Tennis Stars Stranded in Dubai
Several tennis stars including former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev are stranded in Dubai due to ongoing Middle East conflicts and airspace closures. The ATP issued a statement saying they're monitoring the situation and remain in contact with players and local authorities. Some passengers are rerouting through Muscat, Oman, where flights remain operational.
The widespread travel shutdown stems from an unprecedented temporary closure of United Arab Emirates airspace that began on March 1, 2026. The closure was a security measure in response to missile and drone exchanges between a United States-Israel coalition and Iran that extended into the skies over the Gulf. Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world's busiest hubs for international travel, and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) suspended all flight operations. The disruption has led to thousands of flight cancellations, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded globally. One of DXB's concourses sustained some structural damage from intercepted debris. The stranded players were in Dubai for the ATP 500 tournament, which concluded just before the airspace closures. Besides Daniil Medvedev, fellow Russian player Andrey Rublev is also reported to be affected. The players are attempting to travel to California for the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, a major tournament that is set to begin soon. A limited number of flights have begun to resume out of Dubai, with priority given to previously booked and repatriating passengers. Airlines like Emirates and Flydubai have started to operate a small number of flights, though major disruptions continue. The ATP has confirmed that the affected players and their teams are being accommodated in official tournament hotels while they await safe departure.
