The escalating tensions in the Middle East also impacted the tennis circuit. Following the conclusion of the Dubai Duty Free Championships, prominent names such as Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were left stranded in Dubai after the city’s airspace was closed. As a result, they were unable to arrive in time for the Eisenhower Cup exhibition in Indian Wells.
Fortunately, both players have left the city and will soon reach the California desert, but the journey was far from straightforward.
Here Is Why Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev Were Forced Out of of Eisenhower Cup
After securing the Dubai Duty Free Championships title as Tallon Griekspoor withdrew before the match on Feb. 28, Medvedev found himself unable to leave the city as regional tensions escalated dramatically. The situation intensified following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory missile and drone launches toward several Gulf nations, including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Jordan.
The developments triggered precautionary protocols across the region, with authorities tightening safety operations and imposing temporary restrictions on flight routes. Amid the disruption, fellow Russian and tournament semifinalist Rublev was also left stranded.
The travel disruption also forced both players to withdraw from the Tie Break Tens single-elimination exhibition, the Eisenhower Cup, which features eight mixed doubles teams and serves as a prelude to the BNP Paribas Open.
Rublev was set to partner with Amanda Anisimova, while Medvedev was set to team up with compatriot Mirra Andreeva. However, with the pair unable to travel, organizers named replacements: Learner Tien stepped in for Rublev, and Alexander Bublik took Medvedev’s place.
Fortunately, positive news emerged recently as Medvedev and Rublev, joined by fellow compatriot Karen Khachanov, who had exited in the second round of the WTA 500 event, were finally able to leave Dubai and travel overland to Oman.
With UAE airspace still closed, the only feasible way out was an overland journey from Dubai to neighboring Oman. Although border crossings were congested, Oman offered a relatively safer passage.
Daniil, Karen and Andrey left the UAE via Oman, arrived in Istanbul, and are already waiting for their flight to Los Angeles ❤️✈️
— Meddy Family 🐻 (@dmedvedevfans) March 3, 2026
Finnish player Harri Heliövaara, who is still stuck in Dubai, revealed in his blog that the Russian trio departed Muscat on a private jet, with Rublev’s mother, Marina Maryenko, also sharing that the ATP-arranged flight took roughly 6.5 hours to reach Istanbul. However, the players faced a prolonged delay before they were cleared for takeoff.
It is important to highlight that the ATP closely monitored developments in the Middle East and coordinated with the players amid escalating tensions.
Fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the players are now awaiting their flight to Los Angeles and are on track to arrive in time for the Indian Wells Masters. In hindsight, their exit from Dubai was anything but simple.
