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It marks the second consecutive year the dual
ATP-WTA hardcourt event, which is often called the "fifth major"
after the four Grand Slam tournaments, has been impacted by the
virus as the 2020 edition was cancelled.
"The tournament is proactively working with the ATP and WTA
Tours as well as title sponsor BNP Paribas to confirm dates
later in the year to hold the event," tournament organisers said
in a statement.
"Details will be released in the near future as plans are
finalised."
The event, which next year was scheduled to be held March 8-21,
attracts the game's top players from both the men's and women's
sides and in 2019 drew a record 475,000 fans over its two-week
run.
The 2020 edition was the first major professional sporting event
in the United States cancelled in wake of the coronavirus, on
the eve of its scheduled start.
Men's tennis governing body ATP also announced the 2021 Indian
Wells postponement but said that all subsequent sections of the
2021 calendar, beginning with the spring clay-court season,
remain unchanged at this time.
The start of the 2021 Australian Open, the year's first Grand
Slam, has already been delayed for three weeks until Feb. 8 due
to the country's strict border rules to curb the spread of the
coronavirus.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, Rohith Nair in Bengaluru
and Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Gareth Jones and
Christian Radnedge)
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