“You’ve got nothing to say now?” Holger Rune and Stan Wawrinka have another frosty post-match exchange

The Eisenhower Cup returned Tuesday at Indian Wells showcasing eight powerhouse mixed doubles teams on a special evening of tennis benefiting local charities.

When all was said and done, Aryna Sabalenka and Taylor Fritz emerged victorious at the Tie Break Tens event, edging out Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz in the championship showdown.

Both Fritz and Sabalenka played with plenty of freedom throughout their three matches together, but there was one particular key to producing a winning team debut.

“Probably the matching outfits,” Fritz told Tennis Channel afterwards.

“One hundred percent, I agree,” chimed in his partner.

That winning feeling!

When inner tiger Sabalenka was asked what animal Fritz possesses inside him, the Australian Open champion erupted with, “Goat”, before bursting into laughter. “No, no. Lion,” she then answered.

“I’ll take that,” said the defending BNP Paribas Open men's champion.

Ons Jabeur and Casper Ruud won their opening contest over Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul before being halted by Sabalenka and Fritz in the semifinal round. The tennis world knows Jabeur as the Minister of Happiness, but what about Ruud?

“Good Energy,” said the Tunisian, as the two warmed up on a pair of courtside bikes.

Advertising

A true connection: Jabeur and Ruud each made two major finals in 2022 and reached world No. 2.

Set to enjoy a VIP view of Jabeur’s racquet-wielding variety, we asked Ruud to identify one favorite stroke from her bag of tricks.

“Maybe the drop shot. I don’t really have that myself,” he said. “So I would like to learn that from her.”

Rounding things out, here are a few of the lighter-hearted moments that caught our eye:

Sabalenka helped tour bestie Paula Badosa hydrate. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, she and Cameron Norrie lost in the opening phase of the competition.

Advertising

Leylah Fernandez politely told teammate Felix Auger-Aliassime to wrap his commentary as his voice carried a little too loud at one stage.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari were the veteran tandem of the bunch, having also joined forces earlier this year at the inaugural United Cup.

Sabalenka bowed down to Fritz after the American successfully hit his inside-out trick serve for an ace.

Advertising

Players made the most of the blankets provided on a chilly evening and Jessica Pegula was the ultimate vibe.

To be a fly on this proverbial wall...

After Sabalenka's triumph, Badosa wrapped her up with one mighty warm hug.

Advertising

Baseline