Félix Auger-Aliassime Escapes Dubai Amidst Escalating Middle East Conflict

Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime narrowly avoided being caught in the recent airspace closures over the Middle East, departing Dubai just hours before escalating conflict led to significant travel disruptions. The 25-year-old Montreal native arrived in Indian Wells, California, on Sunday, prepared to compete in the BNP Paribas Open.

Narrow Escape from Dubai

Auger-Aliassime competed in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Friday, February 27, 2026, ultimately losing to Daniil Medvedev in straight sets (4-6, 2-6). His agent, Olivier van Lindonk, confirmed to The Gazette that Auger-Aliassime secured one of the last flights out of Dubai on Saturday before the United Arab Emirates closed its airspace.

The closure came as the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, resulting in a swift response from Iran with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. Allies, including the UAE.

Medvedev and Others Remain Stranded

While Auger-Aliassime was able to depart, several other players were not so fortunate. Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, and Tallon Griekspoor remain stuck in Dubai as of March 3, 2026. Medvedev’s defeat of Auger-Aliassime in the Dubai semifinals meant he was still in the UAE when the airspace closed.

A Fortunate Loss

Auger-Aliassime reflected on his semifinal loss, stating it was “probably the best defeat in my career.” A victory would have required him to stay in Dubai for the final.

Consistency and Future Prospects

Despite the recent disruption, Auger-Aliassime has demonstrated increasing consistency in his performance. Since the National Bank Open in Toronto last August, he has reached the quarter-final stage in nine of ten tournaments, including a semifinal appearance at the US Open and a finalist showing at the Paris-Bercy Masters.

He has improved his ranking to 6th in 2025 and currently holds the 4th position. Auger-Aliassime emphasizes the importance of mental and physical balance, and preparation for high-pressure moments, as key components of his continued success.