The powers that be of tennis squashed the world’s fifth major tennis tournament because of one known virus case. The tennis players, fans and media are not entirely supportive of this decision. Alternative plans must now be considered to replace the 2020 Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open for later in the year.
November or December makes the most sense. The 12 days of the tournament will most likely need to be condensed down to seven days.
This can be done by changing the match duration to pro sets or one set each, or perhaps the quick to four games like #NEXTGEN Finals currently uses.
And end of the year Indian Wells event with shorter matches would be more suitable for the players at the end of a long season of physical play.
I think the players would find an altered version of a Masters 1000 event to be appealing and intriguing as well the media and tennis fans.
I don’t see any reason why not to stage Indian Wells later in 2020, but the difficult part is finding the exact week for the event, maybe even after world tour finals or the week of Shanghai Masters which will probably be canceled.
David · March 10, 2020 at 12:20 pm
(I hadn’t realized you had started a new thread about this topic so here is my recycled post from that thread to this discussion.)
I just briefly scanned the ATP site for upcoming tournaments (and I realize IW is both a mens AND womens event) and I cannot, realistically, see how they could squeeze the IW in (unless your suggestion for a shorter draw and/or sets is used, Scoop). I can’t imagine they would want to wait until December to play it (and don’t know what the weather/conditions would be like, either). Ironically, the only semi-realistic time period for a rescheduling would be if the Olympics are canceled. Of course, the public health concerns would have to have abated in the Indian Wells area by then and, too, I imagine it would be nearly impossible to play on the over-heated desert courts that time of year (late July) unless they wanted to begin the “day’s” scheduling at like 7pm, or later. Unsure how many fans on the grounds would show up for such a thing but my money is on we shan’t see the Indian Wells event until next March.
Scoop Malinowski · March 10, 2020 at 3:55 pm
It would be shocking if the Olympics were cancelled. Has it ever happened before? David, I think IW has to be played. Once this mess clears up they can set it up again. There is such huge demand for tennis in souther California – no other events – I think the fans would flock to see a ppd IW.
Jon King · March 10, 2020 at 5:05 pm
Since there seems to be much confusion as to why events are cancelled, lets present some facts. The US health care system is for profit. It is designed to handle the anticipated number of health instances that should occur….illness, accidents, etc.
The seasonal flu is currently maxing out the health care system. So any additional health instances like Coronavirus, would put a huge stress and might break the system, like in Italy.
So that is why events such as IW are cancelled. The less we spread this virus now, the lower the chances of an epic health care system collapse in 4-6 weeks when the virus peaks.
Dan Markowitz · March 10, 2020 at 5:51 pm
Good points Jon. Although I don’t understand what would be the difference when it comes to the coronavirus in for-profit health care system and a not-for-profit. Even if there is a national health care plan, it’s still for profit, isn’t it? And how do you know the virus is going to peak in 4-6 weeks.
And logistically, I can understand the more people gathered together the higher chance there is of spreading the virus, but if people were advised not to shake hands or to fully cover their sneezes, take every precaution, yeah you’re right, the virus would still spread.
I’m torn. I have a press credential for the Miami O and I want to go, but I also don’t want to put myself at risk.
jg · March 10, 2020 at 7:35 pm
Dan and Scoop, would be looking forward to your reports from Miami, interesting as of now they are saying they are going ahead with the final four, but the actual colleges academically are saying they are going to on line classes, just shows $$ talks in college sports. Also interesting again from the Noah Rubin podcast, the courts in Indian Wells this year had little cushion, were hard on the legs, maybe they were trying to speed them up, I have played on the same courts down the road and they were very cushiony and really easy on the legs. Agree Dan if you practice common sense you should be ok, practicing hot yoga I am sure helps! Apparently these viruses don’t like the humid weather, which is why they tend to fizzle when the weather changes in the summer ( and then comes back in the fall)
jg · March 10, 2020 at 7:40 pm
I’m sponsoring a ATP/WTA 500 event ( below futures but points available) ( Maryland Hard Court Championships) maybe we will get a superstar field, if everything else is canceled. It will be in late May.
jg · March 10, 2020 at 8:01 pm
Don’t confuse 500 with an ATP 500, this level was created by the USTA when they changed the entry system to these tournaments to make it harder to enter, its mainly for college players who want to earn points to get into futures tournaments
Jon King · March 11, 2020 at 12:27 am
Dan, the reason I mentioned that the US health care system is for profit is that administrators of hospitals have strict budgets. They allocate resources, supplies, student nurses, etc. based on their best estimate for need. There is little excess capacity designed into the system.
