Daniil Medvedev among tennis stars stranded in Dubai after air strikes, Zimbabwe cricketers stuck in India

Former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev, his family and his team are stranded in Dubai a day after he won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for his 23rd career ATP title.

Tallon Griekspoor, who withdrew from the title match due to injury, and Andrey Rublev were also in Dubai after the airspace was shut down due to tensions in the Middle East following the United States' air strikes on Iran on Saturday, local time.

Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, told Bolshe Tennis that he has no idea when he will be able to fly out of the United Arab Emirates. He and the other players are slated to play at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The main draw play in that tourney starts on Wednesday.

"The situation is unusual, but basically, the only thing is that the airspace is closed, naturally," Medvedev told Bolshe Tennis in Russian, according to tennisuptodate.com. "So, no-one knows when we'll be able to fly out. It's not clear whether this will last long or not.

"We're just waiting to see what happens in the coming hours or days. They keep gradually pushing back the airport reopening time."

Medvedev said he is coping well under the circumstances and has been able to remain calm.

"As strange as that sounds, on the court, I'm very emotional, but in real life, it might actually help me to be more emotional at times — so, for me, everything is normal," Medvedev said. "Naturally, I've received a lot of messages from friends and family, and everyone is worried, but I can say for my part that everything is fine."

Medvedev is slated to participate in the Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles exhibition at Indian Wells on Tuesday. His doubles partner is young Russian WTA star Mirra Andreeva.

Rublev, 28, is also slated to be part of the Eisenhower Cup. The Russian's doubles partner is American star Amanda Anisimova.

Medvedev, 30, also won the Dubai title in 2023. He was ranked 11th in the world entering the event.

Griekspoor, a Dutchman ranked 25th, injured his left hamstring during his semifinal victory over Rublev, the 18th-ranked player.

Doubles players Harri Heliovaara (Finland), Mate Pavic (Croatia), Henry Patten (Great Britain) and Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador) are also reportedly stranded. Heliovaara and Patten defeated Pavic and Arevalo in the Dubai doubles final.

In addition, various coaches and officials, as well as tennis journalists, also remain in Dubai.

Zimbabwe unable to return home after T20 World Cup

Zimbabwe's men's cricket team has also been impacted by the closure of the Dubai airport after its T20 World Cup campaign came to an end.

After losing to South Africa on Sunday night, Zimbabwe was slated to fly from Delhi to Harare via a stopover in Dubai, but will now remain in India indefinitely, per ESPNcricinfo.

The ICC said in a statement on the weekend that it had "activated comprehensive contingency plans to safeguard the travel, logistics and well-being of all stakeholders" at the World Cup.

England has also been impacted by the Dubai air strikes, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cancelling a match between the England Lions and the Pakistan Shaheens.

The 50-over fixture was initially slated to be played at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.

The UAE's airspace being closed off has meant the Lions have also been unable to depart the region.

Reuters/ABC