Daily Dose of Social Media: Sabalenka consoles Badosa after heartbreak, as Nadal sends warm greetings to LeBron James
Tennis News
In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, the women's semifinals stole the spotlight with Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys securing victories. The 2-time defending champion was seen consoling her close friend Paula Badosa and sharing laughs with her rival during their match.
Additionally, Madison Keys delivered an emotional reaction after defeating Iga Swiatek to become the surprise finalist of the Australian Open. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal shared a message for LeBron James on social media.
Tears of Joy: Keys overwhelmed after Australian Open semifinal victory
Madison Keys delivered an emotional reaction after her victory over Iga Swiatek in the Australian Open semifinals. The American advanced to her second Grand Slam final, eight years after her defeat in the 2017 US Open final.
Keys is in incredible form, holding an 11-0 record in 2025, including four wins over top-10 players. Her most recent triumph came in the semifinals, where she defeated second seed Iga Swiatek in a marathon match 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(10-8). The American overcame a match point when Swiatek was serving at 6-5 in the final set.
Few would have predicted Keys returning to a Grand Slam final at this stage, entering the tournament as the 19th seed and navigating past tough opponents like Elena Rybakina and Elina Svitolina. Upon securing victory against Swiatek, the 29-year-old was overwhelmed with emotion. She screamed, cried, and knelt at the centre of the court, taking in the joy of reaching her first Australian Open final.
Madison Keys’ reaction after beating Iga Swiatek to reach the Australian Open final.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 23, 2025
She bursts into tears.
Match point saved against the world #2.
This lady has had so many painful losses in Grand Slams.
No one deserves this more. 🥹
pic.twitter.com/jNkzGcW3bO
ALL THE FEELS 🥹 @Madison_Keys pic.twitter.com/YysMIXJcNu
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 23, 2025
Keys didn’t hide her own surprise at making it so far in the draw. Despite her undeniable abilities, her remarkable forehand, and the consistency she’s shown over the years, she was far from being one of the favourites to reach the final, where she will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The American left a message before leaving the court: “Oh my God,” she wrote on the camera lens.
Madison channeling everyone's thoughts right now.@Madison_Keys • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/CNlSsDxW7z
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2025
Iga Swiatek was seen in the players' area crying after her loss to Keys, while hugging her team members as she left the court. The Polish player missed the opportunity to play in her 6th Grand Slam final (with a 5-0 record in finals) and was also unable to regain the world No. 1 ranking, which Sabalenka will hold for at least a few more weeks.
Sabalenka’s kind gesture: Consoles Badosa after their Australian Open battle.
Aryna Sabalenka experienced mixed emotions after defeating her close friend Paula Badosa in the Australian Open semifinals. The world No. 1 advanced to the final once again, aiming for her third consecutive title at Melbourne Park. However, this time, she had to eliminate her close friend, the Spaniard Badosa, who achieved her best performance at a major by reaching her first semifinal.
In a fun moment during the match, at the start of the second set with Sabalenka serving, Badosa ended up on the floor after slipping during a rally. The Belarusian’s concern was evident from the first moment, but the Spaniard quickly signaled that everything was fine while laughing, and Sabalenka responded with a smile during a brief interruption of the game.
Badosa and Sabalenka are so unserious 😭 pic.twitter.com/PjbapvKFXB
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 23, 2025
"I hope she's still my friend," Aryna Sabalenka said during her on-court interview. "Probably she, I mean, she hates me for the next, I don't know, hour or a day too. I'm OK with that; I can handle that."
"And after that, I think we're back to being friends, back to going out together, shopping. Paula, we go shopping, and I pay for whatever you want," she added. "Maybe, you know, I hope she's gonna be still here, and we go shop. I'm gonna put a limit for her, you know, because she can go crazy."
After the match, a video surfaced on social media showing Sabalenka approaching Badosa in the warm-up zone while the Spaniard was sitting on the floor. The Belarusian didn’t hesitate to embrace her friend and share a few words with her. Both smiled, highlighting their strong relationship off the court.
Rafa Nadal welcomes LeBron James as Kia’s new ambassador
Rafael Nadal sent a greeting to LeBron James after it was confirmed that the NBA legend joined as an ambassador for one of the same sponsors as the 22-time Grand Slam champion. The legendary basketball player – one of the most prominent in NBA history – was announced as the face of Kia, signing a new multimillion-dollar deal with the car company to represent its luxury K900 model.
James joins Nadal, Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), and golfer Michelle Wie as part of the athletes associated with the Korean brand. Specifically, James will serve as the ambassador for the K900, the company’s luxury vehicle.
“👋🏼 @KingJames 👋🏼 Welcome to the @E1Series! See you soon 🌊! 💪🏼,” posted Rafa Nadal on Instagram, along with a video of the Los Angeles Lakers star.
👋🏼 @KingJames 👋🏼
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 23, 2025
Welcome to the @E1Series! See you soon 🌊! 💪🏼 https://t.co/P5HHqJml5z
Read also
Tsitsipas announces big surprise for fans
Stefanos Tsitsipas spoke about having a big surprise prepared for his fans as he gets ready for his upcoming challenges in the Middle East swing. The former World No. 3 was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open by American Alex Michelsen (5-7, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4), marking his second consecutive first-round exit at a major, something that hadn’t happened to him since 2019 at Wimbledon and the US Open.
As he prepares for his next tournaments at the Doha Open – featuring a star-studded draw including Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic – the 26-year-old Greek player announced a ‘surprise’ for his fans in the coming days during a training session.
“Today is my first practice here at the academy, and I’m working on some drills, working on some variations of play,” the former World No. 3 said.
“I’m getting started for my next tournament. I’ll be spending approximately three to four days here, and then I have a secret surprise for all of you, which will take place in about four days from now.”
“How may I say it? It’s not something that I’m used to, something that definitely doesn’t happen very often in my world, so in four days, we’ll find out,” the two-time Grand Slam finalist added. “Meanwhile, I’ll be practicing, getting ready for more tournaments to come, and then I’ll make sure I’m as ready as I can be for the next tournaments, which are going to take place in the Middle East,” he concluded.
What's next: big surprise in 4 days, then Doha and Dubai 🎾💪❤️ pic.twitter.com/w3KkbB87gJ
— Sunny 💚 (@SUNNY8X) January 23, 2025
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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