Daily Dose of Social Media: Tsitsipas mocks Badosa's training video, Sabalenka’s best moments in the season

Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. Aryna Sabalenka celebrated finishing the year as World No. 1 with a recap video of the best moments of the year off the court. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner’s match was attended by several Italian stars, including his colleague Jasmine Paolini.

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek traveled to Malaga and was welcomed at the airport by a Spanish legend as she prepares for the Billie Jean King Cup Final. She will face Paula Badosa, who was recently seen training in a video and received playful teasing from her boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Paolini, Chiellini and more: Italian stars gather for Jannik Sinner’s match

Jannik Sinner's debut at the ATP Finals captivated local fans as he took the court for the first time in Italy as World No. 1. The 2-time Grand Slam champion delivered an impressive performance, defeating Alex De Minaur 6-3, 6-4 to start the tournament on the right foot. Among the spectators were some notable tennis figures, including Lorenzo Sonego (World No. 53) and Flavio Cobolli (World No. 32), who came to support their Davis Cup teammate.

It wasn't just them, as World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini was also in the crowd just days before her participation in the WTA Finals. The 28-year-old had an outstanding year, reaching the finals at Wimbledon and the French Open, and winning the most significant title of her career at the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The crowd also included former Italian footballer Giorgio Chiellini, a legend of Juventus and the Italian national team.

Read also

Daily Dose of Social Media: Medvedev’s daughter’s heartfelt moment, Djokovic appears at Shapovalov’s trophy ceremony

Naomi Osaka shines at star-studded gala in Los Angeles

Naomi Osaka attended the Baby2Baby Gala alongside notable celebrities in Los Angeles. Among the guests were singer Katy Perry, model Heidi Klum, and actresses Jessica Alba, Charlize Theron, and Jennifer Garner in a star-studded evening aimed at raising funds for children in poverty.

The event is also a significant fashion showcase, with attendees wearing their best outfits on the red carpet, where former World No. 1 Osaka also made an appearance. She shared photos of her look on social media, wearing a Louis Vuitton ensemble.

The 4-time Grand Slam champion ended her season early in early October after sustaining an injury during the China Open. Osaka had advanced to the round of 16 and was facing Coco Gauff, but a lower back injury forced her to withdraw as she prepared to play the third set (6-3, 4-6). The Japanese star finishes the season ranked World No. 69 and will return to the court in 2025, aiming for the Australian Open.

Read also

Tournament Centre ATP Finals 2024: Schedule, all results, Prize Money, Draw and TV Guide

Sabalenka’s best moments from her stellar 2024 Season

Despite her semifinal loss at the WTA Finals, Aryna Sabalenka has much to celebrate after completing the best season of her career. The Belarusian finishes the year with an impressive 56-14 record and four titles, including the Australian Open and US Open. Additionally, she regained the World No. 1 ranking at the end of the season, ending Iga Swiatek’s streak of 50 consecutive weeks at the top and finishing the year as the No. 1 player for the first time.

Sabalenka recently shared a video on social media recapping the highlights of her season, featuring training moments, her trophies, and some celebrations off the court with her team, her boyfriend, and her fans. “Looking back on an incredible 2024 season 🫶,” she posted. “I’m beyond grateful for the amazing team that’s been with me every step of the way. From facing challenges to celebrating victories and everything in between. Excited to see what next season has in store 💪 #TeamTiger.”

Tsitsipas playfully mocks Badosa's training as she prepares for Billie Jean King Cup

Paula Badosa is hard at work preparing for the Billie Jean King Cup, which starts in a week in Malaga. Team Spain will face a tough challenge against Poland, and Badosa will be tasked with facing World No. 2 Iga Swiatek.

The Spanish Tennis Federation recently shared a video of the former Indian Wells champion practicing her forehand from the baseline on the Central Court. The video was reposted by her boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas, who jokingly mocked, "Did you know that you don't have to pay tolls to get close to the net? 🙃"

"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Stefane Stefane…. 👀" Badosa replied. Soon after, she shared a picture of herself from the same practice, attempting a backhand volley at the net.

Tsitsipas is currently in Turin, waiting for a possible spot in the ATP Finals, as he is the second alternate, just behind Grigor Dimitrov. If any of the eight qualifiers is injured during the round-robin phase, alternates could replace them on court.

Read also

Frustrated Medvedev discusses emotions after loss to Fritz at ATP Finals opener: "I expect nothing"

Swiatek joins Team Poland for Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Iga Swiatek isn’t calling it a year despite her early exit from the WTA Finals; she quickly traveled to Malaga to compete in the Billie Jean King Cup with Team Poland. The 5-time Grand Slam champion landed at Costa del Sol Airport, where she was welcomed by tournament director and Spanish tennis legend Conchita Martinez.

Initially, the 23-year-old player did not appear on the official roster of Captain Dawid Celt, although, a few weeks later, Swiatek herself confirmed her participation in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The Polish team also includes Magdalena Frech (No. 24), Magda Linette (No. 38), Maja Chwalinska (No. 165), and Katarzyna Kawa (No. 93 doubles ranking). Poland will face Spain in the first round, with Swiatek set to face none other than Paula Badosa as the top singles players for each country.