Former world number one Daniil Medvedev, his family and team are stranded in Dubai a day after winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for his 23rd career ATP title.
Tallon Griekspoor, who withdrew from the title match due to injury, and Andrey Rublev were also in Dubai after airspace was closed due to tensions in the Middle East following U.S. airstrikes on Iran on Saturday local time.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, told Bolshe Tennis that he has no idea when he might leave the UAE. He and the other players are scheduled to play at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The main draw of this tournament begins on Wednesday.
“The situation is unusual, but basically the only thing is that the airspace is naturally closed,” Medvedev told Bolshe Tennis in Russian, according to tennisuptodate.com. “So, no one knows when we will be able to take off. We don’t know if it will last long or not.
“We’re just waiting to see what happens in the coming hours or days. They’re gradually pushing back the reopening time of the airport.”
Medvedev said he was doing well under the circumstances and was able to stay calm.
“As strange as it may sound, on the pitch I am very emotional, but in real life it can sometimes help me to be more emotional – so, for me, everything is normal,” Medvedev said. “Of course, I’ve received a lot of messages from friends and family, and everyone is worried, but I can say for myself that everything is fine.”
Medvedev is scheduled to compete in the Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles exhibition in Indian Wells on Tuesday. Her doubles partner is young Russian WTA star Mirra Andreeva.
Andrey Rublev is also stuck in Dubai. (Getty Images: Christopher Pike)
Rublev, 28, is also expected to compete in the Eisenhower Cup. The Russian’s doubles partner is American star Amanda Anisimova.
Medvedev, 30, also won the 2023 Dubai title. He was ranked 11th in the world before the event.
Griekspoor, a 25th-ranked Dutchman, injured his left hamstring during his semifinal victory over Rublev, the 18th-ranked player.
Doubles players Harri Heliovaara (Finland), Mate Pavic (Croatia), Henry Patten (Great Britain) and Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador) are also said to be blocked. Heliovaara and Patten defeated Pavic and Arevalo in the doubles final in Dubai.
In addition, various coaches and officials, as well as tennis journalists, also remain in Dubai.
Zimbabwe unable to return home after T20 World Cup
Zimbabwe players remain in India after their final T20 World Cup match against South Africa. (AP: Manish Swarup)
The Zimbabwe men’s cricket team was also affected by the closure of Dubai airport following the end of their T20 World Cup campaign.
After losing to South Africa on Sunday evening, Zimbabwe were scheduled to fly from Delhi to Harare via a stopover in Dubai, but will now remain in India indefinitely, according to ESPNcricinfo.
The ICC said in a statement this weekend that it had “activated comprehensive contingency plans to protect travel, logistics and the well-being of all stakeholders” at the World Cup.
England was also hit by the Dubai airstrikes, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) canceling a match between the England Lions and Pakistan Shaheens.
The over-50s match was originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The closure of UAE airspace prevented the Lions from leaving the region.
Reuters/ABC
