“We had to evacuate the hotel”: Daniil Medvedev explains chaotic Dubai escape after Indian Wells win

Daniil Medvedev began his BNP Paribas Open campaign with a convincing win, but the Russian arrived in California after a turbulent week shaped by travel uncertainty and rising military tensions in the Middle East. The 2021 US Open champion defeated Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 6-2 in his opening match at Indian Wells, later saying he felt “kind of on top of him” for much of the contest.

The victory came only days after Medvedev’s title run at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The former world No. 1 lifted the ATP 500 trophy after Tallon Griekspoor withdrew shortly before the final, but celebrations were quickly replaced by logistical complications as the escalation of the Iran conflict led to temporary airspace closures across parts of the region, disrupting departures from Dubai.

The situation forced Medvedev to reconsider his route to the United States, eventually requiring a multi-stage journey that included long drives, border crossings and connecting flights. Despite the unusual circumstances, the Russian insisted he felt physically ready for competition and arrived in California confident that “the jet lag is done.”

Medvedev, seeded 11th at Indian Wells and a finalist at the tournament in both 2023 and 2024, opened his campaign with a composed performance. The Russian explained that he “did everything well” against Tabilo, applying constant pressure from the baseline to secure a straight-sets victory that set up a third-round meeting with Argentina’s Sebastian Baez.

Medvedev’s performance against Tabilo reflected the level that has made him one of the most consistent hard-court players of the past decade. The Russian controlled most of the baseline exchanges and notably did not face a single break point during the match, a statistic he highlighted when analysing the win.

“I think today was a great match for me. I did everything well. I had zero break points to save, even if some games had a bit of pressure on my serve," Medvedev said during his press conference. "I think I put a lot of pressure on him from baseline points. I felt like I was kind of on top of him. So his only chance left was to serve well, which can make you stay in any match in the world. But I managed to return pretty well in important moments, and it was enough to win today. I’m super happy, because Alejandro is a tough opponent.”

The result continues Medvedev’s strong record in the California desert. Although he has often spoken about the difficulties of adjusting from Dubai’s faster conditions to the slower courts of Indian Wells, the Russian has reached the final twice in the past two editions of the tournament, losing both times to Carlos Alcaraz.

He acknowledged that the adjustment period is rarely comfortable, especially given the 12-hour time difference and the distinct playing conditions. Yet once the tournament begins, the Russian has repeatedly found his rhythm.

“Indian Wells is a strange place for me. When I arrive, especially the first few days, the jet lag is huge coming from Dubai. I always play Dubai before this tournament, so there’s a 12-hour time difference. The courts are completely different from Dubai. Even the balls feel different because of the surface. During the first two or three days I usually feel like there’s no chance I’m going to win the first round. But the last three years have been unbelievable here, and I love coming back.”

While Medvedev’s performance on court appeared controlled, the journey to California had been far from routine. The Russian revealed that he had been staying in a Dubai hotel that was evacuated overnight as military tensions escalated across parts of the Middle East, forcing temporary disruptions to regional airspace and complicating travel plans for players leaving the Emirates.

“I stayed in one of the hotels where something happened, so we had to evacuate at night with my wife. It depends on the kind of person you are and the situation you’re in. If I had been there with my kids, I would probably have been more stressed. But the kids were back home in Monaco. My focus was mainly on how we could get to Indian Wells and how to get my wife back to the kids in Monaco.”

Leaving the region proved challenging as flights became scarce following the temporary closure of parts of the airspace. Medvedev explained that fellow Russian players Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov were also trying to leave the region, prompting them to coordinate possible routes out of Dubai.

“It was not easy to decide what to do. At one moment we were texting a lot with Andrey and Karen. Andrey and I decided to go to Oman and try to find something there. It wasn’t easy because everyone was trying to leave and there were not many slots or planes available. But we managed to find a plane. Karen joined us, and the next day we flew to Istanbul and then from Istanbul to Los Angeles.”

During the press conference, Medvedev was also asked about the idea of “tennis IQ,” a concept often associated with his analytical approach to matches. The Russian suggested the term overlaps with mental strength but remains difficult to define precisely.

“I think tennis IQ is a very vague term. It’s very close to mental strength, but at the same time it’s completely different things. For example, Novak probably has a very high tennis IQ, but is it the highest in the history of tennis, or is he mentally the strongest in the history of tennis, or is it both? It’s very tough to say.”

Medvedev added that his own approach to tennis involves constantly analysing patterns and looking for ways to use his strengths against an opponent’s weaknesses. When asked about younger players who demonstrate a strong tactical understanding of the game, the Russian pointed to American prospect Learner Tien.

“From the younger players, I would say Learner. I’ve played him four times now and every match was different," the Russian said. "The way he manages to control the court and the point in his favour is really impressive. We’re playing doubles together tomorrow, and I really like his game. I’m hoping he can do well in his career.”

With the opening victory secured, Medvedev now turns his attention to the next stage of the tournament. As a two-time finalist at Indian Wells, the Russian remains one of the most consistent performers on hard courts, and his composed debut suggests the unusual journey from Dubai has not disrupted his ambitions in the California desert.