Photo : @elise_mertens
Halloween may still be a few weeks away, but costumes are already making appearances on tennis courts as a top doubles star unveiled a new look this week in Indian Wells.
If not for a reptilian cameo, the spotlight would have belonged exclusively this week to one of the rising stars on the WTA Tour.
Here are the highlights:
Hear her roar
What child has not, at some point, dreamt of being a dragon?
Well, when you are one of the best doubles players in the world, you get to be whatever you want. Just ask Su-Wei Hsieh.
Hsieh and Elise Mertens are through to the BNP Paribas Open final.
Don’t Mess with Ons
Ons Jabeur has been on a roll this week in Indian Wells, powering into her first WTA 1000 semi-final. Her secret? Perhaps messing with her opponent’s pre-match.
History for Jabeur
Speaking of Jabeur, the Tunisian made history this week with her run in California.
Road Trip
If anyone is looking for a highway buddy, let the French Open champion know.
It takes a city
In one of the stranger, but heart-warming, stories of the week, Rafael Nadal was adopted by the town of Sant Llorenc de Cardessar.
A bit of context. In 2018, the Majorcan municipality was devasted by floods. Nadal, a Majorcan, used his foundation to donate a million euros for relief efforts and actually lent his own hands to help.
This week, as a thank you, the city council gave the 20-time Grand Slam singles champion the title of “adopted son” of the town.