Canceled because of Corona Virus: Indian Wells!
As the ATP tour announced, the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells will not go off as planned this week. The health risk due to the Corona Virus is too great, the tournament is canceled.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Mar 09, 2020, 06:32 am
"It is currently too great a risk to hold public health in the Riverside-Country area, an event that attracts so many people," the event said in a first statement. "We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place, but the health and safety of the local people, fans, players, helpers, employees, sellers and everyone involved in this event is of the utmost importance," said tournament director Tommy Haas cited in this statement.
The organizers are now examining the options as to whether the tournament could be held at another time. The trigger was a confirmed case of the Corona Virus in the region in which the tournament was to take place, the responsible health authority then declared the health emergency. Steve Simon, managing director of the WTA, said that the event had been considered to be held without a spectator, "but in the end the tournament was of the opinion that it would not be in their interest," Simon is quoted in the New York Times .
Nadal - "Deciding What Happens Next"
The first players have also reacted to the cancellation, including second place in the world rankings, Rafael Nadal, "We are here and we are currently deciding what will happen next. It is a shame what is happening around the world due to this situation," he said Mallorcan people via Twitter.
This means that the first event on the ATP tour is also affected by the virus after some ITF events have already been canceled. Dominic Thiem would have been the defending champion in Indian Wells and the tournament should have started on March 12th. Qualification should have started on Monday, a Challenger had already been held in Indian Wells last week.
The second edition of the Eisenhower Cup, a charity event in the format of the Tie Break Tens, was planned for tomorrow. Among others, Nadal, Thiem, Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev should have started. This blitz tournament also fell victim to the cancellation.