Daily Dose of Social Media: Djokovic unwinds in Maldives, Hurkacz's unexpected ‘superpower’

Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and entertainment from ATP and WTA players.  Aryna Sabalenka had fun with Ons Jabeur on the Center Court at the WTA Finals as they tossed balls from the court up into the stands. Meanwhile, the Belarusian also trained with Elena Rybakina, who is preparing for her return after more than two months out of competition.

On the other hand, Novak Djokovic is relaxing in Moldova, taking a break from his season and leaving his possible participation in the ATP Finals still in question. Meanwhile, at the Paris Masters, Hubert Hurkacz delivered a hilarious moment with an unexpected answer about his “ideal superpower.”

Sabalenka playfully tosses balls to Jabeur as she prepares for WTA Finals debut

Aryna Sabalenka is once again having fun with Ons Jabeur as she enters the final stretch before the WTA Finals begin. The world No. 1 trained on Center Court as she prepared for her debut against Zheng Qinwen on Saturday, with a special guest in the stands: three-time Grand Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur.

The Tunisian is recovering from an injury after ending her season early due to a back problem. Despite not qualifying for the event that gathers the season’s top eight players, Jabeur still traveled to Riyadh, where she serves as an ambassador at the pre-tournament activities.

After Sabalenka’s training session, the Belarusian began playfully tossing balls toward Jabeur, who was seated in the upper part of the stadium near the cameras. The two shared a lighthearted moment as Jabeur threw the balls back with her hands.

The Tennis Letter

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Aryna Sabalenka hitting balls up to Ons Jabeur during her practice in Riyadh: “Why are you so short?” 😂😂 (via @TennisChannel)

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Hilarious Hurkacz: The polish star’s superpower wish leaves fans laughing

Hubert Hurkacz delivered a curious answer in a recent ATP video where players were asked which superpower they would choose. Walking through the hallways during the Paris Masters, the former world No. 6 surprised everyone with his response.

"Onion cream soup," Hurkacz replied. "Why is that?" asked the interviewer.

"I don’t know, I just ate it sometimes, and I really enjoy it," ‘Hubi’ responded.

The video, shared on social media, sparked laughter from fans and even some of his colleagues. "One of the better clips of the year," commented American Reilly Opelka, while Australian Daria Saville simply responded with, "hahaha," on Instagram.

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Leylah Fernandez shines in ‘football-tennis’ warm-up

It’s common for players on the Tour to find unique ways to warm up, both before matches and in training sessions. Leylah Fernandez was spotted playing football with her team on a tennis court in a video shared on social media.

The 2021 US Open runner-up is competing in her last tournament of the season at the WTA 250 Hong Kong Open, where she entered as the third seed. Fernandez comfortably won her debut against Britain’s Heather Watson 6-2, 6-2 and now awaits her round of 16 match against Australian Kimberly Birrell.

In the video on Center Court, Fernandez can be seen having fun with her team as they use the net to play ‘football tennis,’ with the Canadian showing impressive footwork. Fernandez looks forward to her match against Birrell, with a chance to end the season in the top-30 (No. 32 in the live ranking).

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Medvedev out after near-miss racket throw against Popyrin

Daniil Medvedev is known for creating memorable moments during matches, and at the Paris Masters, he continues to show his unique personality on court. The former world No. 1 debuted in the tournament against the always challenging Alexei Popyrin, who stunned the Russian with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4) victory, delivering one of the tournament's early surprises by eliminating one of the title favourites.

The match was ultimately decided in the third-set tie-break, with Medvedev facing challenging moments and struggling with frustration against an inspired Popyrin. At one point, the world No. 5 threw his racket high into the air, attempting to catch it mid-air, but missed, causing the racket to bounce on the ground. Medvedev reacted quickly, shielding himself to avoid getting hit as the racket nearly fell on him.

Now, Medvedev has only one tournament left this season when he competes in the ATP Finals in Turin. Currently, he is one of the five players qualified for the event, alongside Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz.

Relaxing in paradise: Djokovic spotted in Maldives

Novak Djokovic is taking a few days of vacation in the Maldives while the Paris Masters is underway. The 24-time Grand Slam champion didn’t play many tournaments this season, ending the year with a record of 37-9 and 'only' with a gold medal at the Olympic Games, but without any ATP Tour titles.

The Serbian last competed a month ago at the Shanghai Masters, where he lost to Jannik Sinner in the final. Since then, Djokovic decided to skip the last tournaments of the season, including Paris-Bercy this week. It remains unclear whether he will participate in the ATP Finals. The former world No. 1 is currently sixth in the ATP Race and hasn’t officially confirmed his qualification, though it appears likely. Nonetheless, Djokovic’s attendance at the tournament is uncertain, given his stated priorities for Grand Slams and events representing Serbia.

Recent social media photos show Djokovic enjoying some relaxation on the beaches of the Maldives, where he is vacationing with his family to close out the year.

Luigi Gatto

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Djokovic is in Maldives now, but could still qualify for the ATP Finals. He is sixth in the Race to Turin! 😄

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Rybakina gears up for WTA Finals Return, trains with Sabalenka 

Elena Rybakina is back on the training courts preparing for the WTA Finals, where she’s set to make her return this Sunday against Jasmine Paolini. The 2022 Wimbledon champion has had an unfortunate season, with injuries, physical issues, and mental health challenges limiting her time on the court.

Despite these setbacks, she’s been one of the most effective players when healthy, capturing three titles and reaching two additional finals in the early part of the season. Her 2024 record is an impressive 41 wins and only 9 losses. Rybakina returns to the courts after more than two months, training with none other than the two-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka, who is the top favorite to win the title in Riyadh.

The world No. 5 was recently seen practicing with former world No. 1 Simona Halep, amid the Romanian’s comeback efforts. Questions remain about Rybakina’s performance level in this challenging tournament, where she’ll need to be focused from the start to end an uneasy 2024 season on a high note.