Professional tennis match suspended in Fujairah following drone strike and air siren

Players Hayato Matsuoka and Daniil Ostapenkov flee the court in Fujairah as sirens sound and local oil terminal is targeted.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 9:45 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Irish Independent

Emergency evacuation at Fujairah Challenger

The match between Hayato Matsuoka of Japan and Daniil Ostapenkov of Belarus was in its third set when warning sirens began to sound. Eyewitnesses reported that tournament officials shouted for everyone to seek safety as the players rushed off the court. The interruption coincided with reports of a significant fire at the Fujairah Oil Terminal, which authorities later attributed to a drone strike that had been intercepted in the vicinity.

ATP safety protocols and suspension

The ATP issued an official statement confirming that play was suspended following a security alert in accordance with established safety protocols. Players, staff, and officials were directed to designated safe areas while tournament organizers consulted with local authorities and security advisors. As a precautionary measure, all matches for the remainder of the day were cancelled, with the ATP emphasizing that the wellbeing of personnel remains the primary priority.

Impact on international tour logistics

The ongoing conflict has created significant logistical hurdles for professional tennis players attempting to travel between international tournaments. Airspace closures and the grounding of flights in the Middle East have left several high profile athletes stranded. Among those affected are Daniil Medvedev, who recently won the Dubai Championships, and Andrey Rublev. Both players are reportedly facing difficulties securing transportation to their next scheduled appearance at the Indian Wells tournament in California.