Daniil Medvedev Awarded Dubai Tennis Championship Title After Tallon Griekspoor Withdraws Due to Hamstring Injury

Daniil Medvedev secures the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championship as Tallon Griekspoor withdraws with injury. Airspace closures leave players stranded in the UAE.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 28, 2026, 9:13 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The National

A Victory Determined by Medical Assessment

The 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships concluded unexpectedly on Saturday with Daniil Medvedev being declared the champion without a ball being struck in the final match. The title decider was cancelled after the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor underwent a medical evaluation that deemed him unfit to compete. Griekspoor had sustained a left hamstring injury during his hard-fought semi-final win over Andrey Rublev on Friday evening. While the Dutch player attempted to prepare for the championship match, the severity of the strain made participation impossible, handing Medvedev his second title at the Aviation Club following his previous win in 2023.

Tournament Perseverance Amidst Military Strikes

The withdrawal occurred on a day of unprecedented tension in the United Arab Emirates. Tournament organizers had initially confirmed that the title match would proceed despite a series of Iranian ballistic missile strikes targeting the UAE throughout Saturday. While the singles final was ultimately decided by injury, the doubles final—featuring Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten against Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic—successfully took place as scheduled. The decision to continue play was made prior to the full closure of national airspace, as authorities and organizers sought to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the activation of regional air defense systems.

Impact of National Airspace Closure

The conclusion of the tournament coincided with a drastic shift in regional logistics. At 1:00 PM local time on Saturday, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced the immediate closure of UAE airspace as an "exceptional precautionary measure" following waves of missile attacks. This move has grounded all commercial traffic at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International, directly impacting the ATP Tour’s scheduled transition to California for the Indian Wells Masters 1000. With flights suspended indefinitely, the immediate departure of Medvedev, Griekspoor, and the remaining doubles specialists remains in serious doubt.