Players were forced to evacuate the court at the Fujairah Open in the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing conflict. The UAE is among the countries currently being attacked by Iran following the US-Israeli airstrikes on the Middle Eastern nation over the weekend.
The strikes sanctioned by Donald Trump led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while also plunging the region into warfare. Airbases in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, had been hit hard by retaliatory Iranian strikes, while tourist hotspots in nearby Dubai were also targeted.
The attacks have continued into the new week, with an ATP Challenger Tour match between Daniil Ostapenkov and Matsuoka Hayato disrupted by a nearby incident. Players were seen rushing off the court in scenes of panic after an alarm was set off at the Tennis Country Club Fujairah.
It transpires that the alarm was caused after a drone was intercepted near the Port of Fujairah, with debris having started a fire at an oil industry zone. Commenting on the incident, the Fujairah Media Office said: “Relevant authorities in the Emirate of Fujairah responded to a fire that broke out this morning in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ), resulting from falling debris following the successful interception of a drone by air defense systems.
“No injuries were reported, the fire was brought under control, and normal operations in the area have resumed.”
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Indian Wells is set to start this week, with Medvedev, Rublev, and all of the other tennis players’ involvement under threat. It’s being reported by Marca that the Russian duo are planning to head to Oman by car, given that it’s one of the Middle Eastern nations believed to be least at risk.
It’s claimed from there, they’ll fly via private jet to either Turkey or Armenia, before heading over to California for Indian Wells. But with their opening matches fast approaching, time is certainly at a premium for the stranded players.