Daily Dose of Social Media: Khachanov and Humbert's tense net exchange, Neymar joins Sabalenka, Rybakina, and Paolini at WTA Finals

Tennis News
Saturday, 02 November 2024 at 23:30
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Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. With the start of the WTA Finals, footballer Neymar took part in the match between Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini and even met with Aryna Sabalenka in Riyadh.

On another note, ATP stars had fun with new challenges, featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Tommy Paul, among others. Additionally, check out the tense exchange at the net between Karen Khachanov and Ugo Humbert after the semifinals of the Paris Masters.

Neymar steals the spotlight at WTA Finals coin toss

Brazilian footballer Neymar Junior made headlines on the opening day of the WTA Finals as he conducted the coin toss for the match between Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini. The all-time top scorer for Brazil, who currently plays for Al Hilal Saudi F.C., was the guest of honor, kicking off the second match in the Purple Group, where Italy's Paolini secured a straight-sets victory.

Later on, Neymar visited the locker room and posed for a photo with none other than World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who shared the moment on social media. Sabalenka had made her tournament debut earlier in the day, defeating Zheng Qinwen in straight sets to improve her head-to-head record against the Chinese player to 5-0.

Humbert downs injured Khachanov amid on-court tension

The Paris Masters semifinal between Ugo Humbert and Karen Khachanov ended with a tense moment at the net. The 26-year-old Frenchman claimed victory with a 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3 scoreline, becoming the first French player to reach the tournament’s final since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2011. Humbert, who now boasts 13 consecutive indoor hardcourt wins in France following his titles at the Metz Open in 2023 and the Marseille Open in 2024, benefited from strong home support.

The match took a turn when Khachanov suffered an injury in the third set, limiting his movement as the set progressed. At 3-2 in the third, the Russian requested a medical timeout, but his mobility continued to decline, leaving him at a disadvantage in rallies. He grew visibly frustrated with Humbert’s enthusiastic celebrations, particularly as Khachanov, ranked World No. 21, was struggling to compete from the baseline.

After defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round, Humbert has enjoyed a standout week, energised by the support of nearly 10,000 fans who spurred on his celebrations. However, following the final point, a visibly irritated Khachanov greeted Humbert at the net, reportedly telling him, “no class” in response to his exuberant reactions.

Korda vs. Thompson: Tennis stars try out Olympic sports

In a recent promotional video by the ATP, Sebastian Korda and Jordan Thompson took on a unique challenge during the past Olympic Games. The American and the Australian faced off, but this time not on the tennis courts—they competed in three Olympic sports: fencing, badminton, and a 50-metre walk.

“Jordan and Sebi, today you will go head-to-head in an Olympics-inspired series of challenges. Tennis is not an option today as you take on three very different sports here in Paris,” Thompson read at the start of the video as they headed to their first event as fencers.

Find out the winner of the challenge in the ATP Tour’s latest video posted on social media: “The challenge is on, and the competition is high… 🏆 But who will go for glory in our Olympics-themed showdown?”

Svitolina and Monfils share Montreal moments

Elina Svitolina shared a video from her recent trip to Montreal with her husband, Gael Monfils. The tennis couple began their relationship in 2018 and married in 2021, announcing the birth of their first child, Skai Monfils, in 2022. The Ukrainian star took nearly a year off from the sport following her daughter's birth.

Svitolina made an impressive comeback in 2023, achieving notable results, including quarterfinals at Roland Garros and semifinals at Wimbledon. This season, she has secured her place as world No. 27. Her husband, 37-year-old Monfils, has wrapped up his season, currently ranking No. 55 in the Live Rankings, although he may drop a few places in the coming weeks.

"My journey to Montreal 🇨🇦 In my experience, maintaining proper hydration is crucial for enduring long flights and acclimating to new surroundings😌 That’s why I always rely on @waterdrop to help me tackle this challenge 💧😊," posted Svitolina, alongside some clips of her trip to Montreal.

Paris Masters fun: Alcaraz, Sinner, and Zverev tackle tricky challenge

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Alexander Zverev were among the stars who participated in a tricky challenge at the Paris Masters. The game involved tossing a ball across a table and attempting to land it in a bucket while overcoming the obstacle of a fast-spinning racket that blocked the ball’s path.

Most players struggled on their initial attempts, but gradually figured out the technique to conquer the tough challenge. The video also featured stars like Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Bublik, Arthur Fils, and others.

The tournament has its final set for this Sunday, featuring local surprise Ugo Humbert against World No. 3 Alexander Zverev. The Frenchman will be the first local player in the final since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2011, when he was defeated by Roger Federer. The last local champion was Tsonga himself, who won in 2008 by defeating David Nalbandian in the final.

Djokovic shares condolences after tragic event in Serbia

Novak Djokovic shared his condolences on social media following the tragedy in Novi Sad, Serbia. Just days after the tragedy in Valencia shocked the world, a new misfortune has struck, with at least 14 people dead on Friday after a roof collapsed at the entrance of a railway station in the Serbian city.

The incident prompted a swift reaction from Djokovic, who expressed his sorrow for the tragedy in his country. “My heart goes out to all those affected by the tragedy in Novi Sad. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims 🙏,” wrote the 24-time Grand Slam champions

Моје срце је уз све оне погођене трагедијом у Новом Саду. Наше најдубље саучешће, мисли и молитве породицама настрадалих 🙏

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Zheng Qinwen’s hilarious mix-up: Not realising she lost to Sabalenka

Zheng Qinwen provided a humorous moment after her match against Aryna Sabalenka when she failed to realise she had lost. The Belarusian secured her fifth consecutive victory over Zheng in straight sets with an impressive performance, conceding just five points on serve.

Two breaks were enough for Sabalenka to claim the win. In the second set, with the score at 4-4, she broke for the world No. 1, who then closed out the victory on her second match point from serve. However, Zheng didn’t realise that the last point had ended the match, and while the three-time Grand Slam champion approached the net for a final handshake, the Chinese player was busy drying her sweat and preparing to receive another serve from Sabalenka.

Both players took the situation in stride, with Zheng quickly approaching the net with a smile to cordially bid farewell to her opponent.

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