Behind the scenes at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells
Tennis returned to the desert, and with it came the stars. Serena Williams, who had not played in a tournament since she won the 2017 Australian Open, resumed her winning ways, defeating Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 7-5, 6-3 in a first-round match Thursday.
Maria Sharapova’s return to the BNP Paribas Open for the first time in three years did not end as well. She fell 6-4, 6-4 to Naomi Osaka of Japan the previous night.
But off the courts — all 29 of them — The Times wanted to capture the scene that only the desert can provide. Colorful sunsets, stacked champagne bottles and enthusiastic fans all set against the backdrop of the Santa Rosa Mountains in Indian Wells.
The glitz
The action
The scene
Twitter: @alschaben
Go beyond the scoreboard
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