The 2020 BNP Paribas Open, which was scheduled to begin this week in Indian Wells, will not be held because a case of the new coronavirus-infected individual was confirmed in the Coachella Valley in Southern California.
The tournament released a statement on Twitter:
The Riverside County Public Health Department has declared a public health emergency for the Coachella Valley after a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) locally. As a result, the 2020 BNP Paribas Open will not take place at this time due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus and the safety of the participants and attendees at the event. This is following the guidance of medical professionals, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and State of California.
WTA Tour chief executive Steve Simon said that they were considering the possibility of playing the tournament without spectators, but the officials ultimately decided that the idea was not in their best interest. According to tournament director Tommy Haas, there is a possibility that the event will be played on different dates and they will explore their options.
Previously, two WTA 125K Series tournaments had been canceled due to coronavirus outbreak: Kunming Open in China’s Anning city and the Xi’an Open, both scheduled to begin in April. (via ESPN)
