Several tennis players, including Daniil Medvedev and Henry Patten, are stranded in Dubai following the suspension of flights due to escalating Middle East tensions. The United Arab Emirates closed its airspace after US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory missile attacks. The disruptions come just before the Indian Wells Masters begins on March 4.
The Dubai Tennis Championships concluded on Saturday, March 1, 2026, with Daniil Medvedev securing his 23rd ATP Tour title via a walkover in the singles final after Tallon Griekspoor withdrew due to a hamstring injury. In the men's doubles final, British player Henry Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara claimed their second consecutive title. However, celebrations were overshadowed by regional unrest.
On Saturday morning, the United States and Israel conducted joint airstrikes on locations in Iran. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at US bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. As a result, the UAE closed its airspace, suspending all flight operations at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) airports until further notice, according to the Dubai Media Office.
Players affected include Medvedev, Griekspoor, Patten, Heliovaara, Andrey Rublev, Marcelo Arevalo, and Mate Pavic, along with coaches, officials, and journalists. Reem Abulleil, a journalist covering the event, reported on X that the group remains in Dubai, with the tournament extending hotel stays until March 4. She noted missile and drone interceptions across the city but stated they have been safe so far, with the airspace closure extended periodically, currently until at least 3 p.m. on March 2, likely to be prolonged further.
Medvedev, who is with his family and team, shared an update in a video to Russian outlet More!. "Of course, the situation is unusual. The airspace is closed, no one knows when we’ll be able to fly," he said. "It’s unclear how long this will last, so we’re just waiting to see what happens in the next few hours and days... everything is fine."
Holger Rune, recovering from an Achilles injury in Doha, Qatar, posted on X: "Doha today. We are all safe." His mother, Aneke Rune, told Danish outlet BT about four intercepted missile attacks overhead, describing white stripes in the sky from interceptions that resembled bombs or thunder. The family plans to fly to Los Angeles but faces uncertainty.
Alexander Bublik managed to depart Dubai for Los Angeles, noting on a Telegram account via a Reddit post that his flight left Iranian airspace just before airstrikes began. "We were flying out of Dubai, thinking, ‘God willing, we’ll have a peaceful flight.’ We had just left Iranian airspace when I opened the news, and saw this."
British Challenger player Finn Bass experienced a three-and-a-half-hour delay before his flight was cancelled, posting on Instagram: "Flight cancelled, been stuck on plane for 3.5 hours."
The timing poses challenges for preparations for the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, California, starting March 4. Medvedev, seeded 11th and a runner-up in 2023 and 2024, has a bye into the second round.
