Daily Dose of Social Media: Mirra Andreeva draws strength from LeBron James and shares heartfelt hug with Conchita Martinez

In our latest "Daily Dose of Social Media," all eyes were on Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva, who revealed that she drew inspiration from none other than legendary basketball player LeBron James. She also showcased her strong relationship with her coach, Conchita Martínez, in an emotional hug.

Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz recalled the bee invasion incident that took place in 2024 and shared behind-the-scenes details with several of the people involved. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka shared her lessons on motherhood.

Andreeva channels LeBron James to conquer Indian Wells

A few weeks ago, Mirra Andreeva revealed in Dubai that she had listened to LeBron James interviews for inspiration ahead of the final against Clara Tauson, where she ultimately claimed the title and became the youngest player to win a WTA 1000 tournament. "I’ve been listening to a lot of LeBron James interviews, and he said that it’s easy to be confident and play well when everything goes your way, but what makes you a champion is when you’re giving your best even when you don’t feel great. So that’s what I tried to do today."

This time, after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final — her second WTA 1000 title and 12th consecutive victory — she told Tennis Channel that before facing the world No. 1, she once again watched a LeBron James speech: "He was saying that even if you don’t play your hundred percent and even if you don’t feel like you’re at your 100% physically, I’m gonna choose to be 100% mentally. And he said that’s what makes champions."

The teenager also experienced a special moment after winning the title when she went to greet her family and team. After hugging her mother, she shared an emotional embrace with her coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez. Andreeva and her coach have repeatedly shown their strong relationship off the court and mutual appreciation, with the Russian player not hesitating to credit Martinez for her recent success.

Naomi Osaka opens up about motherhood and lessons from her daughter

Recently, Naomi Osaka shared a unique lesson her daughter teaches her every day. In a conversation with Elaina Jowdy, featured on Overtime Tennis’s Instagram account, The former world No. 1 commented: "Something I’ve learned recently from my daughter is communication and boundaries,”

Luego agregó “she loves the word ‘No.’ I’ll ask if she wants something, and she’ll say no. ‘Do you want to go here?’ No. ‘Do you want some fruit?’ No. She knows exactly what she wants."

Shai’s arrival has been a source of joy for Osaka, who often brings her daughter to watch her matches from the sidelines. This was seen in 2024 during Osaka’s return to the BNP Paribas Open — her first tournament as a mother. Calling it her "home tournament," Osaka brought Shai along for the first time, beautifully blending her new role as a mum with her passion for tennis.

The four-time Grand Slam champion had an early exit in Indian Wells, losing in the first round to Colombia’s Camila Osorio. Her next challenge will be the Miami Open, where she will debut against a qualifier. If she advances, she will face the 24th seed, Liudmila Samsonova.

Behind the scenes of 2024 Indian Wells’ Bee Drama

One of the strangest moments of the 2024 season was undoubtedly the bee invasion at Stadium 1 in Indian Wells. In the middle of the California desert, the match was interrupted due to a swarm of bees that entered the court at the start of the clash between Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. The Spanish star admitted he had around 40 bees swarming around him and even got stung on the forehead.

After a 45-minute delay, beekeeper Lance Davis entered the court to ensure the players’ safety and successfully removed the bees, allowing the match to resume. Alcaraz eventually defeated Zverev and advanced to the quarter-finals.

In a recent BNP Paribas Open video, all the key figures involved shared details about the behind-the-scenes of this bizarre incident.

Djokovic rubs shoulders with stars in Miami before return

Novak Djokovic enjoyed a star-studded night out in Miami, attending a party where he posed for photos with big names, including singer Marc Anthony and actresses Jessica Alba and Eva Longoria.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is gearing up for his return to the courts at the Miami Open after a disappointing run in Indian Wells, where he suffered a first-round loss to Botic van de Zandschulp (2-6, 6-3, 1-6).

The Serbian star has been struggling in 2025, with back-to-back first-match defeats in both the Qatar Open and Indian Wells. Now, he is in Miami, a tournament where he has won six titles in 13 appearances, including a three-peat from 2014 to 2016.

Djokovic will once again have Andy Murray as his coach after his early exit in Tennis Paradise. The Serbian revealed that Murray will be with him throughout the clay swing, and he hopes to keep him on his team at least until Wimbledon, which takes place in the first two weeks of July.

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