Dubai, United Arab Emarites ? Protected by two bodyguards as he walked on the court, Andy Ram on Wednesday became the first Israeli to play in this Gulf state. He lost a doubles match a week after Israel’s Shahar Peer was denied a visa for the women’s tournament.

Ram appeared relaxed and focused once he and partner Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe began the first-round match against Marat Safin of Russia and Spain’s David Ferrer. The fourth-seeded Ram and Ullyet fell, 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.