Playing his first match of 2015, Marin Cilic expected a tough day and that’s what he got losing in straight sets 64, 64 yesterday to Juan Monaco in the Indian Wells second round.

Afterward, the US Open champion talked about his state of health with his right shoulder.

“I didn’t feel completely painless,” Cilic said. “Just I felt, that it’s a bit rusty still. So I felt that even on the serve …

Novak Djokovic said he doesn’t think the new member of his family, baby boy Stefan, will impact his playing schedule in 2015. The Serb, who is playing his fifth event of the year (including Davis Cup) as defending champion of Indian Wells, was asked about his schedule yesterday after a quick win over Marcos Baghdatis.

“Well, the schedule is going to be more or less the same,” the new father Djokovic …

A year after losing Ivan Lendl, Andy Murray continues to fidget with his team. Last June he added Amelie Mauresmo and then last week he sought out the services of Jonas Bjorkman, on a trial basis.

Following a win yesterday over Vasek Pospisil, Murray talked about what led to Bjorkman.

“When everything happened with my team at the end of last year I spoke to (Amelie) about what it …

Former champions Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova both rolled in opening round victories Saturday at the Indian Wells Masters.

Sharapova, a two-time Indian Wells champion, kicked things off the women during the day overwhelming former US Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer 6-1, 7-5.

Sharapova will now meet another former champion and former No. 1 in the third round, Victoria Azarenka. The Belarussian continued her climb back to the top knocked out former Wimbledon …

Ahead of his title defense at Indian Wells, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic talked about what’s looming at the French Open in a few months.

“The difference now in my approach to my goals is that I don’t put too much pressure on myself now,” Djokovic told the Desert Sun on Thursday. “I don’t want to take away too much energy on thinking about will I make it or not. …

Blame the headache and fatigue, but in this interview Roger Federer thinks that Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open last year! How could Roger forget that it was his good friend Stan Wawrinka who won it?

A senior moment maybe.

(FIXED)

And the interviewer wanted nothing to do with correcting him!

The ATP also put together this Federer “Toast”:

Federer opens play at Indian Wells …

Serena Williams returned last night to Indian Wells 14 years after an ugly incident kept the Williams family away from the one of the largest tennis events in the world.

Here was the reception when she walked out on court:

It was a tough match against Monica Niculescu, but Serena finally prevailed 75, 75.

“I feel really good, like the nerves have kind of gone away,” Serena said. …

World No. 1 Serena Williams walked on the court on Friday at Indian Wells and started crying, and it didn’t get any easier from there.

Receiving a rousing ovation from the crowd upon her arrival on the court after a 14-year absence, Serena suffered mightily through a 7-5, 7-5 win over No. 68-ranked Monica Niculescu, whose unorthodox style combined with the occasion had Serena beside herself.

“I just felt everything and it …

In case you haven’t heard, tonight’s the night. After 14 years, World No. 1 Serena Williams returns to Indian Wells. The California native hasn’t played there since 2001 when as a 19-year-old with just one Slam, Serena beat the boos and beat Kim Clijsters in the final.

Serena was to play sisters Venus Williams in the semifinals, but when Venus withdrew minutes before the match, the crowd cried foul. And they …

Mardy Fish highlights opening day at the Indian Wells men’s Thursday. The 33-year-old American is playing in his first singles match in 18 months since August 2013 at Winston-Salem.

Fish will meet countryman and wildcard Ryan Harrison.

A pair of talented teenagers – Borna Coric and Thanasi Kokkinakis – are also in action.

In first day player Wednesday, Sloane Stephens led a trio of Americans women to reach the third round. Alison Riske, …

A few days after Roger Federer ran an “AskRF” on twitter, Andy Murray tried to do his own version, “#askAM”. But Federer showed once again he is the GOAT of social media stealing Murray’s thunder earlier today.

See for yourself:

Murray starts his Q&A:

It's been a while since I did a little QandA so let's go for it.. I've got a good 30 minutes! Use #askAM

— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) …

So why has Serena Williams decided to return to Indian Wells this year? ESPNW’s Howard Bryant offers his answer in a new story today.

Serena’s return, according to Bryant, was formalized in December when Serena, her agent Jill Smoller, tournament head Ray Moore and owner Larry Ellison, who had never before spoken to Serena, talked about an agreement.

The following month, Williams, Smoller, Moore and Ellison spoke by conference call …

Roger Federer confirmed the stats we had on this site earlier this week, declaring that he’s serving as better than he ever has.

“I feel like I’m playing very well,” Federer told the Desert Sun. “I’m serving as good as I ever have, I’m playing very good attacking tennis and I’m playing very committed, which maybe is not what I’ve always done in my career.”

Federer is currently third on …

Three-time champion Rafael Nadal returns this weekend to one of his favorite non-clay events on the calendar, the Indian Wells BNP Parisbas Open. Meeting the press on Wednesday, Rafa spoke about the dominance of the Big 4 – Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and himself – the last decade or so.

“It’s pretty amazing what has happened in the last 10 years,” Nadal said Wednesday. “The same players are achieving …

Andy Murray added a new member to his team today, hiring former Top 5 Jonas Bjorkman on a trial basis as an assistant coach.

The 42-year-old Bjorkman who reached a career high No. 4 in 1997, confirmed the moved on his Instagram account.

“I’m super excited and I’m really looking forward to join @andymurray and his team for a test week, which we both hope will lead to joining the team …