Daily Dose of Social Media: Djokovic chills in Shanghai eco-sanctuary, Nadal trains with Rune in Riyadh

Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players.  Novak Djokovic relaxes before the Six Kings Slam, while Rafa Nadal trains with Holger Rune for the penultimate event of his career.

On the other hand, Nicolas Jarry starred in the controversy of the day after polemic match point against Elias Ymer. Meanwhile, Madison Keys announced the end of her season as she prepares for her wedding with Bjorn Fratangelo, and Jennifer Brady reappears to congratulate Jessica Pegula on her new milestone.

Novak Djokovic shared a video of himself relaxing after reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters. The 24-time Grand Slam champion delivered a remarkable performance in the Chinese tournament by reaching the final but lost to Jannik Sinner in straight sets, just missing out on his fifth title in Shanghai.

Nole has revealed several times that one of his favorite places to travel during the season is China, especially because of the affection he receives from the fans. Two days before playing the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Djokovic decided to take a couple of days off to relax in an eco-sanctuary in Shanghai. The Serbian is seen playing instruments and spending time meditating amidst the natural sanctuary.

Madison Keys ends her 2024 season after the Asian Swing and hinted on social media that she will soon tie the knot with her boyfriend of seven years, Bjorn Fratangelo, an American tennis player and former French Open junior champion in 2011, as well as a former world No. 99.

The tennis couple has been in a relationship since 2017 and announced their engagement in March 2023. Both Americans met in Boca Raton, Florida, while training at the same facilities, and they played mixed doubles together at the 2021 US Open.

Keys finishes her season ranked world No. 20, though she may drop a few spots in the coming weeks with several tournaments still left for her peers. Her best results in 2024 include winning the Strasbourg Open and reaching the semifinals at the Madrid Open and Eastbourne Open.

"2024 🎾✅ Thanks to my team and friends for making the year more fun. Time for a little offseason but then I’ll be back and can’t wait to do it all over again! 😅 Let’s get married @BjornFratangelo ♥️"

Rafael Nadal is already training in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for his penultimate event as a professional. The 22-time Grand Slam champion recently announced his retirement at the end of the year, with his final appearance set for the Davis Cup Finals, where Team Spain, led by Carlos Alcaraz and Nadal, will face the Netherlands.

Nadal's arrival has further heightened anticipation for the Six Kings Slam, a much-anticipated exhibition that will also feature Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune. The Danish player was Nadal's training partner on his first day in Saudi Arabia.

Rune will debut against Alcaraz on Wednesday, October 16, and the winner will advance to the semifinals, where Rafael Nadal will be the opponent. Alcaraz's arrival in Riyadh also drew much attention from the local crowd as he prepares for this exhibition, which has generated great expectations.

Jennifer Brady congratulated Jessica Pegula after she reached 100 career weeks in the top 5. Pegula first entered the top 5 after the 2022 US Open, and since then, she has spent 100 of the following 110 weeks as one of the top 5 players in the world. Despite some irregular months in the first part of the season, amidst an injury, the American managed to achieve great results, including the title at the Canadian Open and finals in Cincinnati and the US Open.

Her colleague Jennifer Brady congratulated her compatriot on social media for the achievement. Brady dazzled a few seasons ago by reaching the final of the Australian Open, where she fell to Naomi Osaka, and in the process, she secured a victory against Pegula. The 29-year-old player has battled injuries over the last three years, and despite a brief comeback in 2023, injuries sidelined her once again.

Nicolas Jarry defeated Elias Ymer with a controversial match point. The Chilean has had several difficult months, which caused a significant drop in his ranking. After reaching the final of the Rome Open back in May, he suffered six consecutive first-round losses and managed just one win in his next 10 matches.

As the 5th seed at the Stockholm Open, Jarry faced world No. 252 Ymer in a tight match that was only decided in a third-set tie-break. Jarry saved a match point and then, with his opponent serving, sealed the victory on a controversial point. During a rally, Jarry moved up to the net and finished the point with a volley, nearly falling in the process. Jarry appeared to have touched the net, but the umpire dismissed it despite protests from the local player. The video shows that although Jarry did not touch the net, he used his racket to steady himself on Ymer’s side of the court, preventing him from touching the net.

Stan Wawrinka is preparing to return to the court at the Stockholm Open. The former world No. 3 shared a video of his high-level training in the Swedish city. At 39 years old and now outside the top 200, Wawrinka is fighting to stay at a competitive level. Just a week ago at the Shanghai Masters, he secured an impressive win against rising star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard but was later eliminated in a tight match against Flavio Cobolli.

The 3-time Grand Slam champion doesn't seem to have retirement plans yet, and despite his significant ranking drop, he hopes to stay in the competition. In 2024, Wawrinka has a record of 6-14 for the season.