Part of the job description is sharing locker rooms around the world with the same people they are charged with battling on the court, an arrangement that can lead to awkward interactions for all involved.
Jelena Dokic, who spent her whole career navigating painful moments, was abused by her father and suffered from depression and an eating disorder, contemplating suicide at her lowest points.
Set in the scenic California desert in Indian Wells, with top-notch facilities, the tournament has been voted the tennis players' favorite of the year. It is often referred to as the "fifth slam" for being the biggest tournament outside the four majors. The intimate, more laid-back experience is unique, with fans able to get within shouting distance of Naomi Osaka or Aryna Sabalenka as they practice or stretch out on the idyllic grass lawn.
On a Wednesday in the desert last March, Reilly Opelka, the American with a cannon of a serve, was grinding out a tough match against French number one Arthur Rinderknech. Nearby, former US Open men's finalist Kei Nishikori beat Luca Nardi, part of the new wave of Italian talent, while Brazilian phenom Joao Fonseca closed out Pavel Kotov, who reached number 50 in the world in 2024.
The BNP Paribas Open Round of 16 on March 10 features two matches at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California on hard courts. The headline matchup showcases No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka versus No. 16 Naomi Osaka at 1:00 PM ET, with Talia Gibson facing Jasmine Paolini in the second match.
I think she's coming back. I don't know. I haven't spoken to her, but I guess the sentiment is that she's coming back. Where and how, singles, doubles, we don't know, and if I'm in her position, I would hide it too. Yeah, everybody is excited, and it's definitely something that's very highly anticipated.
