Five Things to Watch Monday: Roger, Serena Hold Court

Venus-Serena XXIX

Their first all-in-the-family match came 20 years ago in Melbourne, big sis (Venus) defeating little sis (Serena), 7-6(4), 6-1, in the second round of the Australian Open. Now 37 and 36, respectively, the Williamses are still going strong. In a Monday afternoon blockbuster in Stadium 1, they’ll meet for the 29^th time, a trip to the Round of 16 on the line. (Serena leads the all-time head-to-head, 17-11.) With 30 Grand Slam singles titles between them, there’s never been a sibling rivalry quite like this.

Roger That

Thanks to his rain-interrupted win over Federico Delbonis, world No. 1 Roger Federer will play for the third day in a row. The 36-year-old Swiss will face Serb Filip Krajinovic in the third round as he chases a record sixth BNP Paribas Open title.

Wonderful Wizard of Woz

Caroline Wozniacki first grabbed the No. 1 ranking back in October 2010, a ballistic baseliner who through 2017 had acquired 27 singles titles. But the dig on the Dane was that she couldn’t win the big one. She was Slam-less through the first decade of her career. It was a burden she carried until January, when she captured the Australian Open and silenced her doubters once and for all. “I’m never going to get that question again. I’m just waiting for the question, ‘When are you going to win the second one?” The 2011 BNP Paribas Open champ, now ranked No. 2, is through to the third round this year, and will kick off the day session in Stadium 1 against Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Talkin’ Tennis

Want the inside scoop? Join host Wayne Bryan (father to the dominant doubles duo of Bob and Mike Bryan) and special guests at the Tennis Garden Village Stage for the daily edition of Tennis Talk. Special guests include current ATP/WTA Tour players, as well as legends like Chris Evert.

California Kid

Taylor Fritz has played some of the best tennis of his young career at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. A year after scoring his first Top-10 win, scalping Marin Cilic, the 20-year-old Californian is into the third round, where he will play Spanish vet Fernando Verdasco in Stadium 1.

“I was kind of surprised we were on Stadium 2 [Saturday] with all the big names playing,” Fritz said after his straight-set victory over 20-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev. “So I think that’s the #NextGen thing being pushed.”