Amid the fervor of the Indian Wells Open, tennis stars Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, and Ben Shelton have found themselves ensnared in an off-court quandary that’s as entertaining as their on-court action. This year, the competition is not just about who scores the winning point but also about who can solve a perplexing riddle that’s got the pros scratching their heads.
Traditionally, tennis events have embraced a culture of playful interactions between players, often involving humorous questions shared on social media platforms. From the likes of “The Players Ask Novak ALL The Questions,” these light-hearted exchanges have become a beloved part of the tennis community. However, this year’s mind-bender, courtesy of the BNP Paribas Instagram account, has left even the most experienced players stumped. The question in contention: How many holes does a straw have?
Madison Keys was the first to stumble into this intellectual maze, confessing, “This is going to send me into an existential crisis. A straw has…one hole? I don’t know, I don’t like that question. But my mind is melting.” The puzzler left Keys, who credits her calm demeanor for her 2025 Australian Open victory, visibly flustered.
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka also found herself grappling with the conundrum, expressing her uncertainty by saying, “I think it’s one. What is the right answer? It’s like, I don’t know, it’s two but one.” The confusion was palpable, reflecting the complexity of the question.
While these players contemplated, Emma Navaro stood firmly in the “two holes” camp, confidently asserting, “A straw has two holes, and if you think it has one, you’re overthinking things. And you probably think that a hot dog is a sandwich,” adding a dash of humor to the debate.
However, it was Ben Shelton who took the reins and steered the discussion in a different direction with his pragmatic stance, “No, it has no holes. There are no holes in this straw. If there’s a hole, then it leaks. This is just a cylinder. No holes.” Shelton, known for his exceptional banana shot on the court, proved his ability to think unconventionally, tipping the scale of the debate.
From a topological standpoint, a straw is a complex entity, not merely a tube. When you multiply a circle (which has one hole) by an interval (which has none), you get a straw, which mathematically has only one hole.
In addition to the straw riddle, another intriguing question posed to Sabalenka at the post-match press conference following her win against McCartney Kessler stirred the pot. Asked to identify the best players in forehand, backhand, serve, and return of serve, Sabalenka playfully suggested herself as the best server on a good day. She started by mentioning ATP’s Jannik Sinner for the best forehand but quickly switched focus to WTA players, praising Elena Rybakina’s powerful serve.
Sabalenka also humorously confessed her difficulty in naming the best forehand player, due to being too absorbed in her game, but eventually lauded Madison Keys for her powerful forehand. But when it came to the backhand and return of serve, Sabalenka found herself at a loss for words, ultimately praising Coco Gauff‘s skills and humorously evading the return of serve question.
As the competition intensifies, it’s clear that our tennis stars are being tested as much off the court as they are on it, making this year’s Indian Wells Open a delightful mix of sporting prowess and intellectual banter.