Venus calls for cool heads to resolve issue of Israeli star

DUBAI: Venus Williams said yesterday that amid her disappointment over the exclusion of Israeli Shahar Peer from the Dubai Open, the WTA will not be rushed into a decision on the future of the now-controversial Gulf event.

“I think she should have had the opportunity to play here,” said the WTA player council member after reaching the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Alize Cornet of France. “I’m disappointed.                “She’s a good person and should not be denied the right to play — we are all just people.”