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Daily Dose of Social Media: Murray embraces Halloween with hilarious costume, Sabalenka and Swiatek team up on TikTok
Tennis NewsThursday, 31 October 2024 at 23:30
Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. Andy Murray stole the spotlight with his hilariously clown costume to celebrate Halloween, just like Coco Gauff, who embodied one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are having fun together as they await the WTA Finals, after sharing a TikTok video that dazzled fans.
Murray keeps fans laughing post-retirement with funny Halloween look
Andy Murray shared a humorous post on social media with his Halloween costume. The 3-time Grand Slam champion has always been known for his great sense of humor, and since his retirement a few months ago, he has been keeping his fans updated through social media.
This time, Murray posted a funny photo dressed as a clown: “Hope you are all enjoying Halloween 🎃 as much as me 😐,” he wrote. It wasn’t just the costume that caught attention but also his ironically serious expression, as many wondered if Murray has now chosen a new career off the court.
The former world No. 1 announced his retirement earlier this season, which became official at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he partnered with Dan Evans and reached the quarterfinals. For his farewell, Murray couldn’t compete in singles, as he wasn’t at 100% physically due to an injury sustained at the Queen's Club Championships.
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College students pick WTA Finals winner
A fun video from Tennis Channel shows college students' picks for the winner of the WTA Finals. Most of those interviewed didn’t recognize the eight participants, so their choices were largely based on who had a “champion’s face.”
The favorite among students was Aryna Sabalenka, noted for her “fierce,” “motivated,” and “serious” expression. Nevertheless, some students could slightly identify certain players, with other popular picks including defending champion Iga Swiatek, 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff, and Gold Medalist Zheng Qinwen.
The tournament will kick off this Saturday in Riyadh with a new showdown between Zheng and Sabalenka. The Belarusian leads the head-to-head 4-0, including two matches in recent months and the Australian Open final earlier this season. This will be another chance for the Chinese player to secure a win, especially after taking her first set against Sabalenka in the Wuhan final. Given her strong current form, Zheng is expected to challenge Sabalenka.
Coco Gauff brings Deadpool to life
Coco Gauff delighted fans by showing off her Halloween costume all the way from Riyadh. The world No. 3 appeared on social media dressed as Deadpool, the Marvel superhero known from movies and comics. With a red suit, tall boots, and even Deadpool's mask, Gauff posed in multiple photos and even shared a video of herself dancing in the costume.
The 20-year-old is preparing for her third WTA Finals, where she reached the semifinals last year. Gauff will face world No. 6 Jessica Pegula in her first match, a rematch of their 2023 Finals encounter, in which Pegula claimed victory. The two Americans share a group with 5-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Paris Masters Quiz: ATP Stars test their champion knowledge
As the final Masters 1000 of the year unfolds, ATP stars took on a challenge to name as many players as possible who have won the title at Paris-Bercy. Over 52 editions, the tournament has seen a total of 38 different singles champions since 1968.
Some players who stood out for their tennis history knowledge included local favorites Ugo Humbert and Richard Gasquet, as well as the 2020 runner-up Alexander Zverev. The video also featured stars like the 2022 champion Holger Rune, Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Taylor Fritz.
The tournament has now reached the quarterfinal stage, with the surprising elimination of Carlos Alcaraz at the hands of Humbert. The Frenchman represents the home crowd’s hope for another French champion, the last being Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2008 when he defeated defending champion David Nalbandian from Argentina.
Friendly Rivals? Sabalenka and Swiatek team Up on TikTok ahead of WTA Finals
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are arguably the most prominent rivalry in recent years in the WTA, though they seem to have a good relationship off the court, as shown in a TikTok video they filmed together after a training session ahead of the WTA Finals.
The world No. 1 and world No. 2 are the tournament's top seeds, starting in favored groups, with the ongoing battle to finish the year at the top of the rankings. Sabalenka currently has the edge with a lead of just over 1,000 points and a maximum of 1,500 points available for the champion. Swiatek currently leads their head-to-head 8-4, though Sabalenka has won 2 of their last 3 WTA Finals meetings between 2021 and 2023.
“A different type of serve tonight 😉 @iga.swiatek” posted Sabalenka on her TikTok account, capturing fans’ attention with over 100,000 likes for the two top players of recent years.
Bencic returns to competition after maternity break
Belinda Bencic returned to the courts to compete in a W75 tournament at the Hamburg Open, marking her comeback to the Tour after more than a year. Her last tournament was in September 2023 at the San Diego Open, where she fell in the first round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich (3-6, 6-3, 6-2). The Tokyo 2020 gold medalist took a break in 2023 to become a mother to her first daughter, Bella, who was born back in April, six months ago.
The 27-year-old Swiss not only made her return but did so with a remarkable win over 22-year-old Julia Avdeeva (ranked No. 238) by 6-3, 6-1, although she lost in the second round to 24-year-old Anatasia Kulikova (ranked No. 298) with a score of 3-6, 4-6.
On social media, Bencic thanked her supporters for their encouragement during the tournament, and images show the former world No. 4 training in Hamburg, hitting shots from the baseline.
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