Daily Dose of Social Media: Emotional Kasatkina consoles friend Andreeva following Ningbo final, Kyrgios gears up for comeback with top-30 player

Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. The images of the day came after the epic final between close friends Daria Kasatkina and Mirra Andreeva, where both shared emotional moments after the match, while Dasha had to console the teenager.

Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios is preparing for his return to the Australian Open with a prominent top-30 star in Sydney. Andrey Rublev celebrates his birthday during the Swiss Open, while Jannik Sinner thanked fans and Carlos Alcaraz for a great week at the Six Kings Slam, as he prepares to compete in the ATP Finals.

Daria Kasatkina and Mirra Andreeva starred in an exciting final at the WTA 500 Ningbo Open, adding the twist of being close friends on the WTA Tour. 'Dasha' has gained increasing notoriety on YouTube with her vlog (“What the Vlog”), where her bond with the teenager, with whom she regularly trains and spends time off the court.

In their first official meeting, both players had a significant opportunity. Andreeva was aiming for her first WTA 500 title and the chance to break into the top 15 for the first time in her career. On the other hand, Kasatkina had already secured her return to the top 10 after hovering close to that ranking throughout the previous year, consistently remaining within the top 14. This was her 5th WTA 500 final of the season, having suffered three consecutive defeats before winning the title in Eastbourne. This time, she claimed her 8th WTA title and 6th WTA 500.

It was a special match, with Kasatkina coming back from 0-3 down in the third set, winning five consecutive games, and ultimately securing the title with an emotional celebration after a series of final-round losses. During the award ceremony, Andreeva was in tears over the defeat, while Kasatkina quickly ran to console her, all under the smiling gaze of Conchita Martinez, Andreeva’s coach.

Marta Kostyuk ended the best season of her career after the Asian Swing and is enjoying her vacation days back home in Kyiv. The Ukrainian tennis player last played in the Wuhan Open, where she lost to Coco Gauff in the round of 16. At 22 years old, Kostyuk ensured she would finish the season within the top 20, having reached the finals of a WTA 500 twice, the semifinals at Indian Wells, and the quarterfinals at the Australian Open.

Once a promising young player, Kostyuk now appears to be firmly established in the elite zone of the Tour. In 2025, she will aim even higher. While enjoying her time off, Marta Kostyuk returned to Ukraine and shared some photos of her vacation back home after a hectic season.

Andrey Rublev celebrated his 27th birthday in the middle of his participation in the Swiss Open. The Russian tennis player suffered a disappointing defeat in the quarterfinals of the Stockholm Open to 39-year-old Stan Wawrinka, who became the third oldest player to secure a win against a top-10 player since 1990.

Despite the setback, Rublev moved on from the adverse result and traveled to compete in the Swiss Indoors, where he is once again the first seed and is set to debut on Monday against Portuguese player Nuno Borges.

“This is the present I just received 10 minutes ago,” Rublev commented while showing a figurine of himself holding a trophy. “I guess it’s a mini-me, it’s nice,” he said seriously, a rare tone for him during interviews. The ATP also shared a video of the gift he received in 2023, when fans gave him a bracelet.

“We gave this to Andrey last year, but we think he needs gifts reminding him of his kindness every year ☺️💝 Happy birthday to one of the biggest hearts on tour ♥️”

Nick Kyrgios recently confirmed his return to the Tour and announced that he will be ready for the Australian Open in January 2025. The Australian tennis player is preparing for his comeback after two years off the court due to injuries, during which he could only play one match. The 29-year-old player seemed to have rediscovered his game in 2022 when he won the Australian Open doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, finished runner-up at Wimbledon, and claimed the ATP 500 title at the Tokyo Open.

Although he hasn’t played any official tournaments yet, the Australian is already training in Sydney for the tournament that will begin in three months. This time, he was seen alongside compatriot and current world No. 29, Jordan Thompson, one of the standout Australians in recent seasons. Kyrgios won their only previous encounter at Wimbledon back in 2019.

Jannik Sinner was the big winner of the week at the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament, defeating Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz in the final. The world No. 1 continues to perform at a high level, and despite the tournament not awarding ATP ranking points, it offered the largest prize money in tennis history, exceeding $6 million for the champion.

After overcoming a streak of three consecutive losses to Alcaraz, the world No. 1 triumphed in Riyadh and thanked the fans, as well as his rival, for a great week in Saudi Arabia. In a couple of weeks, Alcaraz and Sinner will meet again en Paris Masters. Two weeks later they will meet at the ATP Finals in Turin. Later on, they will also face each other in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where both Italy and Spain remain in contention, although they can only meet in a potential final.

“Thank you Six Kings Slam for an incredible week! I enjoyed it a lot and what a privilege to play with so many great players. Always a pleasure to share the court with you @carlitosalcarazz . 🙏”

Felix Auger-Aliassime thanked fans for their support upon his arrival at the Swiss Indoors Basel Open. The Canadian tennis player is the two-time defending champion, although this time he arrives on a negative streak, having suffered three consecutive first-round defeats and holding a poor record of 4-9 since the French Open.

The 2024 Madrid Open runner-up returns to a venue where he has achieved great results, including victories against players like Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune (twice), and Hubert Hurkacz. This will be a good opportunity for the Canadian to reconnect with his tennis as the season comes to a close while he remains world No. 19. The 24-year-old thanked fans for the support he has received, especially at the Swiss tournament.

“Just kindness from the fans in general. As players, we try our best, we try to win every time,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I think the fans that have given me support and kindness through it all. I really want to thank them because, you know, myself, I really try to always give back. I try to give my time whenever I can.”