Daily Dose of Social Media: Putintseva under fire for rude behavior towards ball girl, Sabalenka enjoys Popyrin’s celebration
Tennis News
Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios shared a fun Q&A video together in which they chose who is more likely to and selected who has better shots.
Yulia Putintseva grabbed attention after a criticized attitude towards a ball girl in her last match against Jasmine Paolini, while Serena Williams was again at the US Open, this time watching her friend Grigor Dimitrov's victory over Andrey Rublev.
Aryna Sabalenka draws inspiration from Popyrin’s celebration
Aryna
Sabalenka seems to have found inspiration for a new celebration. The world No.
2 has advanced smoothly through the US Open and is awaiting her Round of 16
match against the 33rd seed Elise Mertens, whom she leads 7-2 in their
head-to-head and will seek her 25th victory in Flushing Meadows.
A video
shared on social media shows Sabalenka joking around in the workout room while
mimicking Alexei Popyrin's celebration after he defeated Novak Djokovic in the
third round of the tournament. The Belarusian was watching the match with her
team and seemed delighted by the Australian's celebration.
Osaka and Kyrgios reveal fun facts in joint Q&A Session
Naomi Osaka
and Nick Kyrgios participated in a fun joint game where both had to answer
questions about “who is more likely to,” while holding signs with each other's
faces. Both tennis players have shown their friendship off the court, as they
are co-owners of the Miami Pickleball Club and teamed up during Fan Week to
play mixed doubles. Additionally, Naomi’s agency, “Evolve,” represents Nick
Kyrgios for management.
While
Kyrgios remains a commentator for the tournament, Naomi was eliminated in the
second round by former French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova.
First, they
chose tennis aspects, where both agreed that Kyrgios has a better serve, but
Osaka is better from the forehand and is the most clutch. “Stats don’t lie,”
commented Kyrgios. Regarding who is ‘Most likely to smash a racquet,’ the
Japanese player didn’t hesitate to choose Kyrgios, although he jokingly said,
“that’s obviously Naomi.”
They also
answered questions like who is more likely to become a movie star or who would
be better as a karaoke singer. You can find the rest of the fun video here:
Putintseva Under Fire for Rude Behavior Towards Ball Girl
Yulia
Putintseva faced heavy criticism after her rude behavior towards a ball girl at
the US Open was revealed on social media. While playing against Jasmine Paolini
in the third round, the world No. 32 was serving when a ball kid threw her a
couple of balls, but the player did not pick them up.
After two
balls were thrown to her without her taking them, Putintseva reluctantly
grabbed the third ball and was booed by the crowd. The Kazakh player later had
to post an apology on social media, following widespread condemnation of her
behavior:
"I
want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was, when she was giving me
balls. Honestly speaking it was not about her. I was really pissed at myself by
not winning the game from the break point," Putintseva wrote on her
Instagram Story. "Got empty with my emotions and deep in my thoughts, that
I was not even focusing on what's going on and who gives me the ball... all the
ball kids were doing amazing as always at the Open," she added.
Serena Williams and Alicia Keys applaud Dimitrov’s five-set victory
Serena
Williams was the special guest for the match between Andrey Rublev and Grigor
Dimitrov at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 23-time Grand Slam champion was on her
second day visiting Flushing Meadows and closely watched her friend Dimitrov's
victory to reach the US Open quarterfinals.
The
legendary American tennis player sat next to singer Alicia Keys in the box, and
they showed their excitement when Dimitrov secured the tight five-set win
against the world No. 6.
After the
match, Dimitrov was asked: “There’s an old friend of yours in the stands.
Six-time US Open champion Serena Williams... do you get nervous?”
“For some
reason, not in front of her. She gave me a good pep talk yesterday,” Dimitrov
said with a smile, prompting a playful reaction from Serena in the audience.
Tsitsipas surprises fans with tennis fashion poll
Stefanos
Tsitsipas surprised his fans with a curious poll on his social media. The Greek
player has ended his participation in the US Open after an early first-round
defeat to Thanasi Kokkinakis in singles (6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7). Additionally, he
fell in the first round of mixed doubles with his girlfriend Paula Badosa
against the Mexican pair Giuliana Olmos and Santiago Gonzalez.
The former
world No. 3 posted on X the question: “Who do you think has the best tennis
fashion on the court?” with the options of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Nick
Kyrgios, and Alexander Zverev, where the Spanish player has so far been favored
by users.
Swiatek Reveals Her Favourite Modern Family and Friends Characters
Iga Swiatek talked about her fanatical admiration for the series Modern Family and Friends in her latest press conference. The Polish player advanced to the fourth round after defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (25th seed) 6-4, 6-2 and will face Liudmila Samsonova (16th) on Monday for a spot in the quarterfinals.
“I was watching Modern Family for the past few weeks but I was watching it too much in Cincinnati, probably, so I have to balance it,” Swiatek commented about her hobbies when she has free time.
When asked about her favorite character from the 11-season American series, she replied, “It changes every season, so I can't really say. It was easier with Friends than with Modern Family.” She then added, “I think Manny, for me, is the funniest one, yeah,” after a pause.
Not only that, but she also shared her favorite characters in Friends: “When I first watched it, it was Phoebe,” she said. “When I watched this for a second time, Monica.”
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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mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
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