(VIDEO) Challenger tournament in UAE suspended as fire breaks out after drone intercepted near court
ATPTuesday, 03 March 2026 at 12:00
Players were forced to evacuate the court at the Fujairah Challenger as tennis in the Middle East continues to struggle amid the ongoing conflict with the challenger perhaps puzzlingly so still being played this week.
The UAE is among the countries currently being attacked by Iran following the US-Israeli airstrikes on the Middle East over the weekend. The strikes sanctioned by President Donald Trump led to the death of the supreme leader in Iran as the region was locked into warfare.
Abu Dhabi in particular has been hit hard in this and the attacks continued into the new week with an ATP Challenger Tour match between Daniil Ostapenkov and Matsuoka Hayato disrupted. In a scene like from a movie, they were seen running off court in a state of panic after an alarm was set off at the Fujairah Tennis Country Club.
A drone was intercepted supposedly in the nearby Port of Fujairah with debris having started a fire at the oil industry zone.
Their media office said as per Express: "Relevant authorities in the Emirate of Fujairah responded to a fire that broke out this morning in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ), resulting from falling debris following the successful interception of a drone by air defense systems.
“No injuries were reported, the fire was brought under control, and normal operations in the area have resumed.”It co
It comes after top ATP names including Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were left stranded by the ongoing conflict with the duo having to force a mad dash to Oman to try and get a flight over to America via Turkey or Armenia. Neither have left the country yet and have withdrawn from tonight's Tie Break Tens.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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