Russian Players Miss Exhibition at Indian Wells Amid Middle East Crisis
Russian tennis players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were unable to arrive at Indian Wells in time to participate in Tuesday night’s exhibition event in Southern California. Their travel was disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has caused widespread flight cancellations and airspace closures affecting key transit hubs.
The US and Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran over the weekend, escalating tensions and resulting in significant disruptions to air travel across parts of the Gulf region.
Medvedev, a former world No. 1 and two-time finalist at Indian Wells, had recently won the Dubai Championships title by walkover on Saturday. He was scheduled to compete in the Eisenhower Cup, a one-night tie-break tens doubles event, alongside fellow Russian Mirra Andreeva.
American Amanda Anisimova was paired with Rublev for the exhibition, which took place on the eve of the main draw of the Indian Wells tournament. Both Medvedev, seeded 11th, and Rublev, seeded 17th, are slated to play their first singles matches on Friday.
Players and Officials Express Concern Over Travel Safety
Jack Draper, the defending champion at Indian Wells, described the situation as very concerning. The British player, who was in Dubai last week, managed to secure one of the last flights out of the region.
“I was in Dubai last week. I managed to get away almost probably one of the last flights out,” Draper said. “I just hope the players and all the staff within the ATP are able to make it here. The main thing is that they’re safe.”
American player Coco Gauff revealed that her coach, Gavin MacMillan, was among those stranded in the Middle East due to the travel disruptions.
“He’s currently stuck, and I don’t know if he’s going to make it,” Gauff said during a press conference. “I just want him to be safe.”
ATP Challenger Event in Dubai Cancelled Amid Security Alert
The conflict’s impact extended beyond Indian Wells, leading to the abrupt cancellation of an ATP Challenger event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday. A security alert forced players and tournament personnel to evacuate the courts abruptly.
The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) reported that the ATP Tour offered players the option of charter flights at a cost of €5,000 (approximately $5,800) per person, which would be paid out of pocket. The PTPA pledged to cover half of the cost for players and urged the ATP Tour to cover the remainder.
“We are taking this step to ensure that no player is forced to choose between their safety and their financial stability,” the PTPA stated.
The ATP Tour did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, Belarusian player Ilya Ivashka, who was among those stranded in Dubai, posted on social media that the ATP had stepped up to assist.
“Just got confirmation that all the people from the tournament in Fujairah will be evacuated with no cost,” Ivashka wrote. “Everything completely covered. Class act @atptour.”
