MUMBAI: After the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the pandemic, the Tata Open Maharashtra is back on the ATP calendar for the upcoming season.
South Asia’s only ATP 250 event is scheduled to take place starting January 31, a day after the Australian Open ends.
“It’s been a long time and the players too have always liked travelling to Pune, so this is something that is welcomed,” tournament director Prashant Sutar told the Indian Express.
Crucial to the event resuming in India are the Covid-19 safety protocols that organisers will have to put in place before the players start to arrive in Pune. The most important directive for the ATP was that players must not be forced into a 14-day quarantine upon landing in India.
“(The ATP) put down the protocols for safety, which we will be able to fulfil easily. What they wanted to know is if players will have to quarantine. There will be no requirement for quarantine,” Sutar told the daily.
Though quarantine upon landing is not required, there is still a vast list of protocols that need to be put in order. Covid testing being just one of them.
The 26th edition of the Indian ATP – which has previously been held in New Delhi and Chennai – will not be an entirely closed door event as a maximum of 500 spectators per day (all of whom must be fully vaccinated) will be allowed into the Balewadi Sports Complex.
“It’s November right now, things can change – hopefully it won’t – by the time January and February arrives. If conditions get troublesome by then, then worst-case the tournament will be held in a bubble without any spectators,” Sutar further tolf IE.
