Victoria Azarenka stuns Serena. Novak Djokovic now owns 5 Indian Wells titles

Novak Djokovic won his 3rd consecutive Indian Wells title at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open; his 5th career victory in California’s high desert and 27th Masters-1000 win. He’d go-on to earn the “Sunshine Double” (Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back) for an unprecedented fourth time.

With the exception of a retirement in Dubai thanks to an eye infection, he went undefeated in 2016 until Monte Carlo in April (28-1).

Victoria Azarenka defeated World #1 Serena Williams to earn her second Indian Wells title, the 19th of her career.

Meanwhile Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Coco Vandeweghe tuned-up for the Olympic Games by winning their first title together, defeating Julia Georges and Karolina Pliskova.

Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock reached their second consecutive Indian Wells final, but fell to the dominant French tandem of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut.

Top 5 Moments Indian Wells 2016

Top-5 Moments from the 2016 BNP Paribas Open

2016 also marked the year Venus Williams returned to Indian Wells after a 15-year personal boycott of the event. Her sister Serena broke the ice last year, in an emotional return that saw her reach the Semifinals – before a knee injury forced her to retire.

2016. A year of unexpected controversy from Maria Sharapova and Raymond Moore

Perhaps 2016 will most be remembered for the tournament’s off-court controversies. On the final day of qualifying, Maria Sharapova held a press conference admitting to using a recently banned substance for the past 10-years on tour. While she received an email notification of the updated banned substances back in December, she did not discover that the “medicine” (Meldonium) she had been using all these years was added to the banned substance for 2016. She tested positive for the drug at the Australian Open and was indefinitely suspended from competition. Later in June, it was announced that she would have to serve a 2-year ban from the sport; however by October, the suspension was reduced by nine months, clearing Maria to get back to competition by April 26, 2017.

The other controversy happened prior to Sunday’s Finals during a press breakfast with the tournament director, Raymond Moore. Mr. Moore was asked a question about the tournament’s potential goals with regard to the WTA Tour. His reaction rewarded him global, sexist, chauvinistic infamy, ultimately forcing him to resign. His response: “…in my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA, because they ride on the coattails of the men. They don’t make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky. If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport. They really have.” He didn’t stop there…and managed to cavernize the deep hole he’d already dug. Here are the transcripts…

Ray Moore's comments
Ray Moore's comments

Daily Updates. The 2016 BNP Paribas Open

Indian Wells: Day-11. ATP and WTA QuarterfinalsAnnouncer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 11
Indian Wells: Day-10. ATP Round of 16. WTA QuarterfinalsAnnouncer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 10
Indian Wells: Day-9. ATP Round-3. WTA Round of 16Announcer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 9
Indian Wells: Day-8. ATP and WTA Round-3Announcer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 8
Indian Wells: Day-7. ATP Round-2. WTA Round-3Announcer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 7
Indian Wells: Day-6. ATP and WTA Round-2Announcer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 6
Indian Wells: Day-5. ATP Round-1. WTA Round-2Announcer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 5
Indian Wells: Day-4. ATP and WTA First RoundAnnouncer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 4
Indian Wells: Day-3. WTA Main Draw UnderwayAnnouncer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 3
Indian Wells: Day-2. ATP and WTA QualifyingAnnouncer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 2
Indian Wells: Day-1. WTA QualifyingAnnouncer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Day 1
Indian Wells: A 2016 PreviewAnnouncer/Emcee, Indian Wells, TennisAnnouncer Andy Taylor. Indian Wells 2016. Preview

Women's Singles Champion

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) def. Serena Williams (USA)
6-4, 6-4

Men's Singles Champion

Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Milos Raonic (CAN)
6-2, 6-0

Women's Doubles Champions

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) and Coco Vandeweghe (USA)
def.
Julia Georges (GER) and Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
4-6, 6-4, 10-6

Men's Doubles Champions

Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) and Nicolas Mahut (FRA)
def.
Vasek Pospisil (CAN) and Jack Sock (USA)
6-3, 7-6(5)

The 2016 BNP Paribas Open...in Tweets