The ATP has released a statement regarding the future of the 2020 season with reference to the Coronavirus epidemic that is causing so much panic across the globe.
"While we regret that the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells will not take place, the ATP Tour calendar beyond Indian Wells remains as status quo,” said ATP CEO Andrea Gaudenzi. “We continue to monitor the situation daily, working closely with our player and tournament members with the understanding that direction must be taken from local public health authorities. We are committed to exploring all options for the operation of upcoming tournaments as the health and safety of our players and all other stakeholders remain our top priority. Any further updates will be communicated on ATP platforms."
Earlier on Monday the Miami Open, slated to begin on March 23rd, released a statement saying that it still intends to stage the tournament.
“Safety remains a top priority, and we are monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely with local, state and federal officials and health organizations in the lead up to the tournament,” the tournament said in a statement.
The decision has been met with skepticism, given the fact that 12 people have tested positive in Florida already.
The virus has been causing significantly more damage in Italy, where the government has locked down the north, restricting the movement of approximately 16 million people. Italy has 9,172 cases as of Monday afternoon, up from 7,375 on Sunday.
France, Germany and Spain has also been hard hit, which spells trouble for the clay-court season in Europe, which is slated to begin in full in early April.