2021 ATP Calendar (Revised due to the pandemic)

UPDATED 2021 ATP CALENDAR - Q1

Although the arrival of a vaccine has given reason for optimisim, the Covid-19 pandemic is still very much a reality in most parts of the world. The ATP had to update its Calendar for the new season "in the face of scheduling challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic".

Australia's requirement for a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival, for all players, forced the delay of the AO into February and a major rework of the first quarter schedule. Some tournaments were cancelled early in the season, others moved to a later date, while a few local preparatory tournaments (and exhibitions) were added to give players an opportunity to play before the AO. 

On a side note: During their quarantine, players (and their team mate) were allowed to leave their hotel room for 5 hours, each day, to practice and get some training and meals, all within the bubble put in place by the AO and Tennis Australia. But 72 individuals were not so lucky, as three people, who travelled on the same chartered flight, tested postive for Covid-19 on arrival in Australia. All 72, which included media people as well, were placed in "hard" quarantine - that's 14 days without leaving their hotel room, not even stepping out in the hall way or talking to your neighbor! Meals and all necessary amenities were delivered to their room (left in front of their door, with no contact). Food was pretty good, according to Stephanie Myles (Canadian reporter, opencourt.ca) who reported daily, on Twitter, about her adventure. Pretty tough conditions though!...  and not the greatest preparation for the first GS of the year! 

That's one of the reasons that two preparatory tournaments were added in Melbourne to give these players a chance to have some practice ahead of the AO, and ajust to the outside temperature and daylight! 


Quotes from the ATP Press Release last December:

"Several early-season events are scheduled to follow the conclusion of the Australian Open, including the European Indoor, Latin American and Middle East swings, which lead into the Miami Open presented by Itau in the final two weeks of March.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells will not be held in its customary dates in March. Alternative dates are being assessed for the tournament to potentially take place later in the year.

All subsequent sections of the 2021 calendar, beginning with the Spring clay-court season from week 14, remain unchanged at this time, with all tournaments planned to take place as originally scheduled.

The ATP continues to assess opportunities for additional single-year licences to be scheduled in 2021 and will communicate any additions once confirmed."

Here is the 2021 ATP Calendar for Q1, as it stands now:

 
 

BREAKING NEWS: A Glicht in the Quarantine Process!

The quarantine process in Melbourne was on-track and players were free to play within the existing bubble starting Feb. 1st... until this happened!  

Health Authorities have advised us that a Hotel Quarantine worker has tested positive for COVID-19.

Those associated with the AO who quarantined at the hotel now need to be tested and isolate until they receive a negative test result.

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 3, 2021

Some 520 people are being affected by this eclosion at the Hyatt Hotel and are in isolation today and being tested.
If all players and staff test negative, play could resume tomorrow. It not... it could get very messy!

We will work with everyone involved to facilitate testing as quickly as possible.

There will be no matches at Melbourne Park on Thursday. An update on the schedule for Friday will be announced later today. #AusOpen

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 3, 2021

Due to this eclosion, there will be no play in Melbourne on Thursday. The tournaments impacted by this measure: ATP Cup, Murray River Open and Great Ocean Road Open.

A live update 40 minutes ago from Jim Courrier, who was staying at the affected Hyatt Hotel, with some good information about the current situation and anxiously waiting for tomorrow's test results:

"It's gonna be a very tough, stern mental test for these players to try to keep it all together."

Jim Courier reports from Melbourne following the COVID case that led to over 500 players and staff into lockdown.#TCLive | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/CzuVjpKBIL

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) February 4, 2021

Not the best outlook for the Australian Open, that is certain. Hope players stay healthy and don't succumb to illness.
 A good thing that RF is not taking part. The long isolation to start with is a real trial. And now, this. 
 Stay safe, players.

SAD NEWS!  

I am really surprised by this decsision, as I thought that by October, with the spread of the vaccine to a large portion of the population, things would start to look better around the world, and in Switzerland in particular.  

On a happier note, let's celebrate the return of Indian Wells this fall
(exact dates to be comfirmed).  

This news was a surprise and not a pleasant one at that about the Basel tournament. Why, when things appear to be going in the opposite direction? Mr. Grennwald seems to offer no solid reason, except the timing? Why do I not trust him entirely? Speculation won't help anyone, but questions remain. it's special place with a special number, after all. Too far-fetched a consideration, I suppose.

BIG NEWS... - SHANGHAI CANCELLED AGAIN!

It had beeen previously announced that Indian Wells (postponed due to Covid conditions earlier this year) would be played in the Fall. Now we have a date!... It will replace Shanghai, cancelled for the second year in a row. I am really surprised that it's being cancelled again this year.  

All the other Chinese events have also been cancelled (Chengdu, Zhuhai, Beijing), as well as the Japan Open in Tokyo.

IndianWells will be expanded to a full two weeks with a men's draw of 96 players and will be a combined ATP/WTA event.

And like last year, St. Petersburg will be upgraded to a 500 event and take the place of Basel, which was cancelled earlier.

This is a recap of the latest changes for the last part of the 2021 calendar (post US Open):

 
 20 Sep   Metz - Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan (St. Petersburg moved) 
 24 Sep   LAVER CUP, Chicago 
 27 Sep   Sofia - San Diego (new)   (Chengdu/Zhuhai) 
 04 Oct    Indian Wells   (Beijing - Tokyo) 
 10 Oct    Indian Wells   (Shanghai 
 18 Oct    Moscow - Antwerp
 25 Oct    Vienna - St Pertersburg (500)  (Basel)
 01 Nov   Paris 
 07 Nov   Stockholm 
 09 Nov   Next Gen ATP FINALS, Milan 
 14 Nov   Nitto ATP FINALS, Turin

Revised Q4 ATP Calendar

Wonder what king may do.

Thanks for the update.

Jmrf wrote:Wonder what king may do.

Who knows?  The fact that we've seen zero practice pictures just makes me believe that the USO is out.