Daily Dose of Social Media: Heartwarming scenes between Alcaraz and Nadal as Neymar visits Six Kings Slam

Friday, 18 October 2024 at 09:20

Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. In the midst of the Six Kings Slam, football star Neymar attended the tournament as a spectator and shared friendly moments with stars Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune. Meanwhile, a video of Alcaraz’s younger brother, Jaime, went viral on social media as comparisons with his brother spread.

On the other hand, Denis Shapovalov and Leylah Fernandez showed their fans how they’re enjoying their days off from competition, while Elina Svitolina took her first steps following foot surgery a month ago.

Jaime Alcaraz impresses with skills reminiscent of his brother Carlos

A video has surfaced on social media showcasing the impressive level of play from Carlos Alcaraz's younger brother, Jaime Alcaraz. At just 13 years old, Jaime is already drawing comparisons to the 4-time Grand Slam champion, especially in terms of playing style. The youngest of the four Alcaraz siblings has been dedicated to tennis for some time, and at his young age, some are already suggesting that he has the potential to reach a similar level as his older brother, who is 8 years his senior.

Jaime competes in the junior category and has had several opportunities to play against older opponents and even act as a sparring partner at some tournaments alongside his brother. The video was shared by journalist Marcos Zugasti, who posted footage of one of Jaime's training sessions. Recently, Jaime spoke with the Ecuadorian outlet Main Court and stated, "Being in the world top-50 would be great for me, but if I can do better, I'd be very happy, and just becoming a professional tennis player would make me thrilled."

Meanwhile, his brother, world No. 3, is currently competing in the Six Kings Slam, where he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and will face Jannik Sinner on Saturday in the final of the exhibition tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Read also

Tournament Centre Six Kings Slam 2024: Schedule, all results, Prize Money, Draw and TV Guide

Neymar bonds with Alcaraz and Rune at Six Kings Slam in Riyadh

Brazilian football star Neymar Junior attended the Six Kings Slam and spent time with Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune. The all-time top scorer for the Brazilian national team has been playing in Saudi Arabian football since 2023, with Al-Hilal Saudi F.C. Despite being sidelined with an injury, the 32-year-old Brazilian lives in Riyadh, where the tournament is taking place.

The former Barcelona player and Champions League winner shared a special message for Alcaraz, along with a set of photos showing the two laughing together, highlighting the good relationship between these global sports stars. Neymar posted: “Glad to see you, brother… you’re a phenomenon ❤️🙏🎾 @carlitosalcarazz,” and the 4-time Grand Slam champion replied, “Great brother! Happy to see you again 🙏🏻❤️.”

At the same time, Danish player Holger Rune also shared a photo with Neymar in the stands of The Venue, where the exhibition tournament is being held, in which both Alcaraz and Rune were key participants. Alcaraz notably defeated the Dane in their opening match, eliminating him from the competition.

Read also

Tournament Centre Ningbo Open 2024: Schedule, all results, Prize Money, Draw and TV Guide

Golfing break for Shapovalov as he prepares for Basel Open

Denis Shapovalov shared a video playing golf while enjoying some time off at the end of the season. The World No. 94 has been fighting to climb back up the rankings over the past year following a long injury absence, though his ranking hasn’t helped him secure direct entries into tournaments.

Nevertheless, the Canadian has received some wildcards that have allowed him to avoid playing in qualifiers or Challenger tournaments despite his ranking. The former Wimbledon semifinalist will compete from Monday at the Basel Open, where he’ll be in the same draw as stars like Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Holger Rune.

Svitolina takes first steps post-surgery

Elina Svitolina has updated her fans once again after undergoing surgery a few weeks ago. The former World No. 3 played her last tournament at the US Open, where she reached the third round and lost to defending champion Coco Gauff. The Ukrainian then decided to end her season and underwent surgery. "Unfortunately, my 2024 season is already in the past, as I underwent foot surgery today to correct a long-standing issue I've been trying to manage throughout this year."

A year earlier, she had already ended her season prematurely due to the same injury in her right foot. Earlier in the season, Svitolina had also reported lower back pain. This time, however, she shared positive news as she took her first steps a month after the surgery with the help of crutches.

“I just had my first steps 🐾 and wanted to share this moment with you, two screws 🔩🔩🔧and all! 🥹🫶🏻💪🏼,” she captioned.

Read also

Ruud declines Saudi's tennis invitation: a stand or a decision?

Leylah Fernandez dances her way through Tokyo

Leylah Fernandez shared a new video on Instagram showing off her dance moves in Tokyo. The 2021 US Open runner-up was one of the confirmed stars for the Japan Open in Osaka and was set to debut last Sunday against Clara Tauson. However, she decided to withdraw due to physical discomfort.

Nevertheless, the Canadian hasn't finished her Asian Swing just yet, as she will compete this week at the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan. While preparing for her penultimate tournament, Fernandez is also taking time to have fun. With her characteristic joy, she shared a video with her fans playing on a dance pad and showing off her moves to the rhythm of the music. It's not the first time Fernandez has shown her love for this type of video game on social media.

Nadal shows football skills and smiles during emotional return to court

Rafael Nadal returned to the court this Thursday at the Six Kings Slam, an exhibition tournament where he faced Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is preparing for his retirement in a few weeks when he will compete in the Davis Cup Finals with Team Spain, which will be his last official competition.

It’s the first time Nadal has played a match in front of an audience since definitively announcing his retirement at the end of the season. The legendary Spanish tennis player received a remarkable reception from the local crowd and didn’t hesitate to reciprocate with great attitude before and after the match, entertaining fans with his football skills.

Nadal handed out several balls to the crowd and was all smiles on the court. In the match against Alcaraz, the 21-year-old also paid tribute to one of his idols, creating a heartwarming moment with the embrace they shared at the net after an intense match, which ended in victory for the young star.