‘We should not have played’ – how tennis was caught in Middle East conflict

Explosions echoing near a hotel in Dubai created a frightening situation for professional tennis players who had gathered in the region for an ATP Challenger Tour tournament in Fujairah. The unexpected escalation of regional conflict turned what should have been a routine week of tennis into a stressful and dangerous experience for many competitors trying to build their careers on the professional circuit.

The tournament, scheduled in the port city roughly an hour’s drive east of Dubai, initially appeared to proceed as normal. Fujairah is known for being an important hub in global oil storage and maritime fuel supply, which made the location particularly sensitive when tensions escalated across the Middle East.

Players Hear Explosions During Practice

Australian tennis player James McCabe was among those training on court when he suddenly heard explosions and fighter jets flying overhead. The alarming sounds occurred as the United Arab Emirates was reportedly being targeted by missile and drone strikes from Iran.

The attacks came after United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran the previous weekend, prompting retaliatory attacks across the region.

Many players assumed the competition would be postponed or cancelled because governments in the region were advising people to remain in shelters for safety. However, the situation unfolded quite differently than expected.

ATP Initially Says It Is Safe to Play

Despite the security concerns, officials from the Association of Tennis Professionals decided that the tournament could continue as planned. After consultations with local authorities in the UAE, the ATP concluded that the risk level allowed for the event to go ahead.

Players were informed that it was safe to compete in Fujairah, and the tournament proceeded under special circumstances. Extra security precautions were introduced and matches were played behind closed doors, without spectators.

According to officials, another factor influencing the decision was that all players had already arrived in the country before travel disruptions began affecting the region. This meant the tournament draw would remain intact and no players would be unable to participate because of cancelled flights.

However, what followed left many athletes deeply frustrated and fearful.

Drone Attack Sets Oil Terminal Ablaze

On Tuesday, the situation escalated dramatically. Players suddenly ran off the courts when debris from a drone strike hit a nearby oil terminal, causing a fire at the facility.

The sight of flames and the proximity of the attack heightened fears among competitors and support staff. Many athletes believed the tournament would immediately be called off.

But to their shock, there was still uncertainty about whether matches might resume the following day.

James McCabe described the delay in cancelling the event as the most frightening part of the ordeal. Even after the oil refinery was hit, the possibility of returning to play remained under discussion for hours.

Ultimately, nearly ten hours after the incident, the ATP announced that the tournament would be cancelled. A second Challenger event scheduled at the same venue the following week was also scrapped.

Players Scramble to Escape the Region

Once the cancellation was confirmed, players quickly began trying to leave the UAE.

For many of them, this was far from easy. Most competitors on the Challenger Tour are ranked outside the world’s top 200 and often travel with limited financial resources while pursuing their professional careers.

As travel routes became uncertain due to airspace closures and flight disruptions, anxiety among players grew rapidly.

Two competitors, Marat Sharipov and Sergey Fomin, were left stranded in the UAE along with their coaches. All other players eventually managed to leave the country.

Controversy Over Expensive Charter Flight

Frustration among athletes intensified when they received an email from an ATP representative explaining that a charter flight was being arranged to evacuate players from the Middle East.

However, the message initially stated that each player would have to pay approximately $5,000 for a seat on the flight.

For many Challenger-level athletes, this was an enormous expense. To put it in perspective, the total prize money for winning the Fujairah tournament would have been just under $9,500, while players eliminated in the first round would have earned only about $600.

When news of the charter flight fee spread among players and eventually reached the public, criticism of the ATP grew quickly.

After the situation became widely known, the ATP reversed its decision and agreed to cover the cost of the chartered plane.

The evacuation flight eventually traveled to Milan, making a stop in Egypt along the way.

Visa Issues Leave Some Players Stranded

Even after the charter flight was arranged, some players could not take advantage of it.

Marat Sharipov was unable to travel to Italy because he did not possess a valid European visa. One possible alternative would have been disembarking in Egypt, but that option presented serious risks.

Sharipov would have had to leave behind his luggage, including his racquets, training equipment, and clothing—items that are essential to his livelihood as a professional athlete.

Without any guarantee of retrieving his belongings, he decided to remain in the UAE and search for other travel options.

The 23-year-old expressed frustration that the ATP did not provide additional support for players facing special circumstances like his.

Costly Attempts to Leave

Sharipov later revealed that he had spent approximately $7,000 attempting to book alternative flights back to Russia.

Several of those flights were cancelled due to ongoing airspace closures in the region. As a result, he remained stuck in the UAE while waiting for a safe route home.

He eventually booked a flight to Armenia, though he feared that it could be cancelled as well.

Other Players Find Their Own Way Home

James McCabe managed to secure a commercial flight and returned to Sydney shortly after the tournament’s cancellation.

However, he said players initially felt abandoned and forced to handle the situation on their own.

According to McCabe, when athletes first learned they might have to pay $5,000 for the evacuation flight, panic spread quickly among competitors.

Limited Support for Lower-Ranked Players

While Challenger Tour players struggled to escape the region, the experience for some of the sport’s biggest stars was very different.

Top-ranked Russians Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Karen Khachanov were also in Dubai after competing in a higher-level ATP event.

They were able to travel by road to Oman, then catch flights to Istanbul before continuing on to Indian Wells in the United States for the prestigious Indian Wells Masters.

Meanwhile, British doubles specialist Henry Patten and his Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara also managed to leave Dubai, although they decided not to compete at Indian Wells due to the stress of the situation.

Calls for Greater Support

The Professional Tennis Players Association offered some assistance by providing $2,500 in financial support to affected players.

Sharipov also praised the UAE government for covering hotel costs for those who remained in the country.

Still, many competitors believe the ATP should have done more to protect players on the lower levels of professional tennis.

Sharipov emphasized that Challenger players often struggle financially and rely heavily on the sport’s governing bodies during crises.

He argued that organizations with far greater resources should provide stronger support systems for athletes trying to build their careers.

A Harsh Reminder for the Challenger Tour

The incident served as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by players outside tennis’s elite ranks.

While the sport’s biggest stars enjoy financial security and strong logistical support, those competing on the Challenger Tour often operate on tight budgets and limited resources.

For many of the players trapped in Fujairah, the experience was both frightening and financially damaging.

As tensions across the Middle East continue to affect travel and sporting events, the situation has sparked renewed debate about player safety, financial protections, and the responsibilities of governing bodies during international crises.

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