“Funny Confessions from Tennis Players at Indian Wells: What They Really Think”

In a moment of relaxation at the prestigious tennis tournament in Indian Wells, some of the top players from the ATP and WTA decided to share surprising confessions while enjoying a ride on a cart of revelations. Grigor Dimitrov, Tommy Paul, Iva Jovic, Eva Lys, and other stars like Jakub Mensik and Denis Shapovalov opened up about curiosities and opinions that are sure to surprise sports fans.

When asked about his middle name, Dimitrov revealed with a smile that it is actually “Grigor Dimitrov Dimitrov.” “My password is my name,” he joked, while Lys, Mensik, and Jovic avoided the question as they do not have middle names. Zizou Bergs took the opportunity to share an interesting fact about his name: “My name is just Zizou Maria Josefina. Don’t ask me why I have two feminine names, but everyone calls me Zizou.”

The topic of grunting during tennis matches was also discussed, with Jovic explaining the science behind the phenomenon. “The general mechanical concept is that we exhale. Some people take it to the next level as a factor of intimidation.” Dimitrov and Paul agreed that players grunt to release air, while Lys offered a different perspective. “Tennis players grunt because we’re trying to hit the ball as fast as possible. Why do people at the gym grunt when things get tough? That’s why we do it.” Bergs added that a grunt on a big play can energize the crowd: “What’s great about the grunt is that if you hit a big point in a packed stadium and know it’s a winner — you say ‘wahey!’ and the crowd gets into it. That’s the grunt at its highest level.”

Although Jovic, Bergs, and Mensik had fun imitating their best grunts, Paul and Lys were less interested. “I’m not going to grunt for you. Just watch my matches — I grunt a lot,” said Lys with a smile.

The conversation took an interesting turn when the players were asked who they would let date their sisters. Mensik, bluntly, replied: “I’m glad I don’t have a sister because I don’t like tennis players.” Shapovalov chose a compatriot, Felix Auger-Aliassime, while Vandeweghe expressed interest in Matteo Berrettini, stating that he is one of the “best guys on the circuit.”

As controversial opinions abounded, with Paul stating that “rap is dead” and that he does not apologize for it. Lys, more direct, commented that people should take themselves less seriously. Jovic, for his part, shared his aversion to beets: “Anyone who thinks beets are good is mistaken. They have a bitter taste, like something that comes from underground.” Dimitrov raised a question about the new Dunlop balls being used in the tournament, while Vandeweghe suggested that “referees are useless on the circuit,” proposing that a robot could take on that role.

To conclude, the players were invited to leave a positive message for the audience. Jovic started, followed by Lys, who encouraged everyone to “water their own garden and the butterflies will come.” Her message resonated: “You are doing a great job. Sometimes it’s hard, other times it’s easy, but keep fighting — you can do it!” Dimitrov added that “the greatest flex is to always be yourself.” Vandeweghe reminded everyone that “waking up with a smile makes the whole day full of love,” while Paul couldn’t help but note that they were in “a tennis paradise.” Bergs wrapped up with: “You are amazing for watching us. Keep it up. Hashtag: you can do it.”