INDIAN WELLS GETS UNDERWAY IN AFTERMATH OF SHARAPOVA'S FAILED DRUG TEST

Week Ten was dominated by the news of Maria Sharapova's failed drug test. Ahead of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, "Meldonium" became a very familiar word to tennis fans. The other big story this week, of course, was Venus Williams' return to Indian Wells for the first time in 15 years. After Serena ended the family boycott last year, Venus followed suit this week wearing a wide smile when she entered Stadium 1 to rapturous applause. For Serena, her appearance this week was her first official event on tour since the Australian Open in January. On the men's side, Indian Wells is without Roger Federer who is recovering from knee surgery, and Andy Murray makes his first tour appearance since the Australian Open. 

Let's have a closer look at what's been happening #ThisWeekInTennis!

WTA

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RUNDOWN

• Sharapova dominated news in the early going of Indian Wells. Check out the "On The Web" section for some of the pieces that have been written on the story in the past week.
• Venus Williams made her return to Indian Wells official on Friday. Sadly, for Venus and her fans, she lost in straight sets to Kurumi Nara. Watch the the welcome she received and Venus' reaction HERE.
• Serena followed Venus two matches later on Stadium 1 with a 6-2 6-1 win over Laura Siegemund. It was the world #1's first tour match since losing in the Australian Open final to Angelique Kerber. 
• Speaking of the Australian Open champ, Kerber lost her opening match 5-7 5-7 to Allertova. Since winning her first Grand Slam, Kerber went 1-1 in Fed Cup and has now lost her first match in consecutive events. 
• Muguruza's struggles in 2016 continued as she exited in the 2nd round to Christina McHale. The Spaniard is now just 6-5 on the year.
• Taylor Townsend made it through the qualifying draw before losing in the first round. After entering last year's event ranked #96, Townsend will leave the desert just inside #400. Hopefully, this result is a sign of better things to come. 
• Shuai Peng made her first singles appearance on the WTA since last year's French Open (back). Currently ranked #768, the 2014 U.S. Open semifinalist lost 0-6 1-6 to Putintseva in the first round.
• Laura Robson is on the comeback trail. Despite a first round loss, Robson claims to be ready to resume a full schedule on the WTA tour. 
• Stosur and Ivanovic both saved match points before advancing to the third round with a pair of 3-set victories.

WTA Indian Wells DRAW


​PRESS

Q. Do you think back to the last time you were in that stadium? The stadium itself hasn't maybe changed much. Do you ever flash back to that? VENUS WILLIAMS: Is the stadium bigger? It looks really -- it's big. (Smiling.) I didn't actually think back to that. I definitely live in the now and it was a long time ago. Serena and I have been able to do a lot of positive things in our lives since then. Hopefully those positive things have affected a lot of people. That's what we focused on more than anything. I think when she came back it wasn't an easy decision. You never know what was going to happen. But she had so much courage to do so. It made it so easy for me. I felt like when I came out here I was able to focus on the tennis and not on, oh, my gosh, what's gonna happen. 

Q. Probably as much as any other athlete, you have had so many triumphs and challenges, so many chapters. Venus lost tonight, but it was a wonderful night, also. Do you think in some way her coming back is to close a chapter on all that occurred, that it's time to move on?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. Definitely. I think it wasn't about winning. When I come here, even to this day it's not about winning. It's just about closing that chapter in my life and her life and our lives and try to move on with our heads up, as we always had our heads up. But just continue to do that.

