Former US Open tennis champion Daniil Medvedev has indicated he is among a "small number of players and team members" the ATP Tour is assisting to leave Dubai, as escalating conflict in the Middle East triggers widespread travel disruption.
Medvedev's Instagram account reposted a report on Monday from the Russian-language tennis outlet, Bolshe, confirming he was safe and staying at a friend's apartment in Dubai. This follows flight cancellations after his victory at the ATP event there last week.
The ATP Tour issued a statement on Monday, asserting: "The health, safety and wellbeing of our players, staff and tournament personnel is our priority. We can confirm that a small number of players and team members remain in Dubai following the conclusion of the recent ATP 500 event."
The organisation added that those affected "and their teams are being accommodated in the tournament's official hotels, where their immediate needs are being fully supported."
Medvedev and others are scheduled to compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, with main-draw matches set to commence on Wednesday.
The ATP stated: "We are in direct communication with those affected, as well as with tournament organizers and security advisors. At this stage, travel assessments remain subject to ongoing assessment in line with airline operations and official guidance.
“We will continue to provide appropriate support to ensure players and their teams can depart safely when conditions allow."
Beyond tennis, cricketers from England and Pakistan’s men’s developmental teams were also in the United Arab Emirates over the weekend for a game that was subsequently cancelled on Sunday.
Youth basketball players similarly faced travel complications when a EuroLeague tournament in the region was called off.
Numerous other sporting events have been impacted, including Asian Champions League football matches and the Qatari league, which are both now on hold.
The governing body overseeing Formula 1 announced on Monday that it would prioritise "safety and wellbeing" as it reviews upcoming races in the region.
