Anger among some of the players reached boiling point when an ATP representative sent an email informing them that a chartered flight out of the Middle East was being arranged – but would cost them $5,000 (£3,750) each.
Prize money for winning the Fujairah tournament would have been $9,500 (£7,100). Losing in the first-round would have earned $600 (£470).
After players made the situation public, the ATP said it would cover the cost of the chartered flight, which went to Milan via a stop in Egypt.
Sharipov was not able to fly to Italy because he does not have a European visa.
Disembarking in Egypt was an option, but meant leaving his luggage – including the racquets, kit and equipment which are his livelihood – with no guarantee when he would be reunited with it.
The 23-year-old felt he had no option but to stay in the UAE and search for alternatives.
“The ATP knew I could not travel to Europe so I think they should have said ‘we will sort something out for you’,” Sharipov told BBC Sport.
“They did not do this. They just said ‘there is a flight that you cannot make’. That’s really bad in my view.”
McCabe was able to leave on Tuesday, managing to book on to the first flight back to Sydney.
“It was a bit of a shock that the ATP didn’t support us with the flights getting out of there. We were left to our own devices,” said 22-year-old McCabe.
“As soon as we heard we needed to pay five grand everyone was pulling their hair out.”
The pair said those who arranged their own flights were initially told they will not be reimbursed by the ATP, nor receive any compensation in the absence of prize money.
Later on Friday they were advised the ATP was “reviewing a subsidy payment” to help those players left out of pocket.
While many players have publicly aired their grievances about the ATP’s handling of the situation, sources at the governing body say a number of players who left on the Milan flight have expressed their gratitude.
They also point to the difficulty of arranging logistics in delicate and ever-changing circumstances.
