Tennis Stars Struck in Dubai Amid Rising Tensions

Daniil Medvedev and tennis players stuck in Dubai due to Iranian attacks

Daniil Medvedev and other players stranded in Dubai due to Iranian missile and drone attacks after ATP 500 tournament.

Russian tennis star and others wait for flights as airspace closures disrupt travel plans...

Daniil Medvedev, the Russian tennis star, is among a small number of players stuck in Dubai after the ATP 500 tournament due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The ATP has confirmed that Medvedev and other players are safe and being accommodated in official tournament hotels.

The airspace closure followed Iranian missile and drone attacks, prompting authorities to suspend flights as a precautionary safety measure. Medvedev, who won the Dubai title, is unsure when he'll be able to leave, saying “no one knows when we'll be able to fly out.”

Other stranded players include Andrey Rublev, Harri Heliovaara, and Tallon Griekspoor. The ATP is in direct communication with affected players and is working to ensure their safe departure.

“The health, safety and well-being of our players, staff and tournament personnel is our priority,” the ATP said in a statement published on X, formerly Twitter.

“We can confirm that a small number of players and team members remain in Dubai... They are being accommodated in the official tournament hotels.

“We are in direct communication with those affected.”

Finnish tennis player Harri Heliovaara shared his experience of the Iranian strikes on his blog, mentioning that “much of the airspace in the surrounding areas is closed.” He was in a hotel near the airport when the attacks happened.

Heliovaara estimated that around 30 people were being housed in the hotel, which was affected by the airspace closure. He won the doubles title alongside British player Henry Patten just before the incident.

“We're just calmly waiting for things to improve,” he added.

“Of course we want to leave as soon as possible, but sometimes the best thing is just to wait. Things will get better from here.”

Dubai Airports has announced that "limited" flights will resume on Monday evening, offering a glimmer of hope for stranded tennis players like Daniil Medvedev and Harri Heliovaara. The news may allow them to finally leave the city after being stuck due to Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Emirates and flydubai are resuming some flights on Monday evening, while Etihad Airways will restart operations on Tuesday. Emirates is prioritizing customers with earlier bookings and will contact those rebooked on limited flights directly. Flydubai is also operating a limited number of flights, advising customers to update their contact details and check flight status before heading to the airport.

Etihad Airways will operate select repatriation, cargo, and repositioning flights from Abu Dhabi, subject to strict operational and safety approvals. All scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain cancelled.

Iran has been retaliating against American and Israeli strikes since Saturday, launching drones and missiles at several countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates. Despite the escalating tensions and explosions in Dubai, the ATP 500 tennis tournament continued, with the doubles final taking place on Saturday and the singles trophy ceremony going ahead as planned.

The situation has left several tennis players, including Daniil Medvedev and Harri Heliovaara, stranded in Dubai due to airspace closures. Medvedev, who won the singles title, expressed his calm and patience, saying they're just waiting for the situation to improve.

The ATP has issued the following statement on player safety in Dubai. pic.twitter.com/k3UwbAeO11

— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) March 2, 2026

The Dubai ATP 500 marked the end of a series of tournaments on the men's and women's tours, with the next stop being the Masters and WTA 1000 in Indian Wells, California, starting Wednesday. Meanwhile, Challenger and International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments are still set to take place in Fujairah, northeast Emirates, despite the uncertainty surrounding the ATP 500 and ITF events.

The ATP and ITF have been contacted for updates on the Fujairah tournaments, but responses are still pending. Given the current situation, it's unclear whether these events will proceed as planned.