Sharapova, hot topic at media roundtable
1:16 p.m. Wednesday: Well, the news about Maria Sharapova had a major impact in the tennis world and it shocked everyone during the media roundtable on Wednesday. The first 10 questions asked of almost all players were about Sharapova or more specifically how they themselves deal with the medications and substances they put in their bodies.
Many of them followed the same line, not wanting to disparage Sharapova but at the same time saying that she should have been much more careful. Both women and men said that you are solely responsible when something like this happens. You either have to take these matters into your own hands or have a lot of confidence in your team of trainers and doctors.
Some admitted that, like Sharapova, they had not read the emails sent regarding banned substances. And they could see how something like that could happen, but that in the end, whatever punishment she receives, she deserves it.
Be on the lookout for a Periscope (@mydesert) around 5 p.m. where I’ll tell you what the media roundtable coverage is like. — Shad Powers @shad_powers
The media roundtable: a chaotic and fun frenzy
1:16 p.m. Wednesday: The mark of the first Wednesday
The BNP Paribas Open is the afternoon media frenzy, accessible to all, where the world’s best tennis players are gathered in one room at separate tables and the media can bounce off each other.
Starting at 1:30 p.m., the top eight seeds of this tournament on the women’s side – Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Agnieszka Radwanska, Garbine Muguruza, Simona Halep, Carla Suarez Navarro, Belinda Bencic and Petra Kvitova – will be available for interviews. . Then at 3 p.m. on the men’s side Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Tomas Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet will be available.
It all makes for an interesting afternoon of serious insight, occasional laughter, uncomfortable silences, and fast-moving reporters, some of whom (yours truly) aren’t used to moving so quickly.
When it ends around 5 p.m., I’ll do a Persicope from our @mydesert feed taking you through the event and showing you what it’s like to be a journalist here. Definitely tune in and ask me some questions.
Oh yeah, tennis. There have already been winners today. In the women’s draw, Yulia Putintseva and Johanna Larsson have already won the first matches, as has American Ryan Harrison in the qualifying rounds to secure his place in the main draw. — Shad Powers @shad_powers.
Women’s main draw starts today
10:31 a.m. Wednesday: It’s a beautiful sunny Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open, almost as if Mother Nature knows that today is when the tournament really begins.
The women’s main draw will begin at 11 a.m. with the first match of the tournament to be played on the stadium’s main court between Galina Voskoboeva and Great Britain’s Heather Watson. Watson is coming off a tournament win in Mexico last weekend and hopes to continue that momentum today.
None of the women’s seeds are in action, but some Americans will start their BNP Paribas Open. Coco Vandeweghe will face Kiki Bertens in the fourth match at Stadium 1. Previously, there will be an All-American battle between Taylor Townsend, out of the qualifying rounds, against Vania King. The winner of this match will face defending champion Simona Halep in the next round.
Looking out over the Stadium Court, you can’t help but notice the new Champions Box where big wigs, celebrities and dignitaries will be seated at the south end of the ground.
Also today is the final day of qualifying for the men, and the always exciting media roundtable, where reporters get to talk to many of the top eight men and women in a sort of wrestling media frenzy -as-catch-can.
We will be updating this blog throughout the day, so check back regularly. –Shad Powers @shad_powers
