Daily Dose of Social Media: Iga Swiatek steals the spotlight at NBA game, Jack Draper shines in Vogue photoshoot
Tennis News
In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, ATP and WTA Tour stars switch the Middle-East Swing for the Sunshine Double, with the first images from California arriving. Iga Swiatek attended an NBA game, while Leylah Fernandez was a spectator at an MLS football match.
Jack Draper was once again part of a photoshoot for Vogue, while several of his colleagues made appearances in new Q&A games, including Matteo Berrettini and Grigor Dimitrov choosing their Love Island trio and Shapovalov with a quiz about his career highlights.
Swiatek steals the spotlight at NBA game in San Francisco
Iga Swiatek stole the spotlight at the Chase Center during the NBA match between the Warriors and the Hornets. The 5-time Grand Slam champion was caught on the broadcast cameras looking particularly cheerful as the crowd gave the Polish star a warm ovation.
The world No. 2 is already in California for her next challenge at Indian Wells and is making the most of her free days before her tournament debut. Swiatek will be the second seed – meaning she has a first-round bye. The tournament kicks off on March 5, but Swiatek will have a few more days to prepare before stepping onto the court.
Iga Swiatek at the Golden State Warriors vs Charlotte Hornets game last night 🥰 pic.twitter.com/HnV7yFmyqm
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 26, 2025
Giving a warm welcome to Polish professional tennis player, @iga_swiatek 👋 pic.twitter.com/8hQfJqzeM3
— Chase Center (@ChaseCenter) February 26, 2025
Leylah Fernandez enjoys LAFC victory in Los Angeles
While Swiatek attended an NBA game in San Francisco, former US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez was spotted in Los Angeles enjoying a football match between Los Angeles Football Club and Colorado Rapids, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the home team. The Canadian was accompanied by her sister, fellow tennis player Bianca Fernandez.
Fernandez recently competed in the Middle East swing, where she recorded four wins and three losses, including a quarterfinal run in Abu Dhabi and a round of 16 appearance at the Qatar Open, where she fell to eventual champion Amanda Anisimova (3-6, 0-6). She is also gearing up for her Indian Wells debut, where she secured a spot as the 28th seed, starting in the second round.
Jack Draper shines in Vogue photoshoot amid tennis rise
Jack Draper continues to turn heads as he balances his career as a tennis player and a model. The British No. 1 has been making more appearances at fashion events and photoshoots for various brands, this time taking part in a Vogue photoshoot, with the renowned fashion magazine featuring Draper as one of its models.
The world No. 12 had a strong week at the Qatar Open, seemingly overcoming the physical issues that plagued him earlier in the season. He reached his first final of the year—defeating opponents like Matteo Berrettini and Jiri Lehecka—before ultimately falling to Andrey Rublev in the title match. Nevertheless, Draper is enjoying a great run on tour, and a solid performance at Indian Wells could see him break into the top 10 for the first time.
Jack for the newest Vogue magazine 📸 pic.twitter.com/OX1KmZdQo5
— Jack Draper Fans (@JDraperFans) February 26, 2025
ATP stars pick their 'Love Island' trio in hilarious Q&A
ATP stars once again took part in a round of questions and answers, this time during their appearance at the Doha Open, which ended with Andrey Rublev as the champion. One of the questions posed to the players was: "If three players were to go to Love Island, who would you choose?"
With Matteo Berrettini, Grigor Dimitrov, Alex de Minaur, and others participating, they picked some of their fellow players for a hypothetical stint on the famous reality show.
"I’m a good wingman. I’ll go with Jack Draper, Hubi Hurkacz… and maybe I take Stefanos (Tsitsipas), Paula will be mad," Dimitrov joked, referring to the Greek's girlfriend, Paula Badosa. "I take the pretty boys. I mean, they’re studs. Look at them, you know, 2 meters tall, have the swagger going on, young."
Check out the rest of the players' responses below!
Some hot bombshells are entering the villa ❤️🔥
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 26, 2025
Which players would you put in @LoveIsland ?! 👀 pic.twitter.com/vlL5XbUw1g
Stefanos ‘Prince’ Tsitsipas stuns with traditional look in Dubai
Stefanos “Prince” Tsitsipas made a notable entrance at the Players' Party during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The Greek arrived wearing a traditional white Arabic outfit and optical glasses, drawing attention with his distinctive look.
The former World No. 3 has had a solid week in Dubai so far, securing wins over Lorenzo Sonego and Karen Khachanov, as he looks to regain his best form. His next challenge in the quarterfinals will be against Italian Matteo Berrettini.
Kasatkina and Zabiiako share behind-the-scenes moments in Dubai vlog
A new episode of What the Vlog, the YouTube channel of Daria Kasatkina and her girlfriend, figure skater Natalia Zabiiako, is out. The channel continues to grow, now boasting over 61k subscribers, with some videos surpassing 200k views.
This time, the athlete couple shared behind-the-scenes footage from Dubai, featuring some of the tournament’s biggest stars, including World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The episode includes interviews and fun moments with Belinda Bencic, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sakkari, and more.
Kasatkina, who suffered a surprising first-round loss to Sorana Cirstea, documented her time in Dubai before heading to her next stop: Indian Wells, where fans can likely expect another vlog soon.
Paolini back on court after Dubai setback
Jasmine Paolini shared a video of her return to training after an injury at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships hampered her title defense. The 4th seed started strong with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Eva Lys, but struggled in the second round against Sofia Kenin (4-6, 0-6), even bursting into tears during the match.
The two-time Grand Slam finalist later revealed she had been dealing with physical issues, which also forced her to withdraw from doubles before even making her debut alongside Sara Errani. As a result, Paolini lost a significant amount of ranking points, dropping to World No. 6. However, she now appears to be moving past those difficulties and will surely arrive at Indian Wells with high ambitions.
Shapovalov recalls his dream run to the 2017 Rogers Cup semis
Denis Shapovalov took part in a Q&A session, reflecting on some of the highlights of his career. One of the standout moments he recalled was his iconic run to the semifinals at the 2017 Rogers Cup (Canadian Open). At just 18 years old, Shapovalov made a name for himself on the Tour, being hailed as one of the future stars of the sport.
The one-handed backhander was challenged to name, in order, each opponent he defeated on his way to the last four, where his dream run ended against Alexander Zverev, the eventual champion. Entering the tournament as a wildcard, Shapovalov stunned the tennis world with victories over World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and former US Open champion Juan Martín del Potro. Check out the 25-year-old's full responses below.
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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