Malmo, Sweden/Tel Aviv  - Israeli tennis player Andy Ram has described the protests against his country at the Davis Cup in Sweden as a "sad moment for tennis, sport and for Israel," in an article published by Israel's daily Yediot Achronot on Sunday.

Ram wrote that he had never encountered such hatred and mixing of sport and politics in his entire sporting career.

"These events have changed my view of Sweden completely and I doubt whether I even want to return here," he said.

Dubai, UAE - Israeli Andy Ram was bundled out in his opening doubles match at the Barclays Championships on Wednesday, leaving organisers to stand down on intense, airport style security erected around the controversial Israeli.

The fourth-seeded Ram and Kevin Ullyett, losing finalists at the weekend in Marseille, were beaten by Marat Safin and David Ferrer 6- 3, 3-6, 10-8 in the first round.

In singles play, three seeds reached the quarter-finals, led by number 3 Frenchman Gilles Simon, who beat Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 6-1, 6-2.