizers $300,000.The WTA struggled on the 22-year- feeble Jerusalem native's behalf to bring about her historic appearance.

"I judge there should not be any involvement of sport and politics," the 22nd-ranked Peer stated after her win over the world number 15 from Belgium. She added, "I was not really thinking about the victory that I am here, yet there are a lot of emotions coming on after this win."

Pe'er said, "It's more than beating Yanina, it was more of me handling all the stuff around and able to place everything on the side and just play tennis, and execute what I like to do, and just concentrate on the (match) and not the politics.