In a new
Daily Dose of Social Media,
Carlos Alcaraz stole the spotlight with a hilarious prank he pulled on fans at
Roland Garros, where he disguised himself as a sunscreen vendor, talking to several fans incognito. Meanwhile,
Iga Swiatek took some time to relax and attended a Dua Lipa concert.
The day was also marked by Novak Djokovic's 100th title, which he achieved by defeating Hubert Hurkacz at the Geneva Open, and with a curious detail highlighted by his wife Jelena on social media.
Iga Swiatek enjoys Dua Lipa concert in Paris
Iga Swiatek took a break from her days in Paris to attend a Dua Lipa concert in the French capital. The four-time Roland Garros champion took some time to unwind, enjoying one of her favorite artists as she prepares to defend her
French Open title. In a post shared on social media, the Polish world No. 5 expressed her excitement about experiencing the 'Radical Optimism Tour,' which had its last stop in Paris, coinciding with her time in France.
"I still remember when almost ten years ago I was traveling from one tournament to another and 'Be the One' was constantly on the radio. All the time. And I loved it. 🥰 That's kind of my first memory with @dualipa. It was so, so great to be able to see Dua last night live in Paris. What an amazing show. Another memory in the books.💫"
Swiatek still has one more day of preparation before her debut this Monday morning against Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova
Djokovic and his 100th career title
The big news of the day was Novak Djokovic's 100th title, after he defeated Hubert Hurkacz in the Geneva Open final. Nole himself left a brief message on social media celebrating the occasion, while his wife Jelena Djokovic shared a curious fact surrounding Nole's 100th title. When Djokovic won his first title back in Amersfoort in 2006, he beat Nicolas Massu – Olympic champion in Athens 2004 – in the final. Interestingly, Massu is precisely Hurkacz's current coach.
The ATP Tour also highlighted some of Novak Djokovic's most notable moments celebrating his most important triumphs alongside his family. These included the French Open 2023 (where he became the all-time Grand Slam male champion), the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal, and also photos from his recent 100th title in Geneva.
Hurkacz congratulates Novak Djokovic after Geneva final
Hubert Hurkacz extended his congratulations to Novak Djokovic after falling to him in the Geneva Open final. The Pole displayed a classy gesture by congratulating his opponent with a post on social media, expressing pride in a good week despite the loss to the Serb. Hurkacz was ahead multiple times in the match, even squandering a 4-2 advantage in the third set, before Nole ultimately sealed the victory in a third-set tie-break, marking Djokovic's 100th professional title.
“Tough one today but proud of the fight this week. Heading to Paris hungry for more. We keep pushing. 💪 Congrats @djokernole on title No. 100, an incredible achievement!”
Carlos Alcaraz pulls off hilarious sunscreen prank at Roland Garros
Carlos Alcaraz starred in a funny prank video where he disguised himself as a sunscreen vendor at Roland Garros, going incognito and chatting with various spectators. The Spaniard tried to go unnoticed while asking fans who their favorite was to win the title, but several immediately recognized him, especially due to his distinctive accent.
The world No. 3 is getting ready to defend his French Open title starting this Monday, when he'll face Italian Guido Zeppieri. The Spaniard is in impeccable form and full of confidence after winning the Rome Open title, defeating Jack Draper (No. 5), Lorenzo Musetti (No. 8), and Jannik Sinner (No. 1) in the final along the way.
Jakub Mensik delights fans with autographs at Roland Garros
Jakub Mensik had a great time signing autographs for fans at Roland Garros. The Czech player – Miami Open champion – showed his eagerness to always sign autographs and take photos with younger fans. After his practice, he took over the Roland Garros social media camera, giving a first-person view of him signing for dozens of young fans.
The Czech will make his first appearance at the French Open as the 19th seed, debuting against local player Alexandre Muller. Mensik has had strong performances on clay courts, securing several victories, reaching the quarterfinals at the Madrid Open and the Round of 16 at the Rome Open. He isn't defending any points at Roland Garros, making it a great opportunity to continue climbing the rankings.
Marta Kostyuk Reflects on the Demands of Being a Professional Athlete
Marta Kostyuk shared an emotional reflection on what it means to be an elite athlete as she prepares for her return to Roland Garros. The world No. 26 comes into the tournament after a couple of strong performances in the clay-swing. In the two tournaments she played, she reached the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open and the Round of 16 at the Rome Open, compiling a 6-2 record, with both losses coming against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in tight battles.
The Ukrainian arrives at the French Open with high confidence, having shown she can compete with the best on the surface and coming within inches of upsetting Sabalenka. As Kostyuk awaits her debut this Sunday against Sara Bejlek, she shared a photo with a reflection on social media. "What is it like to be a professional athlete? Most people think they know,” the Ukrainian wrote. “They see the matches. The photos. The cities. And sometimes it looks like a dream. And yes, it is. But there’s more to it than that. Being a professional athlete means a lot of things people don’t see.”
“It means missing birthdays and holidays. Not being there for family dinners or special days. It means constantly packing, flying, checking in, checking out. And always training. Always preparing. Even when you are tired. Some weeks, you wake up and forget what city you’re in. Some days, your body hurts and you still have to push through. And sometimes you’re smiling in a photo while feeling completely exhausted.
“I love this life. I chose it. I’m proud of the way I keep showing up. Not just when it is easy. Especially when it is not. Being a professional athlete means a lot of things people don’t see. And there’s always more than what fits on the screen.”