BNP Paribas postponing 2021 Indian Wells tournament because of pandemic
UPDATE:
Indian Wells City Manager Chris Freeland provided a written response to News Channel 3 after being asked to comment on the tournament being postponed:
""We are disappointed for our community and tennis fans around the world that the pandemic has once again impacted the BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament. However, the City fully supports Larry Ellison and the Tennis Garden's decision to cancel the March 2021 tournament and remain optimistic that they will secure a date later in the year," said Freeland.
INITIAL REPORT:
The BNP Paribas Open, considered the most important tennis tournament in the western United States, is postponing the tournament's planned two-week run slated for March due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers announced today.
"The BNP Paribas Open will not be held March 8-21, 2021 as originally
scheduled. The tournament is proactively working with the ATP and WTA Tours as well as title sponsor BNP Paribas to confirm dates later in the year to hold the event,'' organizers tweeted Tuesday morning.
"
Tweet from @BNPPARIBASOPENThe BNP Paribas Open will not be held March 8-21, 2021 as originally scheduled. The tournament is proactively working with the ATP and WTA Tours as well as title sponsor BNP Paribas to confirm dates later in the year to hold the event...''
A second tweet read, "Details will be released in the near future as plans are finalized. This decision was made after thorough consultation with state and local health authorities and tournament owner Larry Ellison."
The BNP Paribas Open canceled its planned 2020 tournament due to the
pandemic.
The event regularly draws the best men's and women's tennis players in
the world.
Stadium 1, the largest court in the venue, holds 16,100 people, making
it the second-largest outdoor tennis stadium in the world.
In 2019, Dominic Thiem defeated Roger Federer in the men's
final, and Bianca Andreescu beat Angelique Kerber in the women's final.
The Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which is owned by Oracle cofounder
Larry Ellison, is located at 78-200 Miles Ave.
While the 2020 edition was one of the first major sporting events to be canceled due to COVID-19, the 2021 tournament was in doubt for some time.
Earlier this month, Sports Illustrated executive editor and senior writer Jon Wertheim reported a cancellation is coming.
In 2020 @BNPPARIBASOPEN cancelled (wisely, courageously) on the eve of the event. Announcement of the 2021 cancellation is, I hear, coming imminently, three months in advance....both tours working to adjust schedule and minimize the impact...
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) December 6, 2020 target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@jon_wertheimKESQ reached out to BNP Paribas Open tournament officials and the City of Indian Wells for further information at the time. Confirmation of the March 2021 postponement is now official.
More information can be found here.
