BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells is likely to be canceled in 2021. The tournament was also canceled in 2020, and the tennis tour came to a halt for several months immediately after last year’s tournament was canceled.

As the Covid-19 cases rise around the world, it is becoming difficult to organize a tournament with players coming from dozens of countries. Local regulations are also unlikely to allow the tournament to go on.

The advance cancellation of the tournament, typically held in early March, has raised a few eyebrows. The thought in some quarters is that the tournament should have waited until after the new year to make the decision.

Indian Wells’ decision also makes it likely that the Miami Open, which follows Indian Wells, will also be canceled, though no announcement has been made by the tournament.

The cancellation news not only throws the tennis calendar into disarray, but it also has a huge impact on the local economy. A 2017 study by the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau showed the economic impact of the tournament to local businesses was around $400 million. The total economic impact of canceling the tournament for two years is over $800 million.

BNP Paribas Open is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle. Reports have suggested that any profit or loss from the tournament does not go Ellison but it stays within the coffers of the tournament.

Laura Robson is back on the court again. Robson posted pictures of her first practice on the court in almost a year. She underwent two hip surgeries in the last two years, with the last surgery in December 2019.

Robson has not played competitive tennis since April 2019. She still has a long way to go before she can get herself match fit to play on the women’s tour. But things are looking brighter for her than they did a year ago.

I honestly didn’t think I’d make it back on court after the last surgery. It’s taken ridiculous amounts of rehab and hard work to get to this point so I’m very proud of myself today.

-Laura Robson

Robson also countered her critics who have been asking her if she is retired. She said:

Ps you can stop leaving comments asking if I’m retired now thnx..

Robson won a silver medal in mixed doubles at the London 2012 Olympics with Andy Murray. Her best result in a grand slam was reaching the fourth round at the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013. She reached a career-high ranking of world number 27 in 2013.