Play at an ATP Challenger tennis event in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, was suspended Tuesday morning after an Iranian drone attack triggered a fire at a nearby oil terminal, approximately 10 kilometers away. Players and officials, including Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka and Russia’s Daniil Ostapenkov, were shown on an ATP live feed rushing off the court during a match, as tournament officials called for an evacuation.
The Government of Fujairah media office stated that the fire broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone as a result of falling debris from a drone intercepted by air defense systems. The incident occurred shortly after the city’s port was targeted, according to reports. The ATP confirmed the cancellation of play for the remainder of the day, citing the health, safety, and wellbeing of all personnel as its priority.
Ukrainian player Vladyslav Orlov, who was competing during the attack, reported hearing jets and observing significant smoke in the area, stating, “It’s not very safe here right now.”
The attack is part of a series of Iranian drone and missile strikes targeting the UAE over the past three days, reportedly in response to US and Israeli strikes within Iran. Defense teams are continuing efforts to contain the fire, and authorities have reported no injuries at this time.
The ATP stated that it had consulted with local authorities and security advisors before making the decision to suspend play. The organization indicated it would continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as necessary.
Fujairah is located approximately 90 miles east of Dubai.
