The ATP and WTA are considering an exit from the Middle East

The ATP and the WTA are considering the possibility of canceling their tournaments in the Middle East, which would be a major shock to the competitive circuit. The main reason is the war conflict in the region, which caused a critical situation for some players who were trapped for hours without being able to flee by plane. This decision could represent a significant turning point in the calendar after a year in which the area has been publicly damaged.

The Middle East swing takes place just before the tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, and this year there were some tennis players like Daniil Medvedev (winner in Dubai), Andrey Rublev, or Karen Khachanov who were trapped in Dubai due to the armed conflict, which included missile launches. Around 40 individuals, including players, coaching staff, and journalists, experienced a tense and dangerous situation, which may lead both organizations to take action to prevent it from happening again in the future.

According to 'The I Paper', Singapore and Australia are being considered as alternative venues for the women's circuit, although the ATP prefers to move the calendar to Europe. In any case, this is a 'Plan B' that is by no means certain, as the Middle East has been heavily investing in tennis for some time, and it has even been confirmed that there will be a Masters 1000 in Saudi Arabia starting from 2028. In other words, an exit from the region would create a conflict of interest that could lead to significant economic losses.

The WTA, the first to make a move regarding the Middle East

The first to make a move regarding the Middle East has been the WTA, which has changed the WTA Finals from Riyadh to Indian Wells despite still having a year left on the contract. This decision has been more aimed at preserving the rights of female tennis players as a form of protest. In fact, it is the women's circuit that should make the most significant decision, as the two tournaments held during that swing are WTA 1000 events, while those of the ATP are 500.

It is important to consider that during this summer the ceasefire between the United States and Iran was broken, although the airports remain open. Therefore, the 'Six Kings Slam' that will take place in a few weeks in Riyadh, featuring tennis players like Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, or Jannik Sinner, will be crucial for understanding the safety of holding events in the region, as this is something that concerns the most important organizations in the tennis circuit.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La ATP y la WTA estudian una huida de Oriente Medio