Daily Dose of Social Media: Paula Badosa ‘forgives’ Aryna Sabalenka after receiving her promised gift, De Minaur responds to Boulter’s lighthearted take on marriage
Tennis News
Aryna Sabalenka kept her promise to Paula Badosa by giving her a jewel to forgive her for eliminating her at the Australian Open. In a new Daily Dose of Social Media we also review the funny game starring Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz.
Meanwhile, Katie Boulter joked with her fiancé Alex De Minaur about getting married and having children, alluding to Belinda Bencic's recent Abu Dhabi Open title, on the other hand Serena Williams shared some family photos on her social networks.
Alcaraz and Medvedev take on fun ‘In or Out’ challenge in Rotterdam
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev took part in a fun challenge during media day at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. In a video shared by the ATP Tour and the tournament’s official social media accounts, both players played a game of ‘In or Out,’ deciding between different categories, some related to tennis and others not.
Medvedev was eliminated in the Round of 16 after a surprising loss to Italy’s Mattia Bellucci, who staged an upset with a 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory. Bellucci became the tournament’s biggest surprise, reaching the semifinals before falling to Alex De Minaur.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the final after defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the semis. The Spaniard will now compete in his first-ever indoor hardcourt final, facing De Minaur this Sunday for the ABN AMRO Open title.
Sabalenka keeps her promise to Badosa
Aryna Sabalenka fulfilled the promise she made to her close friend Paula Badosa back at the Australian Open. The Belarusian and the Spaniard faced off in the semi-finals of the year’s first Grand Slam, with Badosa chasing her first Grand Slam final and Sabalenka aiming to defend the title she had won in the previous two editions.
Sabalenka claimed victory 6-4, 6-2, eliminating her friend. Both took the match result with good humour, and Sabalenka joked after the win: “I hope she’s still my friend. I’m sure she hates me for the next—I don’t know—hour, day, or two,” she said. “I promised Paula we’d go shopping, and I’ll pay for whatever she wants.”
On the other hand, Badosa made it clear she expected a gift from the world No. 1. “It’s going to be something really expensive because now I think she doubled the prize money,” she said. “So I think she won’t have a problem with that. I’ll think about it.”
In a video posted on social media, Badosa is seen receiving a bracelet, which completely delighted the Spaniard. She playfully gestured that there was no bad blood between them and "forgave" Sabalenka, putting the situation behind them.
Aryna Sabalenka kept her promise to Paula Badosa.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 8, 2025
After beating her at the Australian Open, Aryna said she’d get her a gift.
Paula said it would be something very expensive. 😂
(via Aryna’s IG) pic.twitter.com/lkLXZGPC7n
Additionally, the 3-time Grand Slam champion shared an Instagram post featuring snapshots of her routine: “Chill, play, repeat 🫶🏼,” she wrote, alongside photos from the gym and the tennis court.
Sabalenka’s next challenge will be at the Doha Open this week, where she will be the first seed and aim to reclaim the title she won back in 2020 by defeating Petra Kvitova in the final. The Belarusian will be looking to end Swiatek’s dominance in Qatar, as the Polish star has claimed three consecutive titles there (2022-2024).
Serena Williams shares heartfelt family moments with father Richard
Serena Williams shared a video along with some family photos with her father Richard Williams, husband Alexis Ohanian and daughters Olympia and Adira. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, retired since 2022, combines her family life with her life as an entrepreneur and investor in dozens of companies, focusing on innovation, sports and women.
The former world No. 1 still makes some sporadic appearances on social networks and this time with her father and former coach Richard, who has always been pointed out by both her and her sister Venus Williams as one of the keys to her success from an early age.
“Any ideas to share?” – De Minaur responds to Boulter’s Grand Slam-marriage comparison
Katie Boulter compared winning a Grand Slam to getting married, prompting a hilarious response from her fiancé, Alex De Minaur. The British No. 1 announced her engagement to the Australian during the off-season after several years of dating, though they haven’t publicly revealed their wedding date.
Boulter shared a thought-provoking post on social media, comparing marriage and having children to winning tennis titles. “Get married = win slam. Have a baby = win 500,” she posted, to which De Minaur responded humorously: “You got any ideas you wanna share with me??? 😅😂”
The Brit was actually referencing Belinda Bencic’s recent WTA 500 title at the Abu Dhabi Open, where the Swiss player triumphed over Ashlyn Krueger. Bencic recently returned to the Tour after nearly a year away due to maternity leave. Boulter was also alluding to Madison Keys, the newly crowned Australian Open champion, who tied the knot just a few months ago with her former colleague and current coach, Bjorn Fratangelo.
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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