Daily Dose of Social Media: Maria Sharapova promotes new fertility initiative for female athletes, Alcaraz eyes indoor breakthrough after dominant win

Maria Sharapova starred in a new social media campaign advocating for motherhood in women's sports. In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we take a look at Carlos Alcaraz’s celebration after his victory at the ABN AMRO Open against Andrea Vavassori.

Meanwhile, Sofia Kenin shared some photos from her participation in the Abu Dhabi Open, where she made it through qualifying but was defeated in the first round by former French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. On the other hand, Jiri Lehecka expressed his disappointment over his recent injury in Rotterdam.

Carlos Alcaraz shared some highlights on social media of his 6-2, 6-1 victory over Andrea Vavassori, securing a spot in the ABN AMRO Open quarter-finals. His next challenge will be against fellow Spaniard and clay specialist Pedro Martínez, who pulled off a surprise win against 5th seed Holger Rune with an impressive 6-4, 6-1.

The World No. 3 is the clear favourite in this matchup as he seeks to reach the semi-finals in an indoor hardcourt tournament—arguably his toughest surface. The 4-time Grand Slam champion remains the top title contender and could potentially face Andrey Rublev or Hubert Hurkacz in the next round.

The Swiss legend, who retired in 2023, appeared in a new On commercial alongside Sesame Street's Elmo. Federer, a leading ambassador for the brand, was featured along with ATP and WTA stars like Ben Shelton, Iga Swiatek, and Joao Fonseca. This move further solidifies On as a major player in tennis apparel and footwear.

Alex de Minaur and Arthur Fils took part in a fun game called "The Numbers Don’t Lie", where they attempted to guess ATP players based on key Tour stats. Throughout the challenge, they identified players by analyzing shot quality, featuring names like Carlos Alcaraz, Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

They also went head-to-head, debating who had better shot quality between them. Both players were in action at the Rotterdam Open, with De Minaur advancing to the quarter-finals to face Daniel Altmaier, while Fils was eliminated in the round of 16 after a 4-6, 6-3, 5-7 defeat to Altmaier.

Gonçalo Oliveira took to social media to defend his innocence following his recent involvement in a doping case. The Portuguese former Top-200 player shared his perspective on the matter and reiterated his integrity. "I want to address the recent announcement of the provisional suspension with complete transparency and honesty," Oliveira wrote in his Instagram story. "This is a truly difficult moment for me – one that feels harder than the many injury setbacks I’ve faced throughout my career.

"But just as I’ve always done, I’m determined to face this challenge head-on with strength and resolve. I have always competed with the utmost integrity, respect, and love for the game of tennis."

Read the rest of his statement below.

Maria Sharapova supports Cofertility’s initiative for professional athletes

Maria Sharapova announced through her social media account the Cofertility initiative aimed at supporting motherhood for professional athletes.

The former world No. 1 stated: "Cofertility announced an incredible initiative with Annmother today highlighting the path for female athletes toward motherhood and fertility."

She also mentioned that she and other athletes were interviewed to share their views and contribute ideas on the subject. It's worth noting that Serena Williams famously won the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant, defeating her sister Venus in the final.

Other players, such as Angelique Kerber, Victoria Azarenka, Belinda Bencic, and Naomi Osaka, have successfully returned to the WTA Tour after becoming mothers.

"As athletes, our bodies are literally our business. Building your career while also growing your family can often feel in opposition to each other, leaving women to feel like they have to choose one or the other. I invested in @cofertility to help make egg freezing more affordable and provide women with options, and I’m honored to support them in this latest initiative, #leveltheplayingfield, to continue to break down barriers for female athletes so we can all thrive in our careers and motherhood without compromise. 🤍" she wrote.

Jiri Lehecka lamented his recent injury at the Rotterdam Open after being forced to retire mid-match in the round of 16 against Hubert Hurkacz. The Czech player has been one of the rising names on the ATP Tour, securing multiple victories over top-10 players. He battled well for much of the first set against Hurkacz, but ultimately fell behind 5-7, 0-2 before retiring due to physical issues.

Despite the setback, Lehecka shared a message for his fans: "I'm sad I couldn't finish my match yesterday, but health must always be the priority. I need to undergo several tests to determine the exact nature of my left thigh injury," he posted.

"I'll do everything I can to be ready for the Doha tournament. In any case, it's always a pleasure to play here in Rotterdam, and I look forward to seeing you next year," wrote Lehecka on X.

The 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin's struggles continue as she suffers a first-round defeat at the Abu Dhabi Open, losing 3-6, 1-6 to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Kenin had made it through the tournament's qualifying rounds but couldn't advance in the main draw.

Kenin has not won a main draw match since January 7 at the Hobart Open, where she defeated Anna Blinkova 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. However, she lost in the tournament's Round of 16 to Maya Yoint 6-3, 6-1. Her next challenge will be at the WTA 250 ATX Open in Austin, starting on February 24.