Why are Daniil Medvedev & Andrey Rublev ruled out of Eisenhower Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
The ongoing West Asia war has forced both players to withdraw.
The Eisenhower Cup 2026 exhibition event will take place on March 4 in India, bringing top singles stars together under one roof at the Indian Wells. This 10-point tiebreaker event is played to provide the perfect build-up ahead of the highly anticipated Indian Wells Open 2026.
Two Russian players though, had to withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances. Both Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were competing at the Dubai Open 2026, with Medvedev winning the championship and Rublev finishing as a semi-finalist.
However after the event, they had no means to fly to California as the entire airspace in Dubai had been shut due to Iran’s military operation in the UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Both were left stranded at the Dubai airport and then returned to their hotels.
Medvedev assured fans of his safety, but there was still no update on his return due to the ongoing attacks. On March 3, some flight operations resumed, with Indian shuttler PV Sindhu safely returning home. However, there remains no update over the ATP stars’ return.
According to Spanish publication Marca, one of the options suggested by ATP was a long drive to neighbouring Oman where they would take a private flight to Turkey or Armenia before heading to the United States.
Also Read: Eisenhower Cup 2026: Updated schedule, fixtures, results, format, live streaming details
However, Oman too has been attacked in recent hours, potentially ruling out the option. Hence both Medvedev and Rublev now face the possibility of missing the Indian Wells 2026 as well, with their opening rounds set to begin on March 6 or 7.
Updated list of players taking part in Eisenhower Cup 2026
- Elena Rybakina (KAZ) / Taylor Fritz (USA)
- Iga Swiatek (POL) / Casper Ruud (NOR)
- Amanda Anisimova (USA) / Learner Tien (USA)
- Jessica Pegula (USA) / Tommy Paul (USA)
- Emma Navarro (USA) / Ben Shelton (USA)
- Leylah Fernandez (CAN) / Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
- Mirra Andreeva (RUS) / Alexander Bublik (KAZ)
- Jasmine Paolini (ITA) / Matteo Berrettini (ITA)
Will Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev participate at Eisenhower Cup 2026?
Both Russian players have withdrawn from the exhibition event due to unforeseen circumstances.
Why have Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev withdrawn from Eisenhower Cup 2026?
Both players, who were supposed to travel to the United States after the Dubai Open, are reportedly still stranded in Dubai due to ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Will Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev participate at Indian Wells 2026?
There is still uncertainty about their participation in the tournament, which begins from March 5.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.