Tata Open to be rescheduled

Tata Open Maharashtra, South Asia's only ATP tour event, is staged in February every year but now the organisers are in talks with ATP for exploring a possible slot in the second half of the calendar

Pune: The rescheduling of next year’s Australian Open due to the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the organisers of the Tata Open Maharashtra to look for fresh dates in the second half of the calendar.

The ongoing pandemic has disrupted the start of the ATP season and the Australian Open, which usually takes place in January, will now be played from February 8 to 21. The Tata Open Maharashtra, South Asia’s only ATP tour event, is staged in February every year but now the organisers are in talks with ATP for exploring a possible slot in the second half of the calendar.

“The organisers are keen to host the fourth edition of the event and have been in talks with the ATP, the governing body of men’s professional tennis, to explore a possible slot in the second half of the calendar,” a media release said on Sunday.

Tata Open Maharashtra Tournament Director Prashant Sutar said: “Live sports have been the worst hit in the COVID-19 pandemic times and it has been facing tough challenges. However, it’s heartening to see a slow and steady comeback as tournaments have started taking place.