​​Q. Do you think you are satisfied with the way you and Venus have navigated through all this? Do you think it could be an example to others? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I hope so. We always try to be an example, positive role model, and a positive example to our colleagues as well as people that are outside of tennis and everyone of all walks of life

Q. Last year you had that French Open, Wimbledon --
SIMONA HALEP: Don't remember me, please.

​Q. I'm sorry I have to remind you. You were disappointed by all that. Then you came to North America and had a very good North American summer. Is that at all similar to how you felt after Australia and then having a bit of a longer break after the Middle East?
SIMONA HALEP: No. Was different. Last year was just about the pressure. I couldn't handle it and I wanted too much from me. I wanted to win all the matches. It was like if I did the final one year before I have to do the same thing, so it's a big mistake. If you think like this you cannot play anymore. You are very stressed. This year I was very sick. I couldn't practice. After 10 minutes I was very tired on court. So I got a little bit scared about it, and, you know, I lost the power. I lost my legs. I lost the confidence. That's why I couldn't win matches. Actually, in Sydney I didn't play too bad, but after that I got the infection, nose infection, and was very bad for me. But I want to forget it. Actually not forget it but just to keep it away a little bit, because now I feel good. I eat pretty good now, so everything is good. If I can run, it's all good. 

Q. It's been quite a controversial week, if you like, for women's tennis. Over the years you have stood up and been a spokesman on several issues. What's your take on the whole Maria business? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, any time I have spoken up on issues is because I know the facts. In this case I don't. I guess they are finding the facts now. That's, I guess, a discovery period. So what can you say? What I do know is that in the past she's been very competitive. I think she has been a role model for a lot of people. She has a ton of fans, and I think she's affected a lot of lives in a positive way. Hopefully that will won't be the end of that.

Q. How are you doing with all the post-concussion stuff since Australia? Everything been okay on that front?
EUGENIE BOUCHARD: Yeah. Thank you for asking. You know, once in a while I feel like I have little lapses, and I think that's still maybe to be expected. You never know exactly, you know, how you're going to heal from these things or how long it will take. In Malaysia I felt like I suffered some symptoms. As I have been here in this great desert, dry weather, I have been great. Just something I constantly monitor. Just trying to stay on top of it.

Q. You and Sam have had a couple of sort of testy coaching timeouts where he comes on and gets more emotional than maybe most players and coaches during timeouts. Is that how things are usually with you or something in the heat of the match that you both get worked up?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: No. I think it's just if you're in a tennis match you are always very emotional and you're fighting in just kind of a way what you feel. I don't think is there anything wrong to do so. Sometimes there is a camera. You forget. And the microphone, obviously. But I just think it's normal to express to your coach what you feel. And that's it. I mean, there is no big deal. 

Q. Do you feel different about your tennis? A Grand Slam champion. Do you feel a different sort of expectation on the court for yourself when you start a tournament? ANGELIQUE KERBER: It's much more different because I have much more things to do off court. I'm here one week and, yeah, it was a busy week for me. But still, I mean, I'm trying -- I have my team and I'm trying to go out there, work my tennis, improve it. Yeah, and like I said, it's a completely new situation. I will try to get used to it and, yeah, and let's see. I mean, yeah, I'm working hard still and my game will not change. I mean, my game is like it is. I try to improve like few more things into it, but at the end I will still play like I was playing the last years.

*You can access press transcripts from the BNP Paribas Open HERE ​​

Thank you note to my dear fans: https://t.co/SjIluGD2o7

— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) 9 March 2016

good to be back in the place where it all started @MirzaSania pic.twitter.com/1X1fVXs6Kc

— Martina Hingis (@mhingis) 9 March 2016

My A team!! Bring it on @BNPPARIBASOPEN □□ pic.twitter.com/dgWbtCmrxT

— Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) 9 March 2016

Best support team! Thank you @OfficialGretzky & the future tennis star □□ pic.twitter.com/zBI0RtP4Ja

— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) 13 March 2016

Ssshhhh □ don't tell anyone but I have a 1 million family on Instagram □ hehe .. All the love… https://t.co/fsYGd80HtL

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) 10 March 2016

Do you guys have any nails left after yesterday?□□ Relaxing this morning with my @BangOlufsen BeoPlay H8 headphones pic.twitter.com/HVqDFaZjAr

— Aga Radwanska (@ARadwanska) 12 March 2016

Tough mach against Slava3:64:6!Life has ups and downs but I feel I'm finally on my way up!#workhard#fight#bepositive pic.twitter.com/TwJtYFzxQv

