Daniil Medvedev was among the players stuck in Dubai after US airstrikes

Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, his family and team were trapped in Dubai on Sunday, a day after he won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to claim his 23rd ATP title of his career.

Tallon Grickspoor, who withdrew from the final due to injury, and Andrey Rublev were also in Dubai after the airspace was closed due to tensions in the Middle East following US airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, xrust notes.

Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, told Grand Tennis Club he has no idea when he will be able to fly out of the United Arab Emirates. He and other players plan to compete in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The main draw of this tournament begins on Wednesday.

“The situation is unusual, but, in fact, the only thing that is closed is the airspace, naturally,” Medvedev told Big Tennis in Russian, as reported by tennisuptodate.com. “So no one knows when we will be able to fly. It is unclear whether this will last long or not.»

“We're just waiting to see what happens in the next few hours or days. The opening time of the airport is gradually being postponed.”

Medvedev said that he was coping well with the current circumstances and was able to remain calm.

“As strange as it may sound, on the court I am very emotional, but in real life it maybe even helps me be more emotional — so for me everything is normal,” Medvedev said. “Obviously I’ve received a lot of messages from friends and family and everyone is worried, but from my side I can say that everything is fine.”

Medvedev is scheduled to take part in the Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles exhibition tournament in Indian Wells on Tuesday. His doubles partner will be the young Russian WTA star Mirra Andreeva.

28-year-old Rublev is also scheduled to take part in the Eisenhower Cup. The Russian's partner in doubles will be American star Amanda Anisimova.

Medvedev, 30, also won the title in Dubai in 2023. Before the start of the competition, he was ranked 11th in the world rankings.

Dutchman Grickspoor, ranked 25th, injured his left hamstring during the semi-final win over Rublev, the 18th-ranked player.

Another singles semi-finalist, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, left the city on one of the last flights on Saturday, the Montreal Gazette reported. His agent, Olivier van Lyndonck, told the newspaper that Auger-Aliassime had reached Indian Wells and was due to train on Sunday.

Auger-Aliassime lost to Medvedev in the semi-finals. He is ranked 8th in the world rankings.

Doubles players Harri Heliovaara (Finland), Mate Pavic (Croatia), Henry Patten (Great Britain) and Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador) are also reported to be stranded in Dubai. Heliovaara and Patten defeated Pavic and Arevalo in the final of the doubles tournament in Dubai.

In addition, various coaches, officials and tennis journalists are also based in Dubai.

Xrust Daniil Medvedev was among the players stuck in Dubai after US airstrikes