The pandemic has disrupted a lot of things, sporting events included. The BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament in Indian Wells (the desert of Southern California) held in March, which Kelvin and I have been to four times in the past (2014, 2016, 2017, and 2019), decided to hold its 2021 version this fall, after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Kelvin brought up the idea of going this fall as an early fortieth birthday present for me, as we tend to splurge for "experiences," not things, and he kept getting tournament e-mails hyping up the event. Although I love tennis-watching and this tournament, I worried about all of the logistics of making it happen -- COVID, having childcare for the kids (as school is in session and we now have to worry about the public school schedule!), flight timing, not being on call, and dog care, etc. Nevertheless, as the event was outdoors and vaccines were mandatory for attendees, I agreed if he agreed to plan it. He did indeed arrange all the details, from having his parents come up to spend two weeks with us and cover our few-day absence and school drop-offs/pick-ups and dog-walking, to the car rental and lodging, and I just basically had to show up (truly a gift!).
It's been a lovely time (despite our ice hiccup on Tuesday morning). The weather has been lovely (similar to March desert weather-- hot during the day and cool at night).
We took our usual photographs.
The Moet (champagne) penguin
Despite the flight delay, we caught a LOT of tennis on day 1 (fourth round), including from some Grand Slam champions, even though some players (notably, Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Osaka, and Barty) were absent.
(Kelvin is the Rafa fan)
Who knows how long this guy will be around?
We saw some of "the battle of the young French Open champions" Jelena Ostapenko and Iga Swiatek.
We watched Alexander Zverev (who beat Djokovic this summer in Tokyo for the gold medal) take out three-time Grand Slam Champion Andy Murray.
We watched an incredibly competitive three-setter between Leylah Fernandez (the U.S. Open runner-up) and American Shelby Rogers (who triumphed in the end).
Paula Badosa beat Barbora Krejcikova (this year's French Open Women's Champion).
Victoria Azarenka warms up.
On Stadium 3, we also caught some great doubles between Leylah Fernandez and Coco Gauff, a young upcoming American, who played against the highly ranked team of Mertens/Hsieh (who won).
I was too tired from a night of call and our early morning departure to hang for the whole last night match between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Fabio Fognini but it was a competitive three-setter.
Day 2 (including some women's quarterfinals) was equally entertaining.
As the tennis matches didn't get started until 11 a.m., we enjoyed sleeping in until 7 a.m. and had breakfast at Si Bon.
Grigor Dmitrov upset U.S. Open Champion Daniil Medvedev with Bulgarians cheering loudly.
Gael Monfils is always entertaining but did not have the game to beat Zverev.
BNP Paribas (or "Tennis Paradise" as they call it) was a lovely getaway for us (and gift for me; thanks to my in-laws for holding down the fort at home)! While some things were different this year, including all-digital ticketing and vaccine verification, only clear "stadium" bags allowed into the grounds, and smaller crowds, it was almost like a time before there was a pandemic (masks were optional due to the outdoor venue and COVID-immunized population). Being able to trust those around us in a "pandemic bubble" of responsible people was so relaxing, and I enjoyed the tennis, good venue food, time in the warm sun, and reading my kindle during breaks (and despite being, especially with this upcoming 40th birthday, "middle-aged," I'm not a gray-haired retiree [like a lot of the attendees], yet!). This Indian Wells tennis tournament is truly my happy place--we hope to be back to Paradise in not too long.
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