Rafa Nadal hits the practice court; Sabalenka & Gauff soak up off-season; Monfils & Svitolina’s viral dance

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, Rafael Nadal reappears on the courts of Manacor, proving class is permanent as he trains with the next generation of stars. The Spanish legend featured in a viral photo showcasing "17 Roland Garros titles," while WTA stars Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Marta Kostyuk share glimpses of their off-season adventures, ranging from beach days and bunnies to new puppies.

Meanwhile, the tennis world gets emotional and hopeful updates. Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina share a dance ahead of the Frenchman's final season, while Holger Rune and Borna Coric provide crucial health updates following their respective surgeries. From rehabilitation struggles to holiday relaxation, here is everything happening on social media.

The Rafa Nadal Academy recently shared an image loaded with both history and future potential. In it, they boast of gathering no less than 17 Roland Garros titles in a single snapshot: Rafa Nadal’s 14 unrivaled titles, Anabel Medina’s two doubles titles, and the junior title won by Russian Alina Korneeva in 2023.

This training session, which also included Filipina Alexandra Eala, confirms that the Balearic tennis star retains his class intact a year after his professional farewell at the Davis Cup. While he continues to share the court with new generations, Nadal is preparing to receive a tribute to his legendary career this Monday at the AS Sports Awards 2025.

One of the Tour's most beloved couples shared a video dancing during the off-season while awaiting their return to the courts: none other than Frenchman Gael Monfils together with his wife, Elina Svitolina, who had fun dancing on the tennis court after a practice session.

It will undoubtedly be a special season for both, following Monfils' announcement that he will end his career in 2025. The current World No. 68 turned 39 in September and is currently the oldest player inside the top 150. His retirement will leave Novak Djokovic as the veteran within that same bracket.

On the other hand, Svitolina ended her 2025 season early. She was close to her best level, and at 31, was even in contention for a spot in the Top 10. The World No. 14 won the Rouen Open title, reached the semifinals in Madrid, and the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. However, she called an end to her season following her exit in the first round of the US Open, missing several year-end tournaments and leaving her out of the possibility of returning to the Top 10 after 4 years.

Speaking of Ukrainians, one who wasn't entirely satisfied with her season was Marta Kostyuk. At 23, she has been established in the upper rankings for several years and finished the year as World No. 26. After a 2024 where she finished inside the Top 20, it seemed the Ukrainian was ready to take the next step. However, due to irregular results, she didn't quite manage to climb the rankings; she didn't reach the semifinals in any tournament played, and her best performances were quarterfinals at three WTA 1000s during the season.

Regardless, Kostyuk is already enjoying her off-season with some beach days in Monte Carlo and a well-deserved rest, during which she also welcomed a new member to her family: a small puppy.

“When your first dog turns out as perfect as Mander, you suddenly start dreaming of a whole bunch… Welcome Chich, one more perfect pup in the family”

Kostyuk is known for traveling to tournaments with her small puppy, Mander, who has previously stolen the show with his presence at training sessions and even on court following some of the Ukrainian's victories.

Holger Rune has once again provided an update on his recovery process following the severe Achilles tendon rupture he suffered late in the season. The Dane had to undergo surgery after a fall during the Stockholm Open semifinals, forcing him to miss the rest of the season despite remaining in the running for a spot in the ATP Finals.

The severity of the injury means he will be sidelined for between 9 and 12 months, and there is even speculation that he might not reappear throughout 2026. However, the Dane is optimistic about his recovery process and once again updated fans on his health status more than a month after the injury:

“It’s now 5,5 weeks since surgery and here we go with a super nerdy post on my ankel progression 🧐 things are going really well in phase 2 of my rehab and I feel good 😁🦾 Grateful for the help I get from everyone involved and around 🙏🏼❤️”

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is enjoying her time off-court during the off-season, though she hasn't stopped training. True to her style, she shared her most recent photoshoots showing her days with her boyfriend and her workouts, in addition to meeting some bunnies following her Thanksgiving celebration with friends in Miami.

The 4-time Major champion recently spent a few days vacationing in Brazil with her boyfriend, Georgio Frangulis. According to her social media posts, however, she is already back in Miami, making the most of her time off-court to get ready for 2026. The Belarusian will also participate in the "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition event on December 28, where she will face Nick Kyrgios in Dubai. “Thankful for a lot… to do what I love every day, to be home for the holiday surrounded by amazing people and to meet these cute bunnies 😂♥️

Another player enjoying the off-season is World No. 3 Coco Gauff, who shared a series of photos of her days of rest. The 2-time Grand Slam champion finished the 2025 season with titles at Roland Garros and Wuhan, in addition to reaching two other finals at WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome. Although she couldn't defend her WTA Finals title in Riyadh, Gauff comfortably finished the season as World No. 3. At 21 years old, she can already boast three consecutive seasons finishing at least inside the Top 3 (and four consecutive within the Top 10).

Croatian Borna Coric announced to fans that he underwent surgery for an injury suffered several months ago that had been bothering him all season. The 2022 Cincinnati Open champion has seen his ranking drop over the last couple of seasons, falling from No. 81 mid-year to finish the season at No. 116, far from the privileged positions he occupied a few seasons ago.

At 29, Coric now faces a long recovery ahead, aiming to solve his physical problems to seek his return to the high ranks. “Hello everyone 👋 Unfortunately, due to a shoulder injury I suffered back in May during training and which has been bothering me ever since I had to undergo surgery. A huge thank you to Dr. @olivierverborgt and the entire team at AZ Monica Hospital for the incredible care and professionalism. 🏥🙏 The doctor was very happy with how the surgery went and with the overall condition of the shoulder — so there’s still some tennis left in me 😁🎾 Thank you all for the support — see you soon on court”