For the first time, the Russian tennis players led by Grand Slam winner Daniil Medvedev spoke in detail about their complicated journey from the tournament in Dubai to the Masters event in Indian Wells. Due to the escalation in the Middle East, the professionals had to reschedule. “You feel like you’re in a Hollywood movie: crossing the border with other people, your first visit to Oman,” Medvedev told the Russian portal “bolshe”.
After Medvedev won the tournament in Dubai, he was stuck in the desert metropolis with other professionals due to a flight ban. Since Saturday, Iran has been attacking Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others, with hundreds of missiles and drones. These are retaliatory actions against US allies who attacked Iran together with Israel.
Like his compatriot Andrei Rublev, Medvedev drove by car to Oman, from where planes were still taking off. “Some were lucky and got there after 4.5 hours, others traveled nine hours, we drove seven hours,” reported the 2021 US Open winner.
Passport lost: from Oman back to Dubai
The onward journey was delayed because Medvedev’s driver could not find his passport. “We were the only ones who crossed the border and turned around to go back to the United Arab Emirates. He found his passport in a parking lot and we drove back to Oman. We spent a night there, then we flew to Istanbul, we spent a night there and flew to Los Angeles,” the 30-year-old said.
Medvedev and Rublev were actually supposed to take part in a one-day mixed competition at the Masters tournament in Indian Wells, California, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. Due to their late arrival, both of them missed the event. “The mood is normal, I’m just exhausted because the trip was long with a lot of events plus the time difference,” said Rublev, reporting on a seven-hour drive to Oman. (dpa)
