Daily Dose of Social Media: Cruz Hewitt’s moment with Federer steals the spotlight as two former top-10 players get married
Tennis News
In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we review images from the recent wedding of a former ATP world No. 1 and a former WTA top-10, while a memory of Roger Federer playing with Cruz Hewitt, Lleyton's son, at just six years old went viral.
On the other hand, Iga Swiatek showed fans the best way to cheer for Poland in her own language ahead of the United Cup, while Sorana Cirstea gave hints about a potential retirement this season.
Iga Swiatek teaches fans to cheer 'Jazda Polska'
Iga Swiatek
has called on fans to cheer for Poland during the upcoming United Cup, teaching
them how to say “Go Poland” (“Jazda Polska”) in her native language. The world
No. 2 will begin her season at the nation-based tournament, teaming up with
Hubert Hurkacz, as they aim to improve on their 2024 result when they lost in
the final to Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev.
After
ending the year amidst controversy due to a doping case and a one-month
suspension, the 5-time Grand Slam champion remains focused on 2025. She has
been training with her new coach, Wim Fissette, just 10 days before her return
to the court.
Poland will
face the Czech Republic and Norway in Group B in Sydney, where Swiatek hopes
the fans will support the Polish team. “You know Jazda already, I hope,” she
said in a social media video. “And Polska is just Poland, but a little bit
differently… so Jazda Polska!”
Turning up for Team Poland but don’t speak Polish? @iga_swiatek is here to help ☝️ 🇵🇱 #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/2lKunKc1x9
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 18, 2024
Billie Jean King honours Arantxa Sánchez Vicario on her 53rd birthday
Former
world No. 1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario received a special birthday message from
the legendary Billie Jean King. The Spanish tennis icon, a 4-time Grand Slam
singles champion, held the world No. 1 spot for a total of 12 weeks, breaking
nearly two years of dominance by Steffi Graf.
King shared
her birthday wishes on social media as Sánchez Vicario turned 53 on December
18. The post featured a photo of Sánchez Vicario alongside King and former
French Open champion Conchita Martínez, who currently coaches rising star Mirra
Andreeva.
“Please
join me in wishing a very happy birthday to 14x Grand Slam champion, 5x @BJKCup
champion representing Spain, and 4x Olympic medalist, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario,”
Billie Jean King posted.
Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to 14x Grand Slam champion, 5x @BJKCup champion representing Spain, and 4x Olympic medalist, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario. 🎉 pic.twitter.com/uTkpvjEDwm
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) December 18, 2024
Cirstea’s farewell? Romanian star suggests 2025 might be her final year
Sorana
Cirstea has announced her participation in the upcoming Transylvania Open,
sparking speculation about her future by hinting that 2025 might be her final
season as a professional. The 34-year-old Romanian broke into the top 100 in
2008 at just 18 years old.
Although
Cirstea didn’t fully meet the high expectations placed on her at the start of
her career, she has been a consistent presence on the tour for 15 years,
finishing seven seasons ranked in the top 30. With 62 Grand Slam main draw
appearances, her best results include quarterfinal runs at the 2009 Roland
Garros and the 2023 US Open.
Last year,
her season ended prematurely due to surgery for plantar fasciitis, with her
final match at Wimbledon resulting in a first-round loss to local wildcard
Sonay Kartal. At that time, Cirstea gave no indication of potential retirement.
Now, through a video shared on the official accounts of the WTA 250
Transylvania Open, she has confirmed her return to the tournament in Cluj in
February, leaving fans wondering if this will be one of her last appearances.
“The 2025
season might be my last on the WTA Tour. I say 'might' because we can never be
100% certain of what the future holds,” said Cirstea. “That's why I really
wanted to play one more tournament in Romania, and I'm thrilled to be back on
court at the Transylvania Open in Cluj. I hope to see you there!”
Sorana Cîrstea: “I’m happy to announce that in February I will play Transylvania Open in Cluj. The 2025 season might be my last on the WTA Tour. I say 'might' because we can never be 100% certain of what the future holds. That's why I really wanted to play one more tournament in… pic.twitter.com/jC3aV1kKaJ
— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) December 18, 2024
Cruz Hewitt’s moment with Federer steals the spotlight
After the
announcement of wildcards for the Australian Open qualifying rounds, one name
stood out: 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt, currently ranked world No. 1264. The son of
Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, Cruz’s invitation raised eyebrows,
especially due to his low ranking, prompting mixed reactions on social media.
As
discussions heated up online about Cruz’s merit for the wildcard, journalist
Bastien Fachan shared a forgotten clip of a young Cruz, then just six years
old, hitting with Roger Federer on Melbourne’s Central Court. The moment
occurred during an exhibition event leading up to the 2015 Australian Open,
where the 20-time Grand Slam champion played alongside Cruz to the delight of
the crowd.
Check out
the amusing moment when Federer enjoyed playing with Cruz as the audience
cheered them on!
Cruz Hewitt hitting with Federer just 10 years ago.
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) December 18, 2024
We're all so old. pic.twitter.com/QRZpaLjIWs
Read also
Former tennis stars Julia Goerges and Wesley Koolhof celebrate marriage in the Netherlands
Former
top-10 player Julia Goerges and former doubles world No. 1 Wesley Koolhof tied
the knot this weekend in a new union between ATP and WTA stars. The couple, who
have been together for several years, got married in the Netherlands, Koolhof’s
home country, at a resort in the city of Arnhem, near the German border.
Koolhof
recently ended his career during the Davis Cup Finals, where he helped the
Netherlands reach the final before falling to Italy led by Jannik Sinner. The
35-year-old spent 34 weeks as doubles world No. 1 and won Wimbledon in 2023
alongside Neal Skupski. Goerges, on the other hand, retired in 2020 with seven
singles titles to her name. Her career highlights include reaching the
semifinals at Wimbledon 2018, where she lost to Serena Williams.
Koolhof and
Gorges wasn’t the only to celebrate marriage at the end of the year. The
Japanese player Nao Hibino, currently ranked No. 145, also tied the knot
recently, as she announced on social media. “I would like to make an
announcement that I have recently gotten married to Mr. Masuda Hirotaka,” she
shared.
“I am
filled with gratitude for having met him and for the opportunity to walk
through life together from now on,” added the 30-year-old player. “I will
continue to give my best in my athletic career, so I kindly ask for your
continued support. Thank you always for your warm encouragement.”
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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