Desert Bagel: Witness Me.

Internet ephemera from the tennis world and beyond. Have something you want to include? Join the Discord  – we have a really nice and active community growing there – or hmu on Bluesky.

• Wim Fissette on The State of Iga. (WTA)

Yes, there was a point [2022-23] that Iga was, of course, far ahead of the rest, far ahead, when [Ashleigh] Barty retired and she achieved No. 1, when Naomi [Osaka] took some breaks. But, for me, she’s a player that brought female tennis to the next level, with her athleticism. She gave a good example to others and some others also wanted to achieve big things and they also brought themselves to the next level. That’s how it goes. If you look at the people you compete with, you want to beat them. So how are you going to do that? By doing better.

Inside Naomi Osaka’s Indian Wells look—A fierce rebuttal

Exclusive images and a chat with Osaka and creative director Marty Harper about the Mad Max–inspired look, fashion as armor, and storytelling in the face of fashion illiteracy.

Hard CourtHard Court

Naomi Osaka on the Fashion Armor She’s Bringing to Indian Wells and Miami

“The way you feel when you walk onto the court really matters,” says the tennis pro. “When you feel strong, when you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing, it gives you momentum before the first point is even played.”

VogueChristian Allaire

• Dumb fact: About 20 years ago I was having a late-night drink with friends at Tosca in North Beach and someone bumped into my chair crazy hard and was super rude about it and it was Naomi Campbell, who had come tearing out of the restroom and straight into my chair. It was dope.
• After her opening win, Naomi Osaka was asked about the intertwined world of sports gambling (GROSS) and tennis (we like tennis):

"I think sports gambling, it's harsh to say it's terrible, because obviously I'm an athlete, and so I'm living on the other side of it. But I don't see a positive to it, especially when people don't treat the athletes as human.

"And I get some people, like, bet absurd amount of money, but that's their responsibility and they shouldn't be taking it out on the athlete, because I think we care more if we win or lose than the person betting money. So to like threaten someone's life over it is insane."

The 5th Slam: Indian Wells the World Fair of tennis

The first few days of the tournament and Moments from Pre-Tournament Media day

Ground PassGround Pass

• On the heels of his engagement and title run at Delray Beach, Sebastian Korda breaks down his injury comeback. He's also added Ryan Harrison to his coaching team. (ATP)

“Last year was pretty dark, and whenever I've gone through an injury, I kind of disconnected myself a little bit. Definitely had super tough moments, but a lot of people on the team really helped me come through.”

• I'm enjoying pensive Gael Monfils. After Roger Federer, I think he's the most universally beloved player in the locker room and among fans. He speaks after his last match at Indian Wells:

"You can be disappointed as a competitor, but it's a game. I'm always happy. For me it's always a privilege to be on the court. I call it my job, but first it's a sport and a game."

• The Swaggapinos waited alllllll day for this and they were rewarded: Listen to that crowd at midnight on Stadium 3 after Eala comes through a three-set grinder against Dayana Yastremska:

• The best match on Day 2? Camila Osorio vs. Iva Jovic. Cami saved three match points in the second set, one with a truly absurd dropshot to cap a pounding rally. They were absolutely walloping the ball:

• British doubles player Henry Patten gave Russell Fuller the full debrief of what it was like on the ground in Dubai. (BBC)

The ATP Tour has been criticised by some players for not immediately cancelling this week's Fujairah Challenger event in the UAE.

And Patten has mixed feelings about the way they handled the situation in Dubai.

"Realistically, I'm not sure what they could have done. No-one really saw that level of escalation coming," Patten said.

"Arnau [Brugues] and Hans-Juergen [Ochs] were the two ATP representatives who were there. Their job is to make sure that tennis tournaments run smoothly, and here they are responsible for 44 people in an active warzone.

"I've told the two guys that in the circumstances they did a fantastic job.

"But I wasn't particularly happy when the CEO of the ATP [Eno Polo] called up and said 'We're going to charter you a plane. We don't have any information about it and you have an hour and a half to decide.'

"That showed a real lack of understanding and empathy, as he was sipping his coffee on a Zoom call.

"If the ATP is going to operate tournaments in Dubai, where certainly I was aware there was a lot of geopolitical tension, some kind of crisis management on the ground would have been good, which we didn't really receive.

"But it's difficult and a really, really complex situation."

Tour sources have told BBC Sport that they were focused on providing players with accommodation and support at the official hotel, having been advised the safest option was to stay put.

The “Women of Tennis” Calendars, Now and Then

A look back at how the WTA wanted to be seen on the world’s walls decades ago.

BouncesBen Rothenberg

• Life of a Ballgirl (or boy). (The Desert Sun)
• Corriere Della Sport is reporting that Milan will host an ATP 250 on grass starting in 2028. Translation via Reddit here.

• Maria Sakkari is also on the WTA's Tour Architecture Council with Jessica Pegula. (Front Office Sports)

Dorkapalooza: The Oral History of the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference

This is how the revolution was quantified

The Ringer

• Nice to hear that Michael Zheng got his money. (Front Office Sports)
• Emma Raducanu says it was Francisco Roig's choice to split. (Twitter)

• If all goes well, I'm seeing THE BRIDE tonight on IMAX and I could not be more excited.
• Bop of the Day: I really, really, really need to see Hitsujibungaku live. I love their music so much. They just ooze cool. My Japanese HAIM, minus the literal sisterhood and whimsy.