Daily Dose of Social Media: Raducanu and Stephens grace Seoul Players Party, Alcaraz’s ‘naughtiest thing’ uncovered
Tennis News
Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and entertainment from ATP and WTA players. Carlos Alcaraz shared an interview with his brother Álvaro, revealing the ‘naughtiest thing’ that the world No. 3 has done.
Novak Djokovic showcased his language skills in a new video, dancing and singing in Bulgarian, while asking Grigor Dimitrov for his opinion. Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu, Sloane Stephens, and Beatriz Haddad Maia shone at the players' party in Seoul, as Mirra Andreeva selected two legends for her ‘dream doubles team’.
Djokovic dances and sings in Bulgarian
Novak
Djokovic shared a new video on his TikTok, where he sings and dances to a song
in Bulgarian. The current world No. 6 had a strong performance over the weekend
with Team Serbia in the Davis Cup, defeating Greece and advancing to the
tournament qualifiers. Djokovic will next compete on the Tour at the Shanghai
Masters starting September 30.
The Serbian
appeared to have fun while following the lyrics of the song from his phone,
once again showcasing his talent with languages. The 24-time Grand Slam
champion also captioned the video mentioning his colleague Grigor Dimitrov,
asking him to assess his singing skills and the new language he adds to his
multilingual abilities: “Heading to
Sofia, ready to perform 😆. Grigor do you approve?? #tennis #bulgaria
#vocals”
Rublev and Tiafoe open up on pre-match rituals
Andrey
Rublev and Frances Tiafoe shared a relaxed joint interview. The American
humorously revealed his pre-match ritual: "I definitely gotta take a
number two for every match," he laughed. "Then I gotta listen to the
same song before every match. Right now it’s Kendrick (Lamar), ‘Not Like
Us’."
On the
other hand, the Russian mentioned that, in contrast, he doesn’t listen to music
before matches: "I tried it in the past, and I felt I wasn’t in the right
mindset. It’s all personal; it’s whatever works for you."
Rublev and
Tiafoe demonstrated their great relationship off the court. Their rivalry on
the Tour favors the American 3-1, with Tiafoe winning their most recent
encounter at the DC Open in early August, as well as two victories at the US
Open (2021 and 2022). Rublev's win came at the 2022 Indian Wells.
WTA Stars shine at Seoul Players Party before Korea Open
Several WTA
stars attended the Seoul Players Party ahead of the WTA 500 Korea Open. The
tournament will feature an interesting draw despite several last-minute
absences, including Emma Raducanu, Daria Kasatkina, Liudmila Samsonova, and
Amanda Anisimova.
Some of the
players attended the players' party, including former US Open champion Emma
Raducanu, Sloane Stephens, and Brazilian star Beatriz Haddad Maia. The
tournament has already concluded its first day with the opening four matches of
the first round, including victories for Heather Watson and Veronika
Kudermetova.
First look to the Arena for WTA Finals in Riyadh
A photo
shared on social media shows for first time the Arena for the WTA Finals in
Riyadh. The picture reveals a futsal court (which will be adapted for tennis),
but what's more striking is the size of the stadium, as it seems part of the
audience will be quite far from the court. This is the first time the Finals
will be held in Riyadh, so there are no clear indications of how the space will
be adapted for the players.
So far,
only Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek have qualified. Wimbledon champion Barbora
Krejcikova (10th) is practically guaranteed a spot despite not being in the top
8, as Grand Slam champions only need to finish the year in the top 20 to
qualify.
Currently,
other players in the qualification zone include Elena Rybakina, Jasmine
Paolini, and the American contingent of Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Emma
Navarro. The tournament will be held from November 2nd, featuring the season's
top 8 players.
Alcaraz brothers’ interview delights with funny childhood incident
Carlos
Alcaraz gave a fun interview with his brother Álvaro Alcaraz. Both tried to
show how well they know each other by answering questions such as their
brother’s favorite food or social media platform.
Álvaro
answered the question about "the naughtiest thing that Carlitos did"
and recalled a funny childhood anecdote: “We were at our grandpa’s house one
day when my parents were away, and we couldn’t think of anything else to do,”
he began. “My grandma had made popcorn and we threw it at my grandpa. (He said)
stop now, but we carried on throwing it at him until he got up, took off his
belt, and we had to go and hide under the bed, as Carlitos was in the
wardrobe.”
Andreeva picks her Top Tennis Cards: Sharapova and Venus among favourites
Mirra
Andreeva had fun picking out her new Topps Chrome Tennis cards. The collectible
cards are now on sale for fans, and Andreeva promoted them while choosing her
favorite WTA players for her own collection.
The
teenager got a card of her sister, Erika Andreeva, and then selected from a
deck of cards the American players Madison Keys and Venus Williams. The world
No. 23 also chose her dream doubles team, featuring two legendary Grand Slam
champions: her compatriot Maria Sharapova and Switzerland's Martina Hingis. You
can check out the rest of Andreeva's picks in the video shared by the
Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).
Swiatek congratulates Frech on her first WTA title
Iga Swiatek
congratulated her compatriot Magdalena Frech after she conquered her first WTA
title in Guadalajara. The world No. 1 closely followed the achievement of her
26-year-old compatriot, who this weekend claimed her first WTA title, and not
just any title, but a WTA 500.
Frech had
her best week in Guadalajara, defeating Olivia Gadecki in the final, which
allowed her to break into the top 40 for the first time in her career. Mexican
tournaments seem to suit Polish players well, as just a year ago in Cancun,
Swiatek claimed the title at the WTA Finals.
The 5-time
Grand Slam champion took to social media to congratulate Frech on her new
achievement, as she became the 4th Polish female player to win a title this
century, joining Magda Linette, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Swiatek herself.
Read also
Tommy Paul takes time off in Florida
Tommy Paul
updated fans on his recent days enjoying Florida's city life. The world No. 13
made his last appearance on the Tour at the US Open, where he reached the
fourth round but lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Paul was
expected to arrive in Berlin this week to play in the Laver Cup, but he became
a last-minute withdrawal from Team World, along with Alex De Minaur, both due
to injury. They were replaced by Francisco Cerundolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
This gives
Paul a few extra days off before returning to competition on September 23 in
Tokyo. In his last days in the US, the 27-year-old player enjoyed sailing along
the Florida coast.
Kontaveit announces birth of first child
Former
world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit shared on social media the birth of her first
child. The Estonian player retired a year ago after Wimbledon due to a chronic
back injury that prevented her from competing at the highest level, ending her
career at just 27 years old.
In May of
this year, Kontaveit announced that she was expecting her first child with her
partner, Estonian footballer Brent Lepistu. This time, the former tennis player
shared a photo a week after the birth of her son and received congratulations
from several of her colleagues, including Ons Jabeur, Sabine Lisicki, and
Shelby Rogers.
“First week
with our Leon Enzo Lepistu ❤️ So much love 🥰”
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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