The Azarenka phenomenon, the Serena Williams photobomb

Mar 22, 2016, 11:58:34 AM

The Azarenka phenomenon, the Serena Williams photobomb
This week of tennis was undoubtedly marked by the end of the BNP Paribas Open, with, in the women’s table, a crazy post-match ceremony featuring Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams.

This week of tennis was undoubtedly marked by the end of the BNP Paribas Open, with, in the women’s table, a nice duel in the final between Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams. The two finalists had a lot of fun during the post-match ceremony. Third in our ranking, King Djoko is still (figuratively) killing all his opponents, suspense included…

 

1- Victoria Azarenka (+7).

 

The award for prettiest smile of the week indisputably goes to Victoria Azarenka, who was invited by the photographers on the roof of the central court to immortalize her final won against Serena Williams (6/4 6/4). 

 

 

 

A few minutes earlier, the Belarusian had to comply with a more formal picture on the court, trophy in hand, with her defeated opponent alongside her. An imposed picture which led, as we’ll see later on, to more creativity…

 

 

Azarenka ends the superb tournament with a first victory in a major tournament in almost three years.

 

 

Earlier this season, she had also triumphed in Brisbane. A good omen for the rest of the season, and good news for her numerous fans.

 

 

2- Serena Williams (+4).

 

This is certainly the photo of the week : a photobomb, to be precise, with Serena Williams imposing herself into Azarenka’s very official post-match photoshoot. The winner looked like she took the joke pretty well.

 

 

The world number 1 seemed to be on a particularly good form during the whole BNP Paribas Open, as we can see with this split.  

 

 

Relaxed. She was also on form to hit a few nicely timed « hot shots ».

 

 

As the successful businesswoman that she is, Serena also managed to pull off a well-thought product placement to present her new shoes…

 

 

3- Novak Djokovic (+1).

 

Tennis is a game played face to face and at the end, Djokovic wins. By a huge margin, to top it off : Milos Raonic was smashed 6/2 6/0 in the final. Next !

 

 

 

To be honest, it’s important to focus on this new impressive performance from the Serb, who has never really been worried during the fortnight, even if he spent a little time finding his momentum against a qualifier in the first round, before having to play two tie-breaks in the quarter final to defeat Tsonga. Winning all your tie-breaks is a sign : you definitely have a psychological advantage over your opponents. 

 

 

However, the world number 1 left the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open after sparking off a small controversy, having said after his final that male tennis players should earn more money than their female counterparts, as they bring more audience. Not sure everyone will follow him on that one…

 

 

4- Roger Federer (NE).

 

The king is back ! He announced the news himself on Twitter in a universal language, the emojis : Roger Federer will finally take part in the Miami tournament.

 

 

A very pleasant come-back which will be closely followed. We’ll see if these pre-tournament training sessions will pay off.

 

 

In any case, the Swiss looks very happy, and not only on his t-shirt.

 

 

5- Agnieszka Radwanska (+7).

 

Call her « miss hot-shots », she deserves it

 

 

 

The Pole didn’t only please the fans at the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open…

 

 

…she also took the opportunity to try herself as a TV commentator, in the press stand.

 

 

 

A future career change ?

 

6- Milos Raonic (NE).

 

Encouraging week for the Canadian giant, back on really impressive form…

 

 

…and who seems to be more and more a major figure on the ATP circuit, destined to durably last in the Top 10. His most loyal fans can enjoy.

 

 

To reach the podium, he will however have to wait a little longer : Raonic ended his nice fortnight by a wash-out inflicted by the world number 1, Novak Djokovic.

 

 

A lesson for the future.

 

7- David Goffin (NE).

 

He’s one of the good surprises of this BNP Paribas Open : David Goffin managed to qualify for the first time in his career in a semi-final of a Masters 1000. A performance to confirm in the next few weeks for the player seeded at the 15th position, who ended up being knocked out by Raonic just a step away from the final…

 

 

…despite this beautiful point.

 

 

The Belgian also made the most of his fortnight to meet some rather interesting people off the court, and notably the legend Rod Laver.

 

 

A meeting which looked quick but quite intimidating.

 

8- Alexander Zverev (NE).

 

Still in the revelation section, with the confirmation that we have a future crack of world tennis with Alexander Zverev. The German was knocked out in the quarter finals after missing a match point which looked incredibly easy to convert against Rafael Nadal…too bad.

 

 

This tournament remains very positive for Zverev, who seems to enjoy his new life as a professional tennis player.

 

 

The reason behind his success ? Stroking dogs. And it seems to be working well !

 

 

In any case, the circuit newcomer’s progress has delighted his mentor Tomas Berdych.

 

 

9- Daria Kasatkina (NE).

 

Still in the juniors category, but in the women’s table this time with Maria Sharapova’s possible replacement in Russian tennis : Daria Kasatkina, only 18 years old, who should enter the top 50 in a very near future.

 

 

Kasatkina, who had already stood out a few weeks ago at home during the Saint-Petersburg tournament (semi-finalist), qualified for the quarter final of the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open, before being defeated by Karolina Pliskova.

 

 

One to follow, surely…

 

10- Rafael Nadal (-7).

  

One of the highlights of this week, was this quick encounter between Nadal and Djokovic, backstage at the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open. A short but warm moment immortalized from two different perspectives ! A certain buzz.

 

 

 

On the tennis side, the Spaniard reassured his fans with a semi-final (defeated by…Djoko, obviously), a great physical shape…

 

 

…and a few beautiful shots.

 

 

 

Outside the courts, the record-holder for the number of wins at the French Open received the support of Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, in the controversy which puts him up against the ex-French minister Roselyne Bachelot, who suggested that the Spaniard had been doping…

 

 

11- Nick Kyrgios (-10).

 

News from Kyrgios ? Oh, nothing much, except a nice photoshoot…

 

 

 

…during which the bad-boy notably sat on an umpire chair. Which is quite comical.