Indian Wells canceled for the time being: What will happen to the "fifth slam"?
The Indian Wells tournament does not appear on the ATP provisional calendar . In the 2020 season it was the first top event that had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Does the same fate follow in the following year?
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Dec 30, 2020, 11:28 am
Cordoba and Montpellier. Rotterdam and Buenos Aires. Doha, Santiago and Marseille. Acapulco and Dubai. And then? Miami.
In the spring of 2021, the prestigious Indian Wells tournament did not find a place for the time being. It was always a highlight in the early phase of a season. Nestled between the lightning start at the Australian Open and the clay court season that ends in the French Open, the tournament in the California desert is considered the unofficial, fifth Grand Slam.
It was always the first Masters tournament of the year, now it will take place in Miami. After that, it should go on as "usual", the ATP announced on Tuesday. In other words: there is actually no more space in the calendar for a large Masters 1000 event.
The organizers said the decision to cancel had been made in consultation with the state and local authorities. California is struggling particularly hard with the corona pandemic. By December 28, 24,284 deaths were registered there.
"The tournament is working proactively with the ATP and WTA tours and the title sponsor BNP Paribas to find a date later in the year," says the Indian Wells website . Details are to be announced "in the near future".
So the tournament is confident that it will take place in the 2021 season. That sounds more pessimistic on the part of the ATP. "Alternative dates are now being evaluated so that the tournament could possibly take place later in the year," it says.
The two tours would move back to North America in the summer - after the clay court season. But with the Rogers Cup (Canada) and the Masters in Cincinnati, two tournaments in the 1000 category are already taking place. Will Indian Wells actually be a build-up tournament for the US Open?
There is currently no answer to this question. Tournament Director Tommy Haas kept a low profile on Tuesday: “While it is very disappointing that the BNP Paribas Open cannot take place in March as planned, we are putting health and safety first, as we did earlier this year . " On Instagram he posted a few stories from" Tennis Paradise ", tagged with the hashtag #wellbeback. Hope is alive.
By the way: The WTA keeps its players waiting for a specific timetable for the 2021 season beyond the Australian Open.