Medvedev Stranded in Dubai After Title

Daniil Medvedev's second Dubai title was a career first, marking the first time the former World No. 1 has won the same tournament twice. His previous 22 ATP Tour victories had all come in different cities. The win for his 23rd career title came via a walkover when finalist Tallon Griekspoor withdrew with a hamstring injury. The airspace closures have stranded a significant portion of the tournament's final-weekend players. Among those stuck are fellow Russian Andrey Rublev, finalist Tallon Griekspoor, and the men's doubles finalists: Harri Heliovaara, Henry Patten, Marcelo Arevalo, and Mate Pavic. In total, 41 accredited individuals from the ATP tour, including players, coaches, and officials, remain in Dubai. The ATP's head of security has advised all personnel to remain in their hotel, which has been converted into a secure zone, with beds reportedly set up on a lower level in case of escalating attacks. The tour presented overland travel options—a six-hour drive to Oman or a ten-hour drive to Riyadh—but players have so far rejected these routes, prioritizing safety. Their ability to compete in the upcoming Indian Wells tournament is now in jeopardy. The travel chaos stems from U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran that began on February 28, 2026, and retaliatory Iranian attacks on several Middle Eastern countries. The conflict has led to widespread airspace closures over the Persian Gulf, causing the most significant disruption to global air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of flights canceled worldwide. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic was in Los Angeles preparing for the Indian Wells tournament, where he trained on the UCLA campus and spoke to the university's football team. His appearance at the Crypto.com Arena for the Lakers' 128-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings included a post-game meeting with both Luka Dončić and LeBron James. Following the game, in which he scored 28 points, Dončić was effusive in his praise for the tennis star. "For me, he's the GOAT," Dončić told reporters in a press conference. "It was incredible that he came to see me, I already told him I'd love to attend one of his matches."