#FUF: Wells Wishes + the Serena Complex
As we close in on the final stages of Indian Wells this weekend, our Follow-Up Friday is here to shed a little light on all the social media happenings occurring over the past few days.
Serena’s Serendipity
It has been an emotional week for World No. 1 Serena Williams; the American returned to the BNP Paribas Open held in Indian Wells after a 14-year boycott. Her entrance onto the very court that hosted a tirade of racial abuse in the spring of 2001 saw a very different crowd reception, as Williams wiped away expected floods of tears.
The nerves showed as Williams battled with her emotions to claim a 7-5, 7-5 victory over the unconventional Monica Niculescu. On-court antics aside, this was a quite moment for the tennis world:
#WTA @serenawilliams walk on court at @BNPPARIBASOPEN for the first time in 14 years vine.co/v/O9PAmL0ta7i
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Kevin Fischer (@Kfish_WTA) March 14, 2015Tears... So emotional! We love you, @serenawilliams! http://t.co/n7sykLOUTj
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Tennis Photos (@tennis_photos) March 14, 2015STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON!!
@SerenaWilliams=#PowerToInspire http://t.co/A8CH0Lnyng
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(@WTA) March 14, 2015Journeywomen & Juniors
Indian Wells wasn’t so much a changing of the guard, but more a resurgence of the unexpected. Take grass court genius, Germany’s Sabine Lisicki. Riding a 0-4 W/L in main draws heading into Indian Wells, she catches fire to take out defending champion, Flavia Pennetta, and reach the semifinals.
Speaking of the Italian, Pennetta had won just four matches this year, herself – the most recent a thumping to the tune of 6-1, 6-1 in Doha to Agnieszka Radwanska. Pennetta clung to her crown with the steeliest determination by defeating World No. 2 Maria Sharapova for the third straight time in the fourth round, and holding three match points against Lisicki on Thursday night.
She hadn't won a match in Indian Wells before this year. Now #Lisicki is in the #BNPPO15 SFs: bit.ly/1FHIMwK http://t.co/k4zvXPe0uW
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BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 20, 2015In an unexpected turn of events, Pennetta has now won three consecutive three-set matches against Sharapova and leads the h2h 3-2 from 0-2.
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Tumaini (@tumcarayol) March 18, 2015Elsewhere, the young guns stole all the other headlines. On the men’s side, an all-Aussie duel between 22-year-old Bernard Tomic and 18-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis showed off the next generation’s exciting potential. The higher ranked Tomic ultimately came out on top after a two hour 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 scoreline.
In the women’s draw Kokkinakis’ fellow 18-year-old, Belinda Bencic, fought gallantly against a resurgent Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round, as well – one of the most high quality matches of the week. America’s Sloane Stephens found a rare vein form this week, nearly toppling compatriot Serena Williams on Center Court. Ukrainian 20-year-old Elina Svitolina was a set away from halting Timea Bacsinzky’s 15 match win streak. Alas, though all three showed flashes of brilliance, the youngsters ultimately went out to their more experienced opponents.
8 of the Final 16 at @BNPPARIBASOPEN are 23 y/o or younger (Bencic, Svitolina, Stephens, Bouchard, Garcia, Pliskova, Watson, Halep) #WTA
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Kevin Fischer (@Kfish_WTA) March 17, 2015#Tomic & #Kokkinakis - Massive times ahead for australian tennis. Glad to be apart of it.
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Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) March 19, 2015Are Kyrgios & Kokkinakis the best things that could have happened to Tomic? From #BNPPO15: tennis.com/pro-game/2015/… http://t.co/zDDxPdLD0d
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TENNIS.com (@Tennis) March 19, 2015Indian Wells Wasteland
There hasn’t been too much high quality tennis to rave about this week. Slower than slow courts have resulted in erratic play from even the most seasoned of players. With erratic play comes truly hideous statistics.
Who was the worst of the week?
#BNPPO15 match stats: Flavia #Pennetta v Maria #Sharapova. #tennis http://t.co/imlQ3FxXSK
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(@TennisTV) March 18, 2015HOLY CRAP.
Bouchard: 25W 74 UFE
Tsurenko: 24 W 59 UFE.
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Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) March 18, 2015Epic #BNPPO15 match stats: Sabine #Lisicki v Flavia #Pennetta. #tennis http://t.co/MylYIiJpZz
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(@TennisTV) March 20, 2015Roger’s Respect for Timea
Earlier this week Roger Federer spoke out about 2015’s high-flying Timea Bacsinzky. Her compatriot was full of praise for her story and rise up the rankings:
Federer praises Timea Bacsinszky, says he's started watching her recently and is looking forward to her match vs. Serena.
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Chris Skelton (@ChrisSkelton87) March 18, 2015Federer talking about Bacsinszky's win streak. He seems to know everything tennis related.
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Ramesh (@zbrain) March 19, 2015.@TimiBacs on her 15th straight win: "Roger Federer is my inspiration." @swiss_tennis http://t.co/oa3lAIGGv3
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Tennis Photos (@tennis_photos) March 18, 2015"Federer is still happy as a kid every time he lifts up a trophy or wins a match. He's definitely an inspiration." - Timea Bacsinszky.
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LetsTalkTennis (@letstalktennis1) March 01, 2015Abierto Mexica-no
Who, pray tell, is running the official Abierto Mexicano Twitter account? In a hilarious turn of events, the outlet has been live-commentating, reporting post-match and engaging in a few retweets during Indian Wells, unashamedly dishing out their opinions and responding to tennis journalists.
Good luck getting Dimipova back next year, guys…
Terrible day at the office for Maria Sharapova and Grigor Dimitrov. #BNPPO15 http://t.co/YEp1Ut4erv
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Abierto Mexicano (@AbiertoTelcel) March 18, 2015I'm not sure tournament accounts should be having these kinds of hot takes..... http://t.co/KCAmfUlcVy
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Victoria Chiesa (@vrcsports) March 20, 2015OMG!Doping Scandal
Newly-retired Wayne Odesnik has been handed a 15-year ban this week following a doping bust. This is the second time the American has been caught out after he was found in possession of HGH in 2010. ATP players were quick to share their thoughts on social media, and quite rightly lacked any sympathy for Odesnik – Andy Murray and Andy Roddick being the two most vocal regarding the situation:
Bye bye Wayne... Good riddance
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Andy Murray (@andy_murray) March 18, 2015Something tells me @andyroddick would have some feelings about Odesnik's 15 year ban. Cheated himself and the sport. usada.org/decision-wayne…
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Andrew Eichenholz (@andrewikesports) March 18, 2015Roger, post-match on Odesnik..."If you cheat, you're going to get caught. That's the moral of the story." http://t.co/kBR7zg5IFo
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Howard Bryant (@hbryant42) March 19, 2015What was your favorite moment on social media this week? Sound off in the comments!
The Tennis Island 
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