Middle East conflict: Tennis players criticize ATP’s decision to hold event in United Arab Emirates
The players’ anger reached a boiling point when an ATP representative sent an email informing them that charter flights from the Middle East were being arranged but would cost $5,000 (£3,750) per person.
The prize money for winning the Fujairah tournament is almost $9,500 (£7,100). The first round loss will be $600 (£470).
After the players made the situation public, the ATP said it would cover the cost of the charter flight, which flew to Milan via Egypt.
Sharipov was unable to fly to Italy because he did not have a European visa.
Disembarking in Egypt was an option, but that would mean leaving behind his luggage — including the rackets, gear and equipment he relied on to survive — with no guarantee of when he would be reunited with it.
The 23-year-old feels he has no choice but to stay in the Emirates and look for alternatives.
“The ATP knows I can’t travel to Europe, so I think they should say ‘we’ll arrange something for you’,” Sharipov told BBC Sport.
“They didn’t do that. They just said ‘there’s a flight you can’t take’. In my opinion, that’s really bad.”
McCabe left on Tuesday and managed to book the first flight back to Sydney.
“We were a bit shocked that the ATP wouldn’t support our flights from there,” said McCabe, 22. “We were left to our own devices.”
“Everyone went crazy when we heard we had to pay five pounds.”
The two said the ATP would not compensate those who made their own flight arrangements. They were also told that without bonuses, players would not receive any compensation.
BBC Sport has contacted the ATP for comment.
