Naomi Osaka listed in field for BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells

The 2021 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells was postponed from March to October because of COVID-19 concerns and virus-related restrictions in the region. 

That tournament is now set to run Oct. 4-17, and it may include world No. 3 Naomi Osaka. 

As noted by KESQ and the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Osaka was listed in the women's field for the BNP Paribas Open. The news comes less than one full week after Osaka fell to Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez in the third round of the U.S. Open and later suggested she could take another break from the sport.

Osaka, a champion at Indian Wells in 2018, previously withdrew from the French Open after she cited mental health reasons for not wishing to participate in press events. She also pulled out of Wimbledon but competed in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo and, later, in the Western & Southern Open ahead of the U.S. Open, the year's final major. 

Her status for the BNP Paribas Open is understandably up in the air despite Wednesday's development.