In a terrifying scene, tennis players at the Fujairah Open in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were forced to evacuate the court in the midst of an ongoing conflict. The UAE is one of the countries currently under attack by Iran, following the US-Israeli airstrikes over the weekend. The strikes, sanctioned by Donald Trump, resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and plunged the region into warfare. Airbases in the UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi, and tourist hotspots in nearby Dubai were also targeted. The attacks continued into the new week, disrupting an ATP Challenger Tour match between Daniil Ostapenkov and Matsuoka Hayato. Players rushed off the court in scenes of panic after an alarm was set off at the Tennis Country Club Fujairah, caused by the interception of a drone near the Port of Fujairah, which led to a fire at an oil industry zone. The Fujairah Media Office confirmed that no injuries were reported, the fire was brought under control, and normal operations resumed. However, the chaos affected some players competing at the ATP 500 event in Dubai, including the men's singles winner, Daniil Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev, who were stuck in the UAE after flights leaving the country were grounded. With Indian Wells set to start this week, Medvedev, Rublev, and other tennis players' involvement is under threat. Marca reports that the Russian duo are planning to head to Oman by car, given that it's one of the Middle Eastern nations believed to be least at risk. From there, they'll fly via private jet to either Turkey or Armenia, before heading over to California for Indian Wells. But with their opening matches fast approaching, time is certainly at a premium for the stranded players.
