Several of the world’s top tennis players, including recent Dubai champion Daniil Medvedev and world No. 17 Andrey Rublev, are facing a race against time to reach the United States for the Indian Wells Masters after being stranded in Dubai due to sudden regional airspace closures.
The travel chaos erupted over the weekend following an escalation in Middle East tensions. Military strikes involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran led to the grounding of hundreds of flights across the Gulf. As of Tuesday morning, while some “limited” evacuation flights have begun to depart, the majority of commercial air traffic remains suspended, leaving over 40 ATP players, coaches and staff in a holding pattern.
Slim Chances for Indian Wells
The situation has cast a major shadow over the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, which officially begins on Wednesday, March 4.
While seeded players like Medvedev (No. 11) and Rublev (No. 17) receive first-round byes and aren’t scheduled to play their opening singles matches until Friday or Saturday (see the men’s draw here), the logistical hurdles are now here:
- Mixed Doubles Withdrawal: Both Medvedev and Rublev have already been forced to withdraw from the Eisenhower Cup, a mixed-doubles exhibition event scheduled for Tuesday night in Indian Wells.
- Rejected Travel Offers: Reports from MARCA suggest the ATP held an emergency meeting to offer players road transport to Oman or Saudi Arabia. However, most players, including Medvedev, declined these options due to security risks and the uncertainty around the bordes.
- Safety First: In updates shared via social media and Russian outlets, Medvedev remained characteristically calm, stating that while the situation is “unusual,” he and his family are safe in their hotel. “No one knows when we’ll be able to fly out, they keep gradually pushing back the airport reopening time.”
Who is affected?
In addition to Medvedev and Rublev, other players currently stuck include:
- Tallon Griekspoor: The Dubai runner-up, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury.
- Doubles Champions: Harri Heliövaara and Henry Patten.
- Karen Khachanov: Though some reports suggest he may have managed to depart earlier, his status remains unconfirmed.
The Indian Wells draw was completed on Monday with the stranded players still included. Tournament officials and the ATP are reportedly monitoring the situation hour-by-hour. If the players cannot secure flights by at least Wednesday, a wave of high-profile withdrawals from the “Fifth Grand Slam” appears inevitable.
