Instant replay: Stick-saves, tweener-lobs and more Indian Wells highlights
Welcome to Instant Replay, a recap of the best highlights, GIFs and photos as we move into the business end of this week's tournaments.
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — The first week of the BNP Paribas Open was centered around the return of Serena Williams, who ended her 14-year boycott of the tournament last Friday night when she took the court to a standing ovation. Now into the second week in Indian Wells, Serena is into the semifinals after surviving a slew of upsets, while on the men's side, the ATP's Big Four have quietly taken care of business to move into the quarterfinals.
Check out some of the best plays and moments of the tournament so far.
Serena Williams struggles to control her emotions on her return to Indian Wells:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OrjIgoWZBQ]
Monica Niculescu, acquitted herself well in a 7-5, 7-5 loss, hitting a shot so good Serena ended up on the ground:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JuGc6l5tBI]
Mardy Fish played his first match in 18 months, losing to Ryan Harrison. But he still has that touch.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5O7yJJJmWE]
But he might need to work on his brakes.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9VcMS5es_M]
Simona Halep, into the semifinals to face Serena, practically ended up in the courtside seats but found a way to win the point.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOtD4y3uF3Q]
Ons Jabeur may have lost to Caroline Wozniacki, but she impressed with her blend of power and touch.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKIPMw11YFM]
Lindsay Davenport popped up for her first on-court coaching timeout with Madison Keys. (Read more on that here.)
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsPMRCJcrto]
David Ferrer and Ivan Dodig played the best men's match of the tournament so far, filled with incredible shotmaking like this:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbU_WjOQqeE]
Stick-save—and a beauty!—from Sloane Stephens, but it wasn't enough to get past Serena in the fourth round.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51SEJBS6PUc]
The men can do it too: Philipp Kohlschreiber stuns Andy Murray with this stick-save off a great return.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dp-NCZF35c]
Murray: Lover of dogs, hater of dog-based ringtones.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CvKhWASIwM]
Juan Monaco hits the perfect tweener-lob on break point against Thanasi Kokkinakis.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZoD1ycac3o]
Grigor Dimitrov shoots Nick Kyrgios a wink after this lunging hot shot.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6arOUlItrw]
Fernando Verdasco nearly took out Kei Nishikori, a linesman, and a ball kid with one swing of the racket.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shn7r0_GfZc]
Fun one: Federer, Nadal, Wozniacki and others try and guess their colleagues from second-grader portraits:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9-WvB0otnQ]
Gif of the week: Stephens proclaimed herself "The Queen of the Block."
[tweet=https://twitter.com/Renestance/status/577588417049059329]
