updated 1:55 p.m. ET May 30, 2006

LONDON - The International Tennis Federation sent condolences to the Iraqi Tennis Federation on Tuesday following the deaths of a coach and two players in Baghdad.

Gunmen shot and killed coach Hussein Ahmed Rashid and players Nasir Al-Hatam and Wissam Adel Auda on Friday, reportedly because they were wearing shorts. Police believe the attack was related to a warning by Islamic extremists against such attire.

“Everyone at the ITF is devastated by this unnecessary loss of life,” ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti said. “At times such as these, we know that the entire tennis community joins with us to send sincere regrets to the families of these three men and our hope that there will be peace in Iraq very soon.”

Rashid, 34, was one of Iraq’s best Davis Cup players, leading his country in most matches played (23) and formed part of the country’s best doubles team with Saddam-Hussain Kadhim. Al-Hatam, 27, played in the 2006 Asia/Oceania Group IV of the Davis Cup.

It was the second attack against athletes in just over a week after a taekwondo team was kidnapped in western Iraq while driving to a training camp in neighboring Jordan on May 17.

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