Carlos Alcaraz ‘Concerned’ About Players Struggling to Travel Amid Conflict in Middle East

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz will be chasing his third title of the season at Indian Wells.

Carlos Alcaraz ‘Concerned’ About Players Struggling to Travel Amid Conflict in Middle East

Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz expressed concern for players stranded in the Middle East due to ongoing conflict.
  • Travel disruptions have affected several players and officials following military actions in the region.
  • The Indian Wells tournament is underway, with Alcaraz aiming for his third title after previous successes.

Carlos Alcaraz has arrived in Indian Wells to chase his third title in the tournament. He defeated Daniil Medvedev in the finals in 2023 and 2024. But last year, he failed to complete the three-peat as Jack Draper knocked him out in the semifinals.

In the pre-tournament press conference, the Spaniard made his feelings known on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Following failed talks between the USA and Iran about the latter’s nuclear programmes, the US and Israel launched an attack on the Gulf country.

Iran responded by attacking the bases of both these nations across the Middle Eastern countries, including in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. This led to the closure of airspace, and because the Middle East Swing concluded recently, many players, their families, coaches, and officials are stuck in the region.

It was surprising because everything happened just a few days before the tournament. Seeing some players stuck there and unable to travel is worrying. Hopefully, they can get here soon. For me, it’s not a distraction, I stay focused and keep practicing, but of course, we’re all concerned about what’s going on and about the players who are still there.

Carlos Alcaraz said

In a Challenger tournament in Fujairah in the UAE, a match was suspended because debris from a drone interception fell on an oil field, causing fire. Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Karen Khachanov, who were also stranded in Dubai following the ATP 500 tournament there, have left the UAE for Indian Wells. Holger Rune is still stuck in Doha, where he has been undergoing his rehab.

American President Donald Trump has warned that the strikes will continue for a month until they fulfill their objective of destroying Iran’s capabilities of developing nuclear weapons.

Steve Johnson predicts another Jannik Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz final

The main draw of the Indian Wells kicked off on March 4. Jannik Sinner, who has yet to win a title since the 2025 ATP Finals, will be chasing his first title of the season as well as in the tournament. Sinner is a two-time semifinalist in the first Masters 1000 of the season, reaching the stage in 2023 and 2024.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ, Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

The four-time Grand Slam champion did not play it last year because of his doping ban. If he reaches the final, he can once again schedule a clash with his arch-rival, Carlos Alcaraz, with former player Steve Johnson backing both the World No.1 and World No.2 to make the title clash. He said on the Nothing Major podcast:

I think we’re going to see an Alcaraz-Sinner final. On hard courts, these guys are just very good. Sinner’s been there for a few days already, practicing, getting ready. They want to win here. It’s a big, first Masters Series event of the year… I don’t see anybody outside of those two guys winning it. It’s hard to pick against them at the moment.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion holds a 10-6 head-to-head lead over Sinner, but lost their last meeting in the title clash of the 2025 ATP Finals. Sinner and Alcaraz have so far won seven and eight Masters 1000 titles, respectively.

The last time the 24-year-old clinched a title at this level was at the 2025 Paris Masters by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime. The last time Alcaraz won a Masters 1000 title was at the 2025 Cincinnati Masters, after Sinner was given a walkover.

Alcaraz has already added two titles to his trophy cabinet this year. After becoming the youngest Career Grand Slam champion by defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, the 22-year-old lifted his maiden Qatar Open title by dismantling Arthur Fils.

Also Read: French Tennis Coach Shares Harsh Realities of Life in Middle East Amid US-Iran Conflict: “A Drone Flew Over the Club”