Nine ATP players withdraw from 2026 Indian Wells; Russians stranded amid travel crisis

Building on earlier reports of withdrawals linked to prize money reductions, nine ATP players have confirmed pullouts from the men's singles at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open primarily due to injuries, while seeded Russians Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov, and Andrey Rublev face uncertainty after being stranded in Dubai by UAE airspace closures tied to Middle East tensions. The ATP 1000 event begins its main draw on March 4 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The first Sunshine Double ATP 1000 tournament runs through March 15, featuring stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Novak Djokovic.

Among confirmed withdrawals are seeded Holger Rune (No. 18), out since a severe Achilles injury at the 2025 Stockholm Open with no return date; Tallon Griekspoor (No. 25), sidelined by a left hamstring tear from the Dubai semifinals; Jaume Munar (No. 36, right arm injury since Feb. 17); Eliot Spizzirri (No. 78, elbow after Dallas); Filip Misolic (No. 84, mid-match retirement at Play In Challenger); plus Tomas Machac (No. 50), Lorenzo Sonego (No. 61), Alexandre Muller (No. 81), and Shang Juncheng (No. 261, protected).

Replacements include Quentin Halys (for Rune) and Roberto Bautista Agut (for Griekspoor). Six WTA players have also withdrawn, including Lois Boisson (No. 37) and Barbora Krejcikova (No. 53).

The Russians (projected seeds 11, 16, 17) competed in Dubai last week but are delayed after the UAE shuttered airspace on Saturday, with ATP staff reportedly sheltering in a hotel bunker.

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Stranded ATP tennis stars like Medvedev and Rublev in Dubai hotel, planning Oman escape via SUVs amid airspace closures for Indian Wells tournament.
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Stranded Dubai tennis players reject ATP routes, plan Oman private jet escape for Indian Wells

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More than 40 ATP players, officials, and staff, including Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, remain stuck in Dubai after airspace closures from US-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliation. Rejecting lengthy road options proposed by the ATP, they are arranging short drives to Oman for private jets, with Indian Wells participation uncertain as the tournament starts March 4.

Updates on stranded ATP players from Dubai: Daniil Medvedev has departed for Indian Wells, while others remain as airspace partially reopens following the Israel-Iran conflict. The ATP continues prioritizing safety ahead of the BNP Paribas Open.

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The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has been disrupted by numerous withdrawals and retirements, starting with top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Additional players, including Daria Kasatkina and Sara Bejlek, have pulled out due to injuries, allowing Mirra Andreeva and Belinda Bencic to advance via walkovers. The situation has sparked debate over the WTA schedule's demands.

Organizers of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells have confirmed that Novak Djokovic will compete in the ATP Masters 1000 event starting in early March 2026. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has limited his schedule this year following withdrawals from recent tournaments due to fatigue and readiness concerns. This marks his return to the California hard-court event 20 years after his debut there.

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Several prominent players, including Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula, have withdrawn from the upcoming 2026 Qatar TotalEnergies Open due to injuries and recovery needs following the Australian Open. The tournament, the first WTA 1000 event of the year, begins on February 8 in Doha. Despite the absences, stars like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek remain in the draw.

Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the upcoming ATP 500 Qatar Open in Doha, citing strong fatigue following his Australian Open final appearance. The 24-time Grand Slam champion's absence means Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will headline the field as top seeds. Organizers expressed their disappointment and wished him a speedy recovery.

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The ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells tournament begins on March 4, 2026, with first-round action featuring experienced players against rising talents. Analysts provide predictions for key matchups on days 1 and 2, highlighting head-to-head records and recent form. Bets focus on value in close contests amid the slower hard-court conditions.

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