Filipino tennis player stranded in UAE amid escalating Middle East tensions

Filipino tennis player Francis Casey Alcantara remains stranded in the United Arab Emirates as of this writing after the ATP Challenger 50 Fujairah Open was canceled amid escalating tensions in the region.

“Not so okay. Stuck here for now,” Alcantara told the Manila Bulletin/Tempo on March 4.

In a social media post, Alcantara shared a news report about a fire at the Fujairah oil zone that was contained after drone debris fell in the area. Authorities said no injuries were reported.

He also posted a separate video showing thick black smoke rising not far from the hotel where he and other players are staying.

The qualifying rounds pushed through in the past few days, with Alcantara bowing to Ronit Karki in the opening round last Monday, March 2. He was scheduled to compete in the doubles event on Wednesday with Chinese partner Sun Fajing, but organizers cancelled the tournament -- including next week’s leg -- on Tuesday, March 3, after explosion noises were reported heard near the courts.

A Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games medalist, Alcantara said he has reached out to several people including officials from the Philippine Tennis Association and his sponsor, Jean Henri Lhuillier, for assistance.

In an email to players, the ATP said it is looking into arranging a chartered flight on Thursday, March 5, from Muscat, Oman to Milan, Italy, with a stopover in Egypt. The estimated cost is 5,000 euros per passenger.

For now, Alcantara remains at the team hotel with fellow competitors as they await further developments.

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