Marseille ATP event won’t happen in February, will take March slot if Indian Wells is cancelled

The Open 13 Provence says it will move its 2021 event from February to March, if, as is expected, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The ATP 250 event is scheduled for February 15-21 but with the Australian Open reportedly set to begin on February 8, tournament organisers have targeted the week of March 8-14 instead.

But that will only happen if Indian Wells is cancelled. According to growing media reports, the first Masters 1000 event of 2021 is reportedly set to announce it will not be played in March due to increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases in California.

In a statement on its website on Tuesday, the Open 13 Provence said nothing has been finalised but that the tournament would definitely not be played in February.

“The Open 13 Provence is likely to take place in March from the 8th to the 14th,” the statement said. “Everything will depend on whether or not Indian Wells is maintained. The situation in California is worrying and the organisers do not know if the health situation will allow the Masters 1000 to be played. This 2021 edition will not take place under normal conditions, but we are fighting for its maintenance and hope to be able to offer entertainment and tennis, whether or not it is restricted.”

L'édition 2021 de l'Open 13 Provence est-elle en danger?https://t.co/gdWBT6eYav pic.twitter.com/1qzKMC67J0

— Open 13 Provence (@Open13) December 8, 2020

Tournament director Jean-François Caujolle said he “does not give up anything” but the only thing that is certain is that the 2021 Marseille event will not take place between February 15 to 21 as originally planned.