Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 10 March 2020
Indian Wells

Continued from Page 17 tightly scheduled and the
summer months in the des-
"There is too great a risk, ert are notoriously hot.
at this time, to the pub- "We are very disappointed
lic health of the Riverside that the tournament will
County area in holding a not take place, but the
large gathering of this size," health and safety of the lo-
Dr. David Agus, professor of cal community, fans, play-
medicine and biomedical ers, volunteers, sponsors,
engineering at the Univer- employees, vendors, and
sity of Southern California, everyone involved with the
said Sunday. "It is not in the event is of paramount im-
public interest of fans, play- portance," Haas said in a
ers and neighboring areas statement.
for this tournament to pro- Already some smaller tennis
ceed. We all have to join events in China and Italy —
together to protect the the two countries hardest
community from the coro- hit by the virus — had been
navirus outbreak." affected. The Miami Open, In this Monday, March 11, 2019, file photo, Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, walks off the court during a
The event typically draws which follows Indian Wells rain break in his match against Philipp Kohlschreiber, of Germany, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis
upwards of 450,000 fans. later this month, could be tournament in Indian Wells, Calif.
It is commonly referred to jeopardy. The Ultra music Associated Press
as the "fifth slam" because festival in that city has al- first." Refunds for this year's at a Northern California and American Taylor Fritz
of its popularity among ready been canceled. The event or a credit toward medical facility. That per- for the Eisenhower Cup, a
the players and its stature, year's second Grand Slam next year's tournament are son hasn't returned home $150,000 winner-take-all
ranking points and over tournament, the French being offered. since leaving the Diamond event. Earlier in the week,
$17 million in prize money Open, is set to be played in Riverside County health Princess ship. officials had announced
that place it one rung be- Paris in May. officials said the individual "We have always known several measures to pro-
low tennis' four Grand Slam The decision to postpone with the first case of locally this was a possibility," Dr. tect players, fans and staff
tournaments. This year's Indian Wells was based on acquired coronavirus is be- Cameron Kaiser, Riverside at the tennis tournament.
field includel Nadal, Novak the guidance of medical ing treated at Eisenhower County public health of- Ball kids were going to
Djokovic, Serena Williams, professionals, the Centers Health in nearby Rancho ficer, said of the first case. have to wear gloves and
Naomi Osaka and Coco for Disease Control and Mirage after testing posi- "We have been planning not touch the towels of
Gauff. Kim Clijsters was set state of California officials, tive. The person is not being for weeks and are prepared players on the court. Orga-
to continue her comeback tournament officials said. identified because of confi- to take the necessary steps nized player and fan inter-
at the event. "We understand the deci- dentiality rules. to protect the health of our action was also going to be
"So sad to hear the news sion which has been made Heath officials are follow- local community."A charity limited at the tournament.
about the postponing of in the interest of public ing up on people who may event featuring Nadal set Besides ball kids, restaurant
@BNPPARIASOPEN," Gauff health and safety which have been exposed and for Tuesday night at Indian and food supply workers
tweeted. "I was so excited is the top priority at this an investigation is under- Wells Tennis Garden has were going to wear gloves
to make my debut in IW, time," WTA chairman and way to find out how the been canceled, tourna- as well as volunteers taking
but safety is always the no. CEO Steve Simon said in a person contracted the dis- ment spokesman Matt Van tickets at entrances. Over
1 priority. Stay safe." statement. "It is too soon to ease. Tuinen said. 250 hand sanitizing stations
Tournament director Tom- speculate about what will It's the second case re- Nadal was set to be joined were set up throughout the
my Haas said organizers are happen to other tourna- corded in Riverside Coun- by defending BNP Paribas venue.
prepared to play the event ments that follow. We will ty. A cruise ship passenger Open champion Dominic Other major sports and en-
on different dates and will continue to closely monitor from Riverside County was Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, tertainment events in the
explore options. However, the situation. Health and diagnosed with COVID-19 Matteo Berrettini, Stan desert are scheduled for
the pro tennis calendar is safety will always come recently and is recovering Wawrinka, Milos Raonic next month. q

Clippers sign free-agent

center Joakim Noah

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Clippers in the stands. “Joakim is a relent-
have signed free-agent center less competitor and a proven
Joakim Noah, giving them an ag- winner,” Lawrence Frank, direc-
gressive, physical presence with tor of basketball operations, said
playoff experience. Monday. “His experience, acu-
The 35-year-old two-time All-Star men and toughness fit well in our
played 42 games with Memphis locker room.”
last season after agreeing to a Noah has been limited to 124
buyout with the New York Knicks. games since the end of the 2014-
He averaged 7.1 points, 2.1 assists 15 season in Chicago, which se-
and 5.7 rebounds for the Grizzlies. lected him with the ninth overall
Noah attended the Clippers’ pick in the 2007 NBA draft. He
In this March 23, 2019, file photo, then-Memphis Grizzlies center Joakim Noah, loss to the Lakers on Sunday at was the NBA defensive player of
center, looks to shoot between Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony
Towns (32) and guard Josh Okogie, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball Staples Center, where he was the year in 2014. Noah led Florida
game in Memphis, Tenn. warmly received as he made his to NCAA championships in 2006
Associated Press way through the crowd and sat and ‘07.q