INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA - One of the instant viral moments of the 2018 edition of the BNP Paribas Open was Sachia Vickery celebrating a career best win over Garbiñe Muguruza with a Wakanda Forever salute straight out of Black Panther.
And if a breakthrough week on court wasn't exciting enough for the 24-year-old American, it was capped online with the discovery that Chadwick Boseman, the star of the Marvel movie that Vickery has been watching and rewatching for inspiration, has found out about her.
@chadwickboseman I’m so shook 😩❤️🙅🏾♀️
— Sachia Vickery (@SachiaVick) March 13, 2018
Take a look back at the original video of Vickery's celebration after her second-round win.
International Women's Day fell on the second day of the tournament - and plenty of WTA stars, including Latisha Chan, Monica Puig, Lizette Cabrera, Conchita Martínez and Gabriela Dabrowski marked it on social media with posts celebrating women's achievements to date - and looking ahead to more progress to come.
Be the best version of yourself 🖤💋 #HappyInternationalWomensDay #bebrave #BeYourself pic.twitter.com/xFU14YRPG6
— 詹詠然 Latisha Chan (@LatishaChanYJ) March 8, 2018
Happy International Woman’s Day to all the beautiful ladies around the world! Let your light shine as bright as the sun and may you always know your strength and power within! Being a woman is a wonderful thing... Let us never forget that! 💕🐾 pic.twitter.com/pxD4VgXmpa
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) March 8, 2018
International women’s day 👯♀️ #PressForProgess pic.twitter.com/vUMWM5OpFV
— Lizette Cabrera (@lizzycabrera97) March 8, 2018
Juntas, fuertes 💪🏽. Hasta la igualdad 🙌🏽#DiaInternacionalDeLaMujer #WomensDay pic.twitter.com/DAkNheoAwi
— Conchita Martínez (@conchitamartinz) March 8, 2018
#InternationalWomensDay 💗 pic.twitter.com/vsFMoYJEYB
— Gaby Dabrowski (@GabyDabrowski) March 9, 2018
For some, International Women's Day was a chance to celebrate family. Karolina Pliskova paid tribute to twin sister Kristyna, with whom she reunited on the doubles court.
Always and forever 🤲 pic.twitter.com/DBizex3aMy
— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) March 9, 2018
Speaking of family, one of the most awe-inspiring narratives of Indian Wells 2018 was that of the Williams sisters. Serena, the "#GMOAT" (Greatest Mom of all Time) according to husband Alexis Ohanian, made her post-maternity comeback on International Women's Day; two wins and four days later, she faced off against sister Venus for the 29th time in one of the sport's longest-running rivalries.
Retired players Melanie Oudin, Tracy Austin and Pam Shriver all paid tribute online - while Venus chose to reminisce about a special anniversary.
I mean, how amazing is @serenawilliams?!?!? Saw some of the match today and I was impressed like always. Only second match back! #GMOAT
— Melanie Oudin (@melanie_oudin) March 11, 2018
Can’t wait to hear the roar of the crowd and outpouring of affection/appreciation for @serenawilliams & @Venuseswilliams tonight at 7PM-PT @TennisChannel. 17 years later, let’s get this right! 😘❤️
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) March 12, 2018
Over 20 years of playing each other @WTA, incredible!! I hope there are 10 more meetings. Fun last set.
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) March 13, 2018
At the other end of the age spectrum, this week has seen a breakthrough for 16-year-old prodigy Amanda Anisimova - and her fellow players have been quick to recognise the young American's talent, with compatriots Nicole Gibbs and Jennifer Brady praising her online. Anisimova herself, however, was more worried about why she felt so cold in the desert...
PSA: she’s the real deal.
Unfortunately, saw this first hand a week ago 😂🤦🏻♀️. https://t.co/H4YrRa3qX3— Nicole Gibbs (@Gibbsyyyy) March 11, 2018
#TheFuture @AnisimovaAmanda https://t.co/7saJlWmZde
— Jennifer Brady (@jennifurbrady95) March 11, 2018
When you’re so cold but you look at the temp pic.twitter.com/RQfFwMBw4B
— Amanda Anisimova (@AnisimovaAmanda) March 10, 2018
From the GMOAT to goats: Anastasia Rodionova, currently on a Route 66 road trip, and Daria Gavrilova encountered some friendly ruminants - separately.
Just chilling with @rogerfederer 👌 pic.twitter.com/WXXB8DK0m6
— Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) March 13, 2018
Amidst all this excitement, there was also a tennis tournament going on. When it came to practice, though, some had more fun than others. Kirsten Flipkens formed a football team of herself and fellow players Alison Van Uytvanck, Johanna Larsson and Anna Smith to take on their coaches - but Andrea Petkovic got stuck with the early morning alarm call.
8 am practice, happy face. pic.twitter.com/LeyDMYZSmF
— Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic) March 9, 2018
An early morning paled in comparison to Naomi Osaka's woes, though. The 20-year-old may be in the form of her career, taking out Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska in back-to-back rounds, but would that make up for the devastating news of a clash between Beyoncé's latest tour and the US Open?
Tell me why Beyoncé decides to have a concert in Miami at the same time as US Open. I’m legit gonna cry 😢
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@Naomi_Osaka_) March 12, 2018
There was sadness, too, for Shelby Rogers. The American announced on social media following her first-round loss that she had injured her knee, and would need to sit on the sidelines for "some time".
A setback on court - but progression off it. On the bright side, Rogers had a new açai-related accomplishment to announce - though Julia Boserup was sceptical about its limits.
Ok ok but do it with avo toast and I’ll be impressed
— Julia Boserup (@juliaboserup) March 13, 2018
The latest TV shows and documentaries continued to be an integral part of WTA life: emotional reactions were had by Nicole Gibbs and Laura Robson to This Is Us and the rebooted Queer Eye respectively, while Gabriela Dabrowski had her eyes opened by Icarus.
Just watched episode 1 of @NBCThisisUs and... pic.twitter.com/HeqaRnP6SX
— Nicole Gibbs (@Gibbsyyyy) March 12, 2018
Was not expecting to get so emotionally invested in the #QueerEye reboot. All the feels 😭
— Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) March 13, 2018
Icarus on Netflix. WATCH IT. You hear rumours but then something like this comes to light and it’s easy to draw your own conclusions. Fantastic documentary on the Russian doping program/cover up. Well done @bryanfogel 👏🏻 #scandalous ⬅️ literally
— Gaby Dabrowski (@GabyDabrowski) March 13, 2018
Last but not least, some of the most special moments were had, as ever, on court. Victoria Azarenka made her long-awaited return to the courts on International Women's Day, and Elina Svitolina hit a milestone with her 300th career win in the second round. Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova turned back the clock to her P3tra days in coming out on top of the longest WTA match of 2018 so far.
What an emotional moment this was! Thank you all so much for such a wonderful and warm welcome! It means the 🌎 to me ❤️ 🎾 pic.twitter.com/Lu003Lq4Fy
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) March 9, 2018
@WTA win #3⃣0⃣0⃣ 💪 Amazing atmosphere at @BNPPARIBASOPEN 🌴 pic.twitter.com/YK2IylK0dv
— Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) March 11, 2018
I enjoyed being back here so much, I thought I should stay out on the court as long as possible 😜
Thanks for all your support and birthday wishes, especially the nice videos ❤️ P3tra #BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/kJVwO4Os1Z— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) March 10, 2018