Thats why when Coronavirus is added to seasonal flu and the regular illness and accident needs, the system can break down rather quickly. Imagine hospitals flooded with virus patients in need of ventilators and around the clock care. Its a domino effect where health care workers become exhausted and rooms and equipment run out.
Thats why we need to slow the spread now as much as possible. All sporting events should immediately be done with no fans. We need to take drastic action now or we will be forced to in 4-6 weeks.
Jon King · March 11, 2020 at 12:34 am
Another way of thinking about the virus spread and how it can sneak up on us is this great analogy I saw today in the Wash Post.
“You have a pond of a certain size, and upon that pond, a single lilypad. This particular species of lily pad reproduces once a day, so that on day two, you have two lily pads. On day three, you have four, and so on.
Now the teaser. “If it takes the lily pads 48 days to cover the pond completely, how long will it take for the pond to be covered halfway?”
The answer is 47 days. Moreover, at day 40, you’ll barely know the lily pads are there.”
In the US the cases have gone from 500 to 1000 in one day. We are at the doubling stage. Seriously, Indian Wells will be the least of our concerns very soon.
Dan Markowitz · March 11, 2020 at 8:37 am
Jon,
Thanks for clarification. It’s astounding that the testing for this virus is still not even halfway there to get out to the public. That’s why you have 10,000 cases in Italy, 8,000 in Iran and still not many in the US. In New Rochelle, 10 miles from where I live, there was one case two weeks ago, and yesterday when Gov. Cuomo quarantined a one-mile radius in the city, there were 118. So the cases are growing quickly.
Callum has a tournament in Amelia Island next weekend. We’re supposed to leave on Thursday, but I don’t know if we should go even if the tournament isn’t canceled. Tennis dilemmas.
JG, that’s really cool you’re sponsoring a low-level pro tournament. Give us some more details. Where is it going to be held? I’d love to attend if I could make it down.
Scoop Malinowski · March 11, 2020 at 9:11 am
Is this site turning into http://www.coronavirus-prose.com? I’ll stick to tennis. Did you know Guillermo Vilas ate nothing but pineapples for a whole month? Wanted to lose weight. Did you know Borg and Vilas once played 19 practice sets in one day? Did you know Vilas would drink 24 bottles of Coke during practice? Did you know Vilas collaborated with Pink Floyd? Facing Guillermo Vilas coming Very soon…
Scoop Malinowski · March 11, 2020 at 9:13 am
jg, any chance I can get a wildcard into your tournament? I’m in first place at 3-0 in the Bradenton Sarasota 5.5 Ultimatetennis.com league tournament 🙂 And two time defending champion of the spring season.
Scoop Malinowski · March 11, 2020 at 9:14 am
jg, any chance I can get a wildcard into your tournament? I’m in first place at 3-0 in the Bradenton Sarasota 5.5 Ultimatetennis.com league tournament 🙂 And two time defending champion of the spring season. Now using a Head Speed Pro pro stock racquet, boy does it manuever well and have good accuracy and power. I was up 60 51 on one of the top players down here and missed a semi easy fh volley wide by inches and on overhead into netcord for 6061 win but ended up winning 60 63 over a top player down here.
jg · March 11, 2020 at 6:35 pm
I will check the eligibility (pretty sure its on the USTA website), I am pretty sure juniors that have played national tournaments are eligible, its going to be at Georgetown Prep tennis club–its a hard court tournament although the club has Har Tru as well. I actually anyone is eligible, but mostly college players enter.