— lucie safarova (@luciesafarova) 12 March 2016

Just saw @Venuseswilliams welcome on court after a long break! So great for our sport □□

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) 12 March 2016

​ON THE WEB

​"Maria Sharapova is Planning a New Game"
​'You're a Sucker if you Believe Maria Sharapova's Story"
"Inside Venus' Indian Wells Return"
"WTA Preps Players at Indian Wells for Sharapova Doping Questions"
"Effects of Meldonium on Athletes are Hazy"
​"The Ballad of Serena and Maria"
"More than 60 Athletes Have Tested Positive for Meldonium"
"Williams Sisters on Triumphant Indian Wells Return"
"Graf-Agassi Dream Team Inspires Halep"
"Maria Sharapova's Intentions are Irrelevant"
​WTA Insider Q&A with Casey Dellacqua
Steffi Graf says Serena Williams will break major record soon
​"Laura Robson Free of Pain and Ready for a New Tennis Chapter" 
"The City Game" - Wozniacki's photo diary of NYC exho with Serena

​ATP

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​RUNDOWN
​

• Andy Murray was unequivocal in saying Maria Sharapova should be banned after her positive test for Meldonium. The world #3 also won his first match 6-4 7-6 against Granollers.
• Rafael Nadal, like most players this week, was asked his opinion of the Sharapova situation. Like Muray, Nadal said he thought Sharapova should face consequences for the failed drug test, whether intentional or not. Nadal also made claims for his own innocence in similar matters after allegations were leveled at him recently.
• Nick Kyrgios lost in straight sets to Ramos-Vinolas. His appearance this week was shrouded in controversy after Tomic cast aspersions on him for missing last week's Davis Cup tie. Kyrgios caused further upset on court when he got into a row with the chair umpire after he was given a violation for swearing. 
• ​Taylor Fritz lost his tournament opener. The match, featuring two of the brightest U.S. prospects, saw Frances Tiafoe close out the fast rising Fritz. Tiafoe went on to lose to Goffin in three sets in the second round.
• Juan Martin del Potro continued to show improvement in his return to the ATP. He won his opener in straight sets before losing to Berdych in the second, pushing the world #7 to a tiebreak in the first set.
• Chris Kermode was appointed head of the ATP for a second term. His mandate:"to continue to protect the integrity of our sport.”
• The Bryan brothers eked out a first round win against the Spanish duo of Nadal/Verdasco. Do yourself a favour and watch the highlights; this match had abit of everything, and produced some of the most exciting tennis on offer in the early rounds.

​

ATP Indian Wells DRAW


​PRESS

Q. There were reports in the news this week that you used to take or were taking Meldonium and that it was linked to diabetes. Could you explain from your position?
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I have absolutely no idea what Meldonium is. I honestly never took it. I do not know where that is even coming from. I have no idea what that substance even is, and everything that has been there is absolutely not true. I am getting tested with doping, you know, almost every week, so, you know, if I would be taking that substance which is not allowed, there would be bigger news than just that little article. 

Q. As a young player coming on the tour, do you feel you have all the information useful for you to understand how it works with those lists and everything, or is it a bit complicated at first to... ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Well, look, I have a great team around me who do all that stuff for many, many years much longer than I do, so I really trust all of them. You know, they take care of all that stuff, all the nutrition I take, all the vitamins and everything like that. So, you know, most of it is not really me doing all that stuff. It's really my team who have great experience in that kind of stuff. I think they are doing a great job with me. 


