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Filipino pro tennis player Niño Alcántara. POC Media

Filipino pro tennis player Niño Alcántara.

Article (news)

SEAG

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772533877015R6M25648.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino pro tennis player Niño Alcántara. POC Media" width="960"/>Filipino pro tennis player Niño Alcántara. POC Media</div>MANILA -- Filipino pro tennis player Niño Alcántara is in an uncertain situation after arriving in the United Arab Emirates just as airspace across parts of the Middle East began shutting down due to escalating conflict.Alcantara, currently No. 338 in ATP doubles, has been the Philippines&#x27; top doubles players for several years now, with multiple ATP doubles titles under his belt.A longtime member of the national Davis Cup team, Alcantara was set to compete in an ATP Challenger 50k tournament in Fujairah from March 2 to 8. &quot;Swerte and malas at the same time,&quot; he said. &quot;Dumating na ako then wala, nag-close na ‘yung airspace.&quot;<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/3/new-israel-iran-attacks-across-region-latest-developments-in-middle-east-war-1524">New Israel, Iran attacks across region: Latest developments in Middle East war</a></div>The conflict started with US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend, which sparked retaliatory Iranian attacks across the region. It has shown no signs of abating as it entered a fourth day.New strikes were reported Tuesday across the Middle East, including Israeli bombardment on Lebanon and a drone attack on the US embassy in Saudi Arabia&#x27;s capital Riyadh.What was meant to be a routine two-week swing for Alcántara in the UAE suddenly turned tense. When news of the conflict broke, tournament organizers paused competition and waited for the ATP&#x27;s directive on whether play would continue.&quot;Sunday we couldn&#x27;t play, so Monday na ako naglaro,&quot; he shared.With flights suspended and players effectively stranded, the tournament stepped in— providing free meals and accommodation throughout the week.&quot;It&#x27;s a win-win for us because we have no choice but to stay here since there&#x27;s no flights,&quot; Alcántara said. &quot;So might as well play and enjoy the tournament na lang kahit may war sa gilid natin.&quot;Still, the situation weighs heavily on the locker room.&quot;It&#x27;s tough. Some players don&#x27;t want to play and just want to go home. Some want to play naman, so it&#x27;s kind of 50-50 for the players,&quot; he admitted.For Alcántara, the dilemma is personal and professional.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/3/marco-middle-east-war-ofws-repatriation-1044">Marcos tells Filipinos seeking repatriation from Mideast war: ‘We will find ways to get you out’</a></div>&quot;For me I want to go home, but at the same time sayang ‘yung points na nandito na. Kaunti lang ‘yung players, so we&#x27;ll make the best out of it,&quot; he explained.Several players weren&#x27;t able to make it to Fujairah at all— stranded mid-travel as airports closed. Among them were some of Alcántara&#x27;s friends from Japan and Taipei.&quot;Hindi na sila makalipad talaga, so they&#x27;re stuck,&quot; he said.On court, the Filipino campaign continues.Alcántara fell in singles qualifying to American Ronit Karki, 5-7, 1-6. But his tournament is far from over. He is set to compete in doubles alongside China&#x27;s Sun Fajing, where they are the fourth seeds. The pair will face Taiwan&#x27;s Huang Tsung-hao and Wu Tung-lin.While global headlines flash with images of unrest, Alcántara says the reality in Fujairah feels distant.&quot;I was nervous watching the news pero wala naman nangyayari dito,&quot; said Alcántara, who has not seen nor heard signs of attacks while staying at a hotel near a local airport.&quot;We&#x27;re like an hour away from Dubai, two hours away from Abu Dhabi, and we haven&#x27;t heard anything here,&quot; he said.Back home, his family checks in constantly, but he has assured them that they are &quot;safe, far from the war.&quot;Originally, Alcántara planned a straightforward grind: one week at home in the Philippines, followed by two Challenger events in Fujairah, then a three-week swing of challengers in China.For now, the plan remains flexible: &quot;I&#x27;m already in the tournament so I&#x27;ll play this week first then let&#x27;s see for next week.&quot; -- with Agence France-Presse

Filipino pro tennis player Niño Alcántara is in an uncertain situation after arriving in the United Arab Emirates just as airspace across parts of the Middle East began shutting down due to escalating conflict.

Filipino pro tennis player Niño Alcántara is in an uncertain situation after arriving in the United Arab Emirates just as airspace across parts of the Middle East began shutting down due to escalating conflict.

Pinoy tennis pro Niño Alcántara stranded in UAE amid airspace shutdown

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Pinoy tennis pro Niño Alcántara stranded in UAE amid airspace shutdown

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 03, 2026 06:35 PM PHT

Read More:

conflict

Middle East

United Arab Emirates

tennis

Nino Alcantara

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