The Government of Fujairah has released a statement after players and officials had to run off the court at the ATP Challenger event, as an Iranian drone attacked, leading to a fire breaking out at an oil terminal that is 10km away.
The statement reads, “Relevant authorities responded to a fire that broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, resulting from falling debris following the successful interception of a drone by air defence systems”.
The ATP now announced that the tournament will be postponed for the rest of the week as the safety and willing being players and tournament personnel are their first priority.
“The safety and wellbeing of our players and tournament personnel is our highest priority.
“Players remain on site and are being fully supported, with accommodation and all immediate needs covered while onward travel arrangements are explored.
“We remain in close contact with local authorities, tournament organisers, and will continue to support players until they are able to travel safely.”
Some flights have been suspended as only a few planes are leaving, mainly for people who booked earlier or are changing planes in Dubai.
In the past few days, people have looked at the option of the players leaving Dubai by car and renting private jets from nearby Oman.
The Indian Wells tournament has already begun, and tennis players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are stuck, but they can make it as their matches are scheduled for the weekend. The tournament is set to end on March 15, 2026.
Speaking to Bolshe Tennis Medvedev said he has no idea when he will be able to fly out although what’s happening is scary but his coping well.
“The situation is unusual, but basically, the only thing is that the airspace is closed, naturally,’ Medvedev told Bolshe Tennis in Russian, according to tennisuptodate.com. ‘So, no one knows when we’ll be able to fly out. It’s not clear whether this will last long or not.
“We’re just waiting to see what happens in the coming hours or days. They keep gradually pushing back the airport reopening time.
“As strange as that sounds, on the court, I’m very emotional, but in real life, it might actually help me to be more emotional at times – so, for me, everything is normal”.
