The ongoing rescheduling of the 2021 tennis season could result in one of the sports biggest events outside of the Grand Slams getting cancelled for the second year in a row.
Multiple Sources have reported that the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells may be cancelled within days due to difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the ATP and WTA are currently in the process of making changes to their calendars following the delay of the Australian Open until February. Something that has a knock on effect on the tournaments which followed it.
It is understood that Indian Wells organisers have said that they would like a guarantee from local authorities that they can welcome at least 25% of their usual number of spectators to the event. However, this is far from certain due to the current COVID-19 cases in the area. Riverside Country, which is where the tournament is based, reported 1,148 new coronavirus cases and 15 new virus-related deaths on Friday alone.
In light of the current issues, one source has reported that Indian Wells will be cancelled. Jon Wertheim from Sports Illustrated says he has heard that an announcement will be made ‘imminently’ and the Tour’s are working to adjust to the development. The event had originally been scheduled to be held during the early part of March and two weeks after the Australian Open.
If the event does get officially cancelled, it could ironically be a blessing in disguise for other events such as Rotterdam and the South American clay court swing which are still in limbo. The usual dates of those events have been placed into doubt due to the delay of the first Grand Slam by two weeks.
Details about the 2021 calendar are starting to surface but there is still to be any official information. On the WTA Tour, it has been confirmed that they hope to start the year outside of Australia with a tournament likely to be held in Dubai. It is less clear with the ATP but they usually hold an event in Doha during the first week of the new year.
Tennis Australia has also confirmed that they intend to hold the Australian Open qualifying draw outside of the country before January 15th. The date players will start arriving to begin their 14-day quarantine process. It is yet to be announced where that tournament would take place.
