Coco Gauff's coach stuck in Dubai as she says

The opening joint ATP-WTA Masters 1000 tournament of the season is now underway in Indian Wells, yet players continue to feel the ripple effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were among several players left stranded in Dubai after flights were grounded over the weekend.

The ATP has since confirmed that the "vast majority" of players had successfully departed as of Wednesday.

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Coco Gauff, who competed in the WTA event in Dubai earlier this month prior to the United States and Israel launching coordinated strikes against Iran, disclosed that her coach Gavin MacMillan was left "stuck" in the city. Given the global, relentless nature of the professional tennis circuit, the sport finds itself increasingly entangled with geopolitics.

Although Gauff has never personally felt "unsafe" whilst in the Middle East, the world No. 4 expressed her dismay over the recent "unnecessary violence".

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Addressing reporters in Indian Wells, the two-time Grand Slam champion stated: "First off, what's happening is unfortunate, and my thoughts and prayers are out there for everyone affected, innocent lives being taken. I think it's a lot of unnecessary violence going on."

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"As for the Middle East, I have never personally felt unsafe there, playing tournaments or anything like that. I have never felt unsafe. I think what's happening now, I guess people, maybe political experts could see it coming, but I think as far as a tennis player, no one would expect things to happen.

"Yeah, my coach, Gavin, is actually there right now, he's currently stuck, and I don't know if he's going to make it. I just want him to be safe. I don't know when he can leave and things like that. We are just taking it day by day with him.

"Yeah, I have never felt unsafe there, I've never really felt unsafe in a lot of parts of the world. It's one of the things that, yeah, violence can happen, but it can happen in different forms. For example, in the U.S. we do have a lot of mass shootings and there's always uncertainty with that.

"Yeah, and I don't think, you know, a lot of hate is being towards the Middle East, but I think it's just a lot of unfortunate circumstances that are happening right now, and the timing of everything makes it difficult that there are the guys that are there still. But I am thankful that I was able to get out of that before things turned to where it is now."

Whilst Gauff's coach found himself stranded in Dubai, British No.1 Jack Draper disclosed that he secured one of the final flights out following his second-round loss to Arthur Rinderknech last week.

"I mean, I think it's obviously very concerning. I was in Dubai last week. I managed to get away almost probably one of the last flights out," he stated ahead of his Indian Wells title defense.

"I just hope the players and all the staff, you know, within the ATP are able to make it here, or the main thing is that they're safe. It's obviously a very concerning situation for all involved, and I hope they can make it here. So, yeah, I'm not sure where they're at with it. Yeah, I'm not sure, to be honest. That's all I can say."

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz, who captured the ATP 500 tournament in Doha, Qatar the week prior to the Dubai event, acknowledged it was a "worrying" time. "It was surprising, because, you know, saying that, I'm going to say a couple days or one week before we are all playing there, and all of a sudden everything happen, so it was a little bit surprising, to be honest," the world No. 1 said.

"You know, seeing few players stuck there, couldn't travel at all, it's been a little bit worried, at least for me, like the situation over there. Hopefully, you know, they can travel and they can come here soon. I don't know the situation right now, but we all hope that that thing...

"You know, for me, it's not a distraction at all. I just maintain my focus and be ready and practicing on my best, but we are all concerned about what's going [on], and the situation involved with the players stuck there."

The ATP has since verified that the majority of players in Dubai have been able to depart, with stars like Medverov and Rublev successfully traveling to Indian Wells. The men's tennis organization also announced it would fund a charter flight for athletes competing at a now-cancelled Challenger tournament in Fujairah.

In a statement, the ATP said: "Following the cancellation of the ATP Challenger Tour events in Fujairah, the ATP has been working closely with tournament organisers to support players on site. Accommodation and essential needs continue to be covered by the tournament, and a charter flight has been arranged and fully funded by the ATP to assist with departures from the region at no cost to players.

"Separately, the vast majority of players who were in Dubai have successfully departed today on selected flights. The safety and wellbeing of our players, support teams and staff members remains our highest priority, and we continue to remain in close contact with those affected."

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