Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz starred in the pre-Laver Cup activities after training together, while the Swiss reconnected with Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. Today, in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and entertainment from ATP and WTA players.
Novak Djokovic and Grigor Dimitrov played a charity exhibition in Bulgaria and had fun with custom denim jackets at the gala before the match. On the other hand, Coco Gauff explained the reasons behind her 'not fancy' signature when giving autographs, while Leylah Fernandez showcased her training routine in detail.
Alcaraz and Cobolli show off football skills with Union Berlin
Carlos Alcaraz and Flavio Cobolli participated in one of the pre-Laver Cup
activities, joining players from Union Berlin FC. The 4-time Grand Slam
champion stole the spotlight playing football-tennis alongside Cobolli and
members of the German football team.
Alcaraz will be the biggest star in the upcoming Laver Cup, which will
take place over the weekend from September 20 to 22. The Spaniard will lead
Team Europe in an attempt to end the streak of two consecutive defeats in 2022
and 2023, while Cobolli was one of the latest stars confirmed for the
tournament. However, he is currently an alternate and will have to wait for a
European player to withdraw in order to step onto the court.
You can find the exciting video of Alcaraz and Cobolli showing off their
football skills on the Laver Cup's social media, with a standout performance
from the Spanish player.
Federer returns to Laver Cup, hits with Alcaraz and meets Borg and McEnroe
Roger
Federer, the main host, arrived at the Laver Cup, met with captains Bjorn Borg
and John McEnroe, and even hit balls with Carlos Alcaraz. The 20-time Grand
Slam champion is marking two years since his retirement, following an emotional
Laver Cup in 2022, where he ended his career with a memorable doubles match
alongside Rafael Nadal.
Federer was
the driving force behind the creation of the tournament seven years ago, and
despite his retirement, he remains actively involved in its development. The
Swiss Maestro is already participating in pre-tournament activities, visiting
the main court and interacting with captains Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe ahead
of the tournament’s start.
The former
world No. 1 also engaged in an intergenerational practice session with Carlos
Alcaraz, none other than on the grass courts of the Halle Open in Berlin, where
Federer claimed the title ten times. The Laver Cup will begin on Friday,
September 20, featuring stars like Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Daniil
Medvedev, and Frances Tiafoe, among others.
Djokovic and Dimitrov wow fans with custom denim at charity event
Grigor
Dimitrov shared a video alongside Novak Djokovic ahead of their exhibition
match in Sofia, Bulgaria, for Dimitrov's foundation. The 24-time Grand Slam
champion accepted his colleague’s invitation to this charity event for the
Grigor Dimitrov Foundation. A day earlier, Djokovic, upon arriving in Bulgaria,
shared a TikTok video showcasing his impressive language skills as he sang and
danced in Bulgarian, tagging Dimitrov to get his feedback.
At the
Postbank Visa Tennis Gala, both players surprised fans with their custom denim
jackets, further showcasing their friendship off the court. Dimitrov hyped up
the upcoming exhibition by sharing a video on social media of the two enjoying
themselves in the Arena Sofia, with numerous photos of them together
circulating online.
Coco Gauff explains the story Behind Her Unique Signature
Coco Gauff
is not experiencing her best moment on the tour, following inconsistent results
in the US Open Series, which caused her to drop several spots in the rankings
to world No. 6, as she failed to defend any of the three titles she won last
year, including the US Open.
As she
prepares for the Asian Swing, where she aims to regain ground among the top
players, Coco Gauff explained in a brief interview why her signature stands
out. The 20-year-old American promoted the new Topps Tennis trading cards,
where fans can buy packs featuring their favorite players.
"I try
to make it as easy to read as possible because growing up, I would collect
autographs from tennis players, and I could never remember who signed what,
because the signatures were all wonky and fancy. So I’m sorry my signature is
not as fancy as other players. I try to keep it simple so it’s identifiable.
That’s my own reasoning for how I came up with my signature."
Inside Leylah Fernandez's intense pre-match warm-up routine
Leylah
Fernandez shared with her fans details of her pre-match warm-ups in an
Instagram video. The world No. 28 had an early exit at the US Open, being
surprised by Russian Anastasia Potapova in the first round. Fernandez took a
few weeks off from competition to prepare for the final part of the season,
with her next commitment being the China Open starting on September 23.
The
Canadian continues her training and remains active on social media. Recently,
she showed a typical warm-up routine, which includes muscle exercises with
elastic bands, stretches, explosive and reaction drills, among others. “Warming
up is no joke! I usually warm up for up to a whole hour before I even step on
the tennis court 🙈🎾”
Alycia Parks opens up about her fashion choices
Alycia
Parks participated in a photoshoot for the Professional Tennis Players
Association (PTPA) and spoke about her on-court looks: “If you look good, you
play good. I like to get my hair done, change colors, make a statement because
I want to stand out and not be in the mix,” she said.
When asked
how she would define her style, Alycia Parks replied: “My personal style I
think is loud and cute and to stand out. I had on like a skirt and a jacket,
like a two-piece, and I was so scared to wear it out. When I went out, everyone
loved it. So that was something that is new for me.”
The world
No. 116 returns to competition in a week at the China Open, where she will need
to pass qualifying to enter the main draw. Her last appearance was at the
Thailand Open, where she lost in the first round to Laura Siegemund.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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