Roger Federer, the return of the King

Roger Federer has confirmed his more than perfect start of the season with a fifth title at the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open, and a popularity which has never seemed so high. He obviously takes the first spot in our ranking, in front of a Sharapova whose return is imminent and a very promising Kyrgios.

 

1- Roger Federer (/).

 

Everything looks easy for Federer right now.

 

 

He’s having fun.

 

 

He’s joking around, singing, and messing around with his buddies from the circuit.

 

 

And he’s mostly incredible on the court.

 

 

 

 

He’s dazzling everyone.

 

 

Everyone, including his fellow countryman and opponent in the final of the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open, Stan Wawrinka.

 

 

Leaving John Isner, in the end, asking THE right question. 

2- Maria Sharapova (NE).

 

Grab your schedules : Maria Sharapova will very soon be back on the WTA circuit. The Russian has received wild cards to play at the Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome tournaments, starting at the end of April.

 

 

Only one month to go, with a very structured communication plan : among other things, she has done photoshoots to feature on the cover of Vogue and Vanity Fair.

 

 

3- Nick Kyrgios (NE).

 

Nick Kyrgios’ journey at the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open ended sadly with a withdrawal from the quarter finals, after he stunned everyone by his class on the court.

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve also seen the Australian eating crisps in the middle of a match.

 

 

A footage which was mocked on the web. 

 

 

4- Stan Wawrinka (NE).

 

In terms of tennis, Stan Wawrinka also showed some great performances in the Californian desert.

 

 

 

However, he couldn’t do much in the final, against his buddy Roger.

 

 

But once again, Swiss tennis >>> other nations.

 

5- Elena Vesnina (NE).

 

She was only the seed number 14, but in the end, Elena Vesnina won the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open.

 

 

She won the title after an uncertain final, in which she was largely dominated. Not her only fright that day…

 

 

And here is the Russian flag floating in the Californian sky.

 

 

Vesnina also treated us with a few « hot shots » while she was on the court.

 

 

 

6- Svetlana Kuznetsova (NE).

 

The big loser on the women’s circuit ended up being Svetlana Kuznetsova, aka « the girl who posts pretty weird pictures on her Instagram account. » Recently, she posted a pretty strange pose with her dog…

 

 

…and another one on a car’s roof.

 

 

Well… why not ?

 

7- Eugenie Bouchard (NE).

 

The Russian should take example on the queen of internet, Eugenie Bouchard, who remains hyperactive on the social networks, to her fan’s great pleasure.

 

 

 

Don’t worry, she’s still training a little to maintain her form. In any case, that’s what she says.

 

 

8- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (NE).

 

Here’s one who will be away from the circuit for a little while : Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. But it’s not bad news at all, as the Frenchman will soon become a father.

 

 

 

The sense of priorities.

 

9- Pierre-Hugues Herbert (NE).

 

No fatherhood but something else to celebrate for his fellow countryman Pierre-Hugues Herbert : his birthday, with his mates Lucas Pouille, and David Goffin.

 

 

Happy birthday, PH !

 

10- Fabio Fognini (NE).

 

Still with a celebration, Fabio Fognini, who payed his father a nice hommage. #mydaddyisbetterthanyours 

Fognini who didn’t go very far at Indian Wells but still enjoyed himself.

 

 

11- Dominic Thiem (NE).

 

Thiem also had fun under the Californian sun.

 

 

He looks more at ease with a tennis racket than with a ping pong racket.

 

 

12- Juan Martin Del Potro (-6).

 

We still can’t get over Del Potro’s return. A big hug for one of the most charming players of the circuit.

 

 

The Miami tournament looks eager to seeing him again.

 

 

He clearly hasn’t lost his talent along the way.

 

 

13- Kristina Mladenovic (NE).

 

Let’s go back to the women’s circuit to celebrate Kristina Mladenovic’s performance, as she was a semi-finalist at the BNP Paribas Indian Wells Open, and is now, for the first time, the world number 18.

 

 

The French has been on an incredible run lately.

 

 

14- Gaël Monfils (NE).

 

When it comes to putting on a show, you can always count on Gaël Monfils, who improvised this little jump.

 

 

What a player…

 

 

15- Frances Tiafoe (NE).

 

What about the future ? Be patient, it’s currently practicing on the Challenger circuit. A good example is the American rising talent, Frances Tiafoe.

 

 

Outs : 

 

Radwanska, Djokovic, Nadal, Svitolina, Murray, Muguruza, Goffin, Keys, Cuevas, Pouille, Halep, Harrison, Wozniacki

 

By Régis Delanöe