Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

A17
Tuesday 10 March 2020

Indian

Wells tennis BATTLE

postponed

after

coronavirus OF L.A.

confirmed

By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
The BNP Paribas Open,
the near-major tennis
tournament set to begin
this week in the California
desert, won't be played as
scheduled after a case of
coronavirus was confirmed
in the Coachella Valley.
It's the largest U.S. sport-
ing event to be called off
over concerns about the
spread of the disease. The
South by Southwest Fes-
tival in Austin, Texas, was
canceled Friday.
The announcement came
Sunday night after many
players were already in the
desert practicing. Qualify-
ing matches were to be-
gin Monday with women's
main draw matches start-
ing Wednesday and the
men's draw beginning
Thursday.
"We're here and still decid-
ing what's next," tweeted
Rafael Nadal, the world's
second-ranked player. "So
sad for all that is happen-
ing around the world with
this situation. Hopefully
soon solutions from the au-
thorities. Stay all well and
safe."
The Riverside County Pub- LeBron & Co. snap Clippers'
lic Health Department
declared a public health streak at 6 with 112-103 victory
emergency for the desert
cities 110 miles east of Los
Angeles, including Indian
Wells where the ATP and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots
WTA tours were to play the as Los Angeles forward Kawhi Leonard defends dur-
two-week tournament. ing the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday,
Gov. Gavin Newsom has March 8, 2020, in Los Angeles.
declared a state of emer-
gency. California has re- Associated Press
ported 114 cases of the Page 19
virus.

Continued on Page 18