Virus Becomes the Talk of the Tournament

The talk of this years BNP Paribas Open has become a two-day stomach bug that's impacting everyone.

It's a nasty virus you would not wish on your own nemesis, but the worst part is it's keeping players off the courts.

A total of 10 players have withdrawn with the bug, while former champion Vera Zvonareva withdrew for another virus.

The latest big name to fall ill, Mike Bryan, of the Bryan brothers, means they still have not captured a doubles title in Indian Wells.

It is near impossible to to track where the virus came from, but World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka said she battled a similar illness between her last tournament in Dubai and the start of Indian Wells.

"I heard like a few players right before the tournament had it, and me, the same thing," Azarenka said. "It's very unfortunate, you know. You don't wish anybody that. I wasn't able to practice for two days."

The Indian Wells bug is just the latest in a rash of ailments that have plagued the start to the 2012 WTA season. 

Twelve of the top 20 have retired early from a match or withdrawn from a tournament with some kind of injury or illness.

It's unforunate the bug is taking away from the tennis and what's been a great tournament so far.

The illness has gone beyond the gates of the tournament. Several are ill at Palm Desert City Hall and the International School of Beauty in Palm Desert.