Second day of the WTA Finals drew an embarrassingly tiny crowd of around 400 spectators, reopening the debate about the decision to bring elite tennis to Riyadh ✍️& 📹@simonrbriggs telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2024/11… #TelegraphSport
Daily Dose of Social Media: Fritz and Riddle’s video delights fans with self-mocking humor, empty seats dominate WTA Finals
Tennis NewsTuesday, 05 November 2024 at 08:12
Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. Taylor Fritz and his girlfriend Morgan Riddle captured fans’ attention in a new TikTok video where the two followed a recent trend, playfully mocking each other’s flaws with a great sense of humor. Meanwhile, Eugenie Bouchard shared photos of her Halloween costumes on social media.
In Riyadh, however, the WTA Finals haven’t had the expected reception, with empty stands in the stadium. Nonetheless, Aryna Sabalenka has been one of the fan favorites and today received a unique gift after defeating Jasmine Paolini.
Morgan Riddle and Taylor Fritz go viral with playful ‘Suspect’ trend
Morgan Riddle shared a hilarious video with her boyfriend Taylor Fritz, where the couple jokes around with the ‘Suspect’ trend. In the video, Fritz playfully pretends to flee while a narrator humorously describes him, allowing him to reveal some fun “facts” about himself.
The world No. 5 teased his girlfriend, mentioning things like her “smell” and that she “brags way too much about her education” despite “doing a job that requires no education.” Riddle laughed in response. The couple's collaboration was a hit among fans, who flooded the TikTok video with comments praising their ability to joke around and laugh at themselves as a couple.
Fritz is currently preparing for the ATP Finals, scheduled to be played from November 10 to 17. The American No. 1 ranks fifth in qualification, behind Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev, as the final three spots are yet to be secured.
Sparse crowds in Riyadh despite record prize money at WTA Finals
The WTA Finals are being held for the first time in Riyadh following a strong push from Saudi Arabia, offering historic prize money for the players totaling $15,250,000, a 69.44% increase compared to the 2023 edition. However, the King Saud University Indoor Arena has barely seen a few hundred spectators.
The world’s top eight players gathered for the year-end tournament, the most prestigious among WTA events, competing for up to 1,500 points and a maximum prize of over $5 million. Despite this, the event hasn't attracted much attention from the local public, with most matches played to an almost empty stadium. A video from The Telegraph shows the sparse crowd at the most recent matches, including Zheng Qinwen versus Elena Rybakina and World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka against Jasmine Paolini.
De Minaur junior Tour launched: Aussie No. 1 steps up for young talent
Tennis Australia announced that the Australian Junior Tour will be renamed the De Minaur Junior Tour, marking the Aussie No. 1’s commitment to fostering future local tennis stars. Additionally, the World No. 8 pledged to support emerging high-performance juniors, ensuring they have the resources and mentorship necessary to excel.
The announcement comes during the Finals of the Australian Junior Tour, which brings together the top under-12 and under-14 junior talents to compete from November 4 to 10, with more than 170 juniors participating.
"For me, it was very important as a young kid to come out to Europe and see the competition abroad. It taught me a lot of lessons about what I needed to work on," commented Alex De Minaur. "Mentorship is super important, and I’ve been fortunate to learn so much from my mentors over the years. I want to pass on the knowledge I’ve gathered throughout my journey and help young Aussie athletes improve and become the best version of themselves," he added.
Following the announcement, Australian coach Darren Cahill, who currently coaches World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, praised the initiative on social media: “This is a wonderful initiative by TA and Alex. Inspiring, educating, and mentoring the next generation.” Boris Becker also commended Tennis Australia's announcement: “Excellent initiative, guys! Good luck with it…”
The Demon is igniting a new era for the next generation 🔥 @alexdeminaur Introducing the #DeMinaurJuniorTour 😈
This is a wonderful initiative by TA and Alex. Inspiring, educating and mentoring the next generation.
The Demon is igniting a new era for the next generation 🔥 @alexdeminaur Introducing the #DeMinaurJuniorTour 😈
Excellent initiative guys ! Good luck in the process….
This is a wonderful initiative by TA and Alex. Inspiring, educating and mentoring the next generation.
Tiger Spirit: Sabalenka’s sift from fans after securing semis spot
Aryna Sabalenka has had a remarkable start at the WTA Finals, securing consecutive wins over Zheng Qinwen and Jasmine Paolini, which made her the first to qualify for the semifinals of the tournament that brings together the season's top 8 players. The Belarusian has been a fan favorite in Riyadh and received a unique gift after defeating Paolini.
After the match, a smiling Sabalenka went to share the moment with fans in the stadium, taking the time to pose for photos and sign autographs. She received a special tiger-shaped cushion, a nod to the animal she often identifies with and even has tattooed on her forearm.
The 3-time Grand Slam champion is now on the verge of securing the year-end World No. 1 spot. She needs just one more victory, either in her next match against Elena Rybakina or in the semifinals, to clinch the top ranking. If she doesn’t achieve another win, she can still secure the No. 1 position if Iga Swiatek fails to claim the title undefeated.
Eugenie Bouchard stuns fans with Halloween costume photos
Eugenie Bouchard shared a compilation of photos of her Halloween costume on social media. The Canadian reached a career-high World No. 5 in 2014, but the following years saw a steady decline, with multiple injuries preventing her from recapturing the level that took her to the Wimbledon final.
The 30-year-old quickly became one of the most popular players on the Tour and continues to have a significant fanbase, with over 2.3 million Instagram followers — even more than Iga Swiatek’s 1.8 million or Coco Gauff’s.
Bouchard now balances occasional appearances on the Tour with modeling and a new career in pickleball, where she has achieved some good results in the PPA. The Canadian also served as an expert commentator at the recent Canadian Open. The media-savvy player reappeared on social media with her Halloween photos, which garnered thousands of reactions.
Halloween 2024 🫡
Paula Badosa celebrates year-end ranking
Paula Badosa celebrates her year-end ranking. The Spaniard had an impressive comeback season, where, after a long back injury in 2023, she managed to recover her level throughout the year to return to a privileged position in the WTA Ranking.
The former Indian Wells champion started the 2024 season outside the top 60 and fell to World No. 140 in May this year. However, as the season progressed, she achieved notable performances, such as the quarterfinals at the US Open, semifinals in Cincinnati and the China Open, and a title at the DC Open.
Although she wasn’t completely free from injuries, with a few retirements during the season, the 26-year-old ended her season ranked World No. 11, with a strong chance to return to the top 10 in early 2024, as she defends few points. Badosa shared her joy on social media over the remarkable progress she made after finishing her season. “Doing it once feels good, but doing it twice feels amazing. #comeback”
Doing it once feels good but doing it twice feels amazing. #comeback
so proud for this 2024 🩷🩷💪🏻 keep going
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