ATP confirm early-season calendar – with no Indian Wells

The ATP have confirmed its calendar for February, March and into April 2021 – with Indian Wells absent from its usual slot.

As we reported before Christmas, the Miami Open will take place from March 22 – with two ATP500 events, in Acapulco and Dubai, immediately preceding it.

Indian Wells – more formally known as the BNP Paribas Open – is not going to take place in March, but the ATP have assured fans and players that “alternative dates are being assessed for the tournament to potentially take place later in the year”.

Schedule

After the conclusion of the Australian Open in February, there are a series of events in Europe, Latin-America and the Middle East.

• February 20-28 – Cordoba Open (ATP250)
• February 21-28 – Open Sud de France, Montpellier (ATP250)
• February 27-March 7 – ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament, Rotterdam (ATP500)
• February 27-March 7 – Argentina Open, Buenos Aires (ATP250)
• March 6-13 – Qatar Exxonmobil Open, Doha (ATP250)
• March 6-14 – Chile Open, Santiago (ATP250)
• March 7-14 – Open 13 Provence, Marseille (ATP250)
• March 13-20 – Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Acapulco (ATP500)
• March 13-20 – Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships (ATP500)
• March 22-April 4 – Miami Open (ATP Masters 1000)

Tennis is faced with the prospect of rescheduling much of its usual calendar – and the possibility of late-notice cancellations or changes – due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which put paid to most of the 2020 season.

The Australian Open has already been delayed by a fortnight, with warm-up events also taking place in Melbourne so that players are able to quarantine, practise and compete without the need for short-notice travel.