This is an article “An In-depth Indian Wells 2022 Recap” by Marc Pulisci
While not all of the ATP Top 10 joined the recent BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells this year, most of the players were still anticipating a high-octane competition before the start of the tournament. Even with the shocking news of WTA number 1 Ashleigh Barty's sudden retirement recently, which perhaps was why she skipped this year's tournament, more stars came to the limelight, and a couple of stories fans were eager to watch play out.
Here are some of the top highlights you might have missed during the 2022 BNP Paribas Open.
An impressive lineup
Spanish champion Rafael Nadal led the men's singles roster, and other top-ranked players, including Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, Italy's Matteo Berrettini, USA's Taylor Fritz, and Norway's Casper Ruud, Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Germany's Alexander Zverev. Two more ATP Top 10 players, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev of Russia, also played without a flag and the chance to participate in team events, given the current sanctions imposed by organizers in line with the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, with Barty's absence, the women's singles lineup remained equally impressive with Spain's Paula Badosa and Garbiñe Muguruza, Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, Estonia's Anett Kontaveit, Czechoslovakia's Karolina Pliskova, and Poland's Iga Swiatek among the WTA Top 10. The only other member who participated yet likewise without a flag was Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka.
Meanwhile, rising Japanese superstar and four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka returns to Indian Wells, hoping to regain her top ranking on the WTA list this year. Osaka failed to defend her title and bowed out of this year's Australian Open in the third round against unseeded American Amanda Anisimova. She currently holds number 77 in the WTA rankings.
New rules following sanctions against Russia
Due to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and Belarus's aid to the former, athletes worldwide are struggling to participate in multiple sporting events. For this year's BNP Paribas Open, officials decided to allow Russian and Belarus players to play but without the chance to banner or represent their flags or participate in team events.
Among those affected by the rule change include two players for women's singles from Russia and two from Belarus, along with four Russian players for the men's singles competition. With most of these players seeded for the main draw, it is still obvious how the new rule change created distractions for some players and fans alike.
A viral clip of Andrey Rublev writing on a camera lens 'no war please' after his semi-final match against Polish player Hubert Hurkacz at the Dubai Tennis Championships has gone viral. The sentiment was reiterated by Czech Jiří Veselý in his earlier match before bowing out to Rublev in the finals.
After entering the semi-finals in Indian Wells, Rublev spoke about how Russian players want to participate and that organizers should draw a line between sports and politics during one press conference. Rublev found an ally in WTA chief Steve Simon who later said that there was no need to ban players if the basis rests on their political views.
Recently, UK's minister for sport, tourism, and heritage Nigel Huddleston said he would be seeking assurances from Rublev, ATP world number 2 Daniil Medvedev, and other concerned players that they are against Russia's war on Ukraine. There are still no new rules set regarding the issue for this year's Wimbledon at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) slated for June.
Osaka's rocky road to redemption
Perhaps no other news is more significant in world sport today than the sudden retirement of WTA number 1 Ash Barty. However, another issue that stirred women's singles tennis fans was an incident at the BNP Paribas Open wherein Japan's Naomi Osaka broke down in tears during her match against Russian Veronika Kudermetova.
A heckler from the stands of the second biggest outdoor stadium in the world, Tennis Paradise's Stadium 1, rattled the four-time grand slam winner before the second set by shouting, "Naomi, you suck!" Unfortunately, the insult went to the champion's head. She eventually lost the match, bowing out early in the second round and signaling a rocky road to redeem her legendary streak.
Audiences saw Osaka wiping her tears while discussing the incident with referee Claire Wood. The 2018 champion of the same tournament later addressed the audience after the match, saying the incident reminded her of how fans also booed the Williams sisters back in 2001.
The champion has been outspoken about her struggles with depression in the past. Nonetheless, Osaka had earlier said that she was confident to take on the 2022 season with confidence before joining the Australian Open in January. For now, fans can only hope that Osaka regains her form and remains competitive in upcoming tournaments. Based on recent performances, including her win at last year's Australian Open and ranking number 3 upon entering the US Open, she's clearly motivated to compete at an elite level.
Biggest highlights
Aside from the men's and women's finals, the Nadal-Alcaraz semi-final match was another exciting match out of this year's BNP Paribas Open. With two high-level compatriots facing each other, the chance that fans may witness a changing of the guards between an aging Nadal and a young Alcaraz was possible. However, hard courts are not Alcaraz's strong suit, and Nadal defeated the younger player in their Madrid Open match last year 6-1, 6-2. While the 22 grand slam title holder considers the 18-year old to be ‘the real deal,' it seems Alcaraz needs more experience and training to reach top-level tennis. Nadal won the thriller match in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, to secure a 20-match winning streak this year – though not for long.
During the final between Nadal and USA's Taylor Fritz, the Spaniard had earlier complained of pain on the left side of his chest, while the American was nursing an ankle injury he sustained during his semi-final match against Rublev. By the second set, Nadal had to take a medical timeout but kept his opponent at bay until a failed championship point, and a challenging tiebreak gave Fritz a 6-3, 7-6(5) triumph, his first Masters 1000 title for the tournament.
Meanwhile, in the women's singles final, Polish standout Iga Swiatek dominated Greece's Maria Sakkari in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 to capture her first Masters 1000 title and Indian Wells championship and now stands a notch higher on the WTA's number 2 spot.
The Indian Wells final was Swiatek's 11th consecutive win, highlighted by a 10-set win streak in tour-level finals after her title run at the Qatar TotalEnergies Open last February. She is also the first WTA player to reach the 20-win column this year.
With Swiatek and Sakkari striking five double-faults apiece, the Pole suddenly amplified her performance via a 14 out of 16 success rate for an opening set lead that nipped Sakkari's first set win streak for the tournament. In the second set, she maintained her aggressive play as Sakkari faltered on her executions in between serves giving Swiatek a 3-1 lead and the eventual win, courtesy of an inside-in forehand winner.
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