Rublev, Medvedev Stranded in Dubai as Airspace Shutdown Halts Travel
rublev and Daniil Medvedev are among tennis stars stranded in Dubai as a shutdown of regional airspace tied to the Middle East war has produced a widespread travel stoppage, officials and players say. As of Monday (ET) a small number of players and team members remained in Dubai following the conclusion of the ATP 500 event, the tournament authority confirmed. The ATP is coordinating accommodations and departures while players await cleared airline operations and official guidance.
Rublev among players stuck as ATP coordinates departures
The ATP Tour issued a statement Monday (ET) that “the health, safety and wellbeing of our players, staff and tournament personnel is our priority” and confirmed a small number of players and team members remain in Dubai after the recent ATP 500 event. The statement said those individuals and their teams are being accommodated in the tournament’s official hotels and that “their immediate needs are being fully supported. ” The same statement noted that travel assessments remain subject to ongoing evaluation in line with airline operations and official guidance, and that the ATP will continue to provide appropriate support to ensure players and their teams can depart safely when conditions allow.
In public posts, Daniil Medvedev, former US Open tennis champion, reshared a Russian-language outlet’s post saying he was safe and staying at a friend’s apartment in Dubai. The shutdown of Dubai airspace has left multiple competitors and their support staff grounded while organizers and governing bodies work through logistics.
Medvedev’s status, tournament schedules and broader sports impact
Medvedev and others were scheduled to travel to Indian Wells, Calif., where main-draw matches for the BNP Paribas Open are set to begin Wednesday (ET). Tournament organizers and the ATP remain in direct communication with those affected as they assess travel options and safety measures tied to airline operations and official guidance.
The disruption has extended beyond tennis. Cricket teams from England and Pakistan’s men’s developmental sides were in the United Arab Emirates before a scheduled game that was cancelled, youth basketball teams saw a EuroLeague tournament in the region cancelled, and several professional competitions were paused or put on hold. The Asian Champions League and the Qatari league are among soccer competitions currently affected, and the governing body that oversees Formula 1 has said it will focus on safety and wellbeing as it considers upcoming races in the region.
Organizers emphasize that departures hinge on airline routes and official clearances; meanwhile, players and their teams remain under tournament care for lodging and basic needs. Event schedules in the coming days will be influenced by how quickly regional airspace and commercial flight services resume normal operations.
What happens next will depend on unfolding security assessments and airline decisions. The ATP’s statement said travel assessments are ongoing and that it will continue to support affected players and staff; those grounded in Dubai — including rublev — are expected to remain under tournament care until safe travel is possible. Attention now turns to Indian Wells participants and event security teams as they prepare for a fluid schedule in the coming days (ET).
