Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev’s title-winning week in Dubai has taken an unexpected turn, with the Russian star, his family and his team stranded in the United Arab Emirates after regional airspace was shut down following escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The disruption came a day after Medvedev clinched the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title, his 23rd career ATP crown. The airspace closure followed the United States’ airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, leaving several players unable to leave the country.
Medvedev told Bolshe Tennis in Russian that there is no clarity on when flights will resume.
“The situation is unusual, but basically, the only thing is that the airspace is closed, naturally,” Medvedev said. “So, no one knows when we’ll be able to fly out. It’s not clear whether this will last long or not.
“We’re just waiting to see what happens in the coming hours or days. They keep gradually pushing back the airport reopening time.”
The 2021 US Open champion said he has remained calm despite the uncertainty.
“As strange as that sounds, on the court, I’m very emotional, but in real life, it might actually help me to be more emotional at times – so, for me, everything is normal,” Medvedev said. “Naturally, I’ve received a lot of messages from friends and family, and everyone is worried, but I can say for my part that everything is fine.”
Several other players are also stranded in Dubai, including fellow Russians Andrey Rublev and Mirra Andreeva, as well as Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. Griekspoor withdrew from the Dubai final due to a left hamstring injury sustained during his semifinal win over Rublev.
The players are scheduled to compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, where main-draw action begins on Wednesday. Medvedev and Rublev are also slated to take part in The Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles exhibition on Tuesday. Medvedev’s partner is Andreeva, while Rublev is set to team up with American Amanda Anisimova.
Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who lost to Medvedev in the semifinals, managed to depart on one of the final flights out of Dubai on Saturday. According to reports, he has reached Indian Wells and was scheduled to practise on Sunday.
Doubles players Harri Heliovaara, Mate Pavic, Henry Patten and Marcelo Arevalo are also reportedly stranded. Heliovaara and Patten had defeated Pavic and Arevalo in the Dubai doubles final.
With the Indian Wells tournament around the corner, players, coaches and officials now face a wait for further updates, hoping the airspace reopens in time to avoid disruption to the ATP calendar.
