Tennis Players Flee Court as Drone Attack Hits UAE Oil Terminal
In a startling incident at a second-tier ATP Challenger event in the United Arab Emirates, tennis players were forced to race off the court following a drone attack on a nearby oil terminal. Footage circulating online captured Japan's Hayato Matsuoka and Belarusian Daniil Ostapenkov evacuating midway through their Fujairah Challenger match, with the chair umpire quickly following suit.
"Get inside the building please," players were instructed as the situation unfolded. Play was immediately suspended for the day, with the ATP emphasizing that "the health, safety and wellbeing of our players, staff and tournament personnel is our priority."
Player Reactions and Tournament Cancellation
British player Finn Bass expressed disappointment, stating, "Was meant to be playing there this week, cannot believe they've gone ahead and not cancelled the event. Madness." Ukraine's Vladyslav Orlov reported hearing "the sounds of jets flying here and there" during a qualifying match, adding, "There is smoke going here next to the mountain, so not very safe here right now."
Subsequently, players received an email confirming the cancellation of both the Fujairah Challenger tournament and next week's event at the same venue. The correspondence highlighted a potential evacuation flight out of the country at a cost of 5000 euros (approximately $A8200) per person.
The ATP wrote in an email shared by Ilya Ivashka, "We will continue to facilitate access to available options where possible, while supporting players on site. In parallel, we are working closely with our contacts on the ground in Fujairah and Dubai, as well as monitoring commercial flight availability and alternative departure routes. Your safety and wellbeing remain our highest priority."
Wider Impact on International Sports
While tour-level tennis events have already departed the region, some players who participated in Dubai last week, including Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, remain stranded. The next major tournament is scheduled at Indian Wells, California, with main draw matches commencing on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, international sport is scrambling to mitigate the impact of the latest Middle East eruption. A pair of charter planes are set to land in Melbourne on Wednesday morning, carrying Formula 1 personnel from 10 of the grid's 11 teams plus F1 officials to Australia for the season-opening race.
Approximately a quarter of the 2000 people who work at every F1 race were due to travel via Gulf hubs Doha and Dubai. Despite the disruption, F1 bosses remain confident the Albert Park race will proceed, with the first practice session slated for Friday morning.
Future Events in Jeopardy
Upcoming races in Shanghai (March 15) and Japan (March 29) are expected to proceed, but the grand prix events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on April 12 and April 19, respectively, are now in jeopardy. F1 is "closely monitoring" the situation, with no certainty on whether cancelled races could be replaced. Turkey and Portugal have been suggested as potential alternatives to avoid a 22-round season with a five-week void before May's Miami race.
In other motorsport news, the FIA's season-opener for the World Endurance Championship, scheduled for March 28 in Qatar, has been postponed until "later in the year."
Travel Difficulties Across Sports
Athletes heading to the Winter Paralympics in Italy, starting on Friday, are also facing travel challenges. The International Paralympic Committee reports that most teams are already in Europe for training and is assisting others with travel arrangements. Iran is due to have one skier at the event.
Soccer is similarly affected, with a decision pending on whether to cancel or move the Finalissima on March 27 in Qatar, featuring European champions Spain and Lionel Messi's Argentina. Qatar suspended all soccer games indefinitely on Sunday, and Asian Champions League Elite west region knock-out ties have been postponed.
Cristiano Ronaldo appears to remain in Saudi Arabia, with Al Nassr posting a photo of him at training despite reports his private jet had departed. The club noted he has a hamstring injury and is undergoing rehabilitation, making him unlikely to play in Saturday's Saudi Pro League fixture against Neom, which is still scheduled to proceed despite a recent drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh.
In cricket, the England Lions squad and staff have safely returned to the UK after their series against Pakistani equivalents in Abu Dhabi was scrapped.
