Play at a professional tennis tournament in the United Arab Emirates was brought to an abrupt halt this morning following an Iranian drone strike that ignited a blaze at a nearby oil facility.
Competitors and match officials at the Fujairah Challenger event scrambled from the court as warning sirens pierced the air, with military aircraft subsequently spotted overhead.
The incident occurred at the port city situated approximately 90 miles south-east of Dubai, where Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles targeted installations in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone.
Local authorities confirmed the fire resulted from debris falling after air defence systems successfully intercepted an incoming drone.
Play was abandoned during the Fujairah Challenger event after warning sirens were heard
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A live broadcast on the ATP’s website captured the dramatic moment when Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka and Russia’s Daniil Ostapenkov abandoned their third-set contest, dashing from the playing surface alongside the chair umpire and line judges.
Tournament staff could be heard urgently directing everyone to evacuate the premises.
The ATP subsequently confirmed that all remaining fixtures had been scrapped for the day.
“The health, safety and wellbeing of our players, staff and tournament personnel is our priority,” the governing body said.
“Following consultation with local authorities and security advisers, play has been cancelled for the remainder of the day as a precautionary measure.”
Smoke rises from a fire, as the Israel-Iran air war continues, in Tehran, Iran | REUTERS
The drone and missile barrage represents Tehran’s retaliation for American and Israeli military action against Iran over the weekend.
Those strikes, authorised by President Donald Trump, resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, plunging the region into considerable turmoil.
Iranian forces have subsequently launched attacks across the Emirates over the past three days.
Military installations at airbases in the capital Abu Dhabi have sustained significant damage from the retaliatory bombardment.
Tourist destinations in neighbouring Dubai have likewise found themselves in the crosshairs.
The Fujairah Media Office confirmed no injuries occurred in Tuesday’s incident, with normal operations having resumed following the successful containment of the fire.
The disruption extends well beyond the Fujairah courts, with several prominent players now stranded in the region due to airspace closures.
Here is the moment the players at the ATP Challenger in Fujairah today run off the court as they hear a loud blast as a missile hits the nearby Fujairah Port – a key port on the Strait of Hormuz.
Should this event have been allowed to take part this week?
🎥 ATP Challenger TV. pic.twitter.com/HYO3HVZWJA
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) March 3, 2026
World number five Daniil Medvedev, fresh from claiming the Dubai Championships title via walkover on Saturday, remains unable to depart for the forthcoming Indian Wells tournament in California.
Fellow Russian Andrey Rublev faces similar difficulties reaching the next stop on the tour.
The England Lions’ cricket tour to Abu Dhabi has been cancelled entirely owing to the prevailing uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Formula 1’s governing body is closely monitoring developments ahead of scheduled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month, with motorsport officials having already chartered aircraft to transport personnel via alternative routes through Africa and Asia.
