BNP Paribas Open play resumes after rain delay
Play has resumed at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after rain delayed action on the courts for more than an hour and a half. Play started again just after 6 p.m.
Earlier Friday, a short 14-minute rain delay halted play on all nine courts before action resumed. About 12 minutes later a harder downpour hit the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and play was officially suspended at 4:29 p.m.
Players and fans headed for the exits after an announcement that play was being temporarily suspended due to the weather.
Fans holding day session tickets will be allowed to watch the day session matches on Stadium 1 to conclusion. Fans with Friday night session tickets are allowed on the grounds starting at 4 p.m. as always but will not be allowed into Stadium 1 until the night matches begin. All other stadiums are general admission and night session fans can watch the action on those courts.
As of 5:20 p.m. the tournament hoped to complete all Friday matches this evening, including shuffling some around as courts open up or just simply playing late into the night.
During the first delay, players did not leave the court, but upon the second announcement, they packed up their rackets and headed to the locker room.
On Stadium 1, Shelby Rogers held a 4-1 lead over Maria Sakkari when play was halted. As ballkids worked on the court to dry the lines, a rainbow developed over the grounds at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
The light rain moved in quickly after a day that was entirely consumed by sun up to that point. During the delay a rainbow became visible in the sky above the Indian Wells Tennis Garden
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: BNP Paribas Open: Play has resumed following rain delay at Indian Wells