 

Q. You gave a pretty impassioned defense with Viktor Troicki when he had the situation with WADA. I'm curious to hear your views on Sharapova and her situation and how you think that should proceed.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. Well, it's been the talk of the tennis world for the last couple of days, and this kind of news caught us all by surprise. I think I can talk about, you know, Maria and her situation from two perspectives. First as a friend, somebody that knows her for a long time, of course I do feel sorry about what's happening with her. I know that, you know, she has always been very responsible and aware towards herself, towards the sport, very disciplined, very kind of hard working, hard-working ethics, and love what she does. You know, she believes and still does believe that the hard work really pays off, and that's what gets her titles. So as a friend, you know, I really hope that she will find the best possible way. I thought she was very courageous and was very human, brave of her, to go out and take the responsibility and say what has happened. She did admit that she made a mistake with her team, and I think, you know, you don't have to blame WADA for anything. It's completely normal to expect that under these circumstances, you know, the player that has made this mistake has to suffer certain kind of consequences, and I'm sure she's aware of that.....

Q. Do you think it's possible for you to get back to where you were in the top of the game with a slice backhand? I know Steffi Graf won 22 Grand Slams with backhand slices. Do you think it's possible for you today on the ATP? And have you thought about trying to develop any sort of one-handed drive backhand? 
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Maybe I must call her. (Laughter.) She needs to teach me the slice and volleys. But with these guys, not. I don't think it's gonna be possible just playing slices. They play so hard. They are so strong. Even to return his serves is almost impossible. But now I am still working on my backhand, and we will see what happen in the future.

Q. Have you and Bernie spoken about Davis Cup? He said what he said. Have you guys talked at all this week about that? 
NICK KYRGIOS: We haven't really talked about it, but I'm not --you know, I'm not really gonna say too much about it. I'm just a bit disappointed. He saw me when I flew down to Melbourne and I was -- you know, his exact words were, You know, you look like shit. I was disappointed to hear it from him, but, I'm not going to say anything about it. He's a great guy and a great player. 
​

Señoras y señores: ¡Rafael Nadal! https://t.co/UP2BxPUhKs

— Mutua Madrid Open (@MutuaMadridOpen) 13 March 2016

Arranco el día bien alimentado! □

Strong breakfast to start a new day! #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/jLIjzxuHT8

— Juan Monaco (@picomonaco) 10 March 2016

To date, not a single President was a pro tennis player. Let's change that. #SockIn16 https://t.co/aYVD04IOOI pic.twitter.com/wEyXuFe6Lj

— Jack Sock (@JackSock) 9 March 2016

#flashback ✌□️⏱ pic.twitter.com/NGyTRpW8wT

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) 11 March 2016

Lots of love to all my 5M followers ❤️ let's use our voice to do good for this world! □□ Thank you #NoleFam pic.twitter.com/Rpr20aFT7n

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) 9 March 2016

Getting stronger □□
Jumping & running □□□ pic.twitter.com/XvX74YJ1p2

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) 10 March 2016

Petit parcours de golf... #relax #magnifique #top pic.twitter.com/3WGI7BBU7b

— paire benoit (@benoitpaire) 10 March 2016

It was great to be back out there competing, and playing well after being sidelined for a while.… https://t.co/as0k4ciCDh

— Milos Raonic (@milosraonic) 12 March 2016

​ON THE WEB
​
"Andy Murray Says Sharapova Deserves Ban for Failing Drugs Test"
​"Canadian Tennis Player Agostinelli Jr. Dies at 28" 
Chris Kermode reappointed ATP's chief executive
"Eric Butorac: Why Indian Wells is the Best Doubles Event of the Year"
"Barely Legal: The Problem that Existed before Sharapova Tested Positive"
​Rafael Nadal denies he ever failed drug test
"Nick Kyrgios Blows up at Umpire"
​Safin and Henin elected to tennis Hall of Fame

​PODCASTS

Beyond The Baseline - "Tennis Commentator Brad Gilbert"
No Challenges Remaining - "Maria Sharapova Tests Positive for Banned Substance"
No Challenges Remaining - "Rounding Up Maria Sharapova"
The Tennis Podcast - 'Maria Sharapova Bombshell...."
Tennis Connected - "Previewing the 2016 BNP Paribas Open, Plus Sharapova and Kyrgios"
Realz Tenis Fanz - "So I Didn't Click the Link....Sharapova Doping!"
​Realz Tenis Fanz - "American White Privilege and Russian Doctors"
​