Fabio Fognini shines on "Dancing with the Stars", Norrie’s South American adventure as Vekic’s off-season grind

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we take a look at how the stars of the ATP and WTA tours are gearing up for the upcoming 2026 season. From intense training blocks to exhibition matches across the globe, the players are making the most of their final days off.

We cover Joao Fonseca’s preparations in Brazil after his breakout year, Cameron Norrie’s unique pre-season in South America, and the "Last Dance" vibes from legends like Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils. Plus, we check in on Fabio Fognini’s impressive run on the dance floor and Nick Kyrgios’s triumph in India.

Joao Fonseca was one of the sensations of the 2025 season. After reaching the top 25 and winning two ATP-level titles in his first full season at the top level, the Brazilian—and 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals champion—opted to skip the U-20 tournament to continue working on his off-season. He is currently training in Brazil alongside fellow Brazilian No. 3, 25-year-old Joao Lucas Reis da Silva (current world No. 203).

Fonseca will return to the courts at the Brisbane International, where he will be the 6th seed, joining players like Daniil Medvedev, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Denis Shapovalov. Fonseca will then travel to the Adelaide International before his return to the Australian Open—where he had a great performance in 2025, achieving his first top-10 win by beating Andrey Rublev to start the season.

Donna Vekic is another player hard at work during the off-season ahead of a new year on Tour. She shared a carousel of photos from her preparation days, showing training sessions with her team as she gets ready for the season start. The Paris 2024 silver medalist hopes to return to her best level and recover positions in the rankings, kicking off her season at the ASB Classic in Auckland. This will be her only tournament prior to traveling to Melbourne for the first major of the year, the Australian Open.

Cameron Norrie wrapped up his off-season in Argentina after opting for a unique trip to South America to take advantage of the summer climate—similar to that of Australia—to prepare for the 2026 season with his technical team. The Brit was confirmed for the "Road to Australia" exhibition tournament alongside great South American tennis stars, but feared he had to withdraw due to an injury, keeping his work in Argentina behind closed doors. The 30-year-old finished the year as world No. 27 and will once again have a seeded spot at a Grand Slam in Australia.

"Two weeks flew by ⚡️ it was a pleasure to share the passion with the locals 🇦🇷 continuing with the same energy in the new year. Thanks to everyone for making us feel at home here 🥩 ☕️☀️🌅🧉," posted the Brit in Spanish, receiving a reply from none other than 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu: "So happy I read the caption without pressing translate."

Italian Fabio Fognini, who ended his tennis career at Wimbledon this year after losing in the first round to Carlos Alcaraz, had a great performance participating in the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars, taking third place in the TV contest.

"We lived up to the titles of this crazy adventure. It wasn't just dancing, it was a journey within myself. I discovered a new Fabio, took off my armor, and faced challenges that, I swear, seemed impossible to overcome at first," he shared. "A huge thank you to teacher Giada who guided me step by step, enduring my stiffness and transforming it into energy. Thanks to my wife @flaviapennetta82: if I threw myself into this challenge it is only because she believed in it even before I did. ❤️ And thanks to you... your affection literally overwhelmed me and gave me the strength to get here. I carry you all in my heart."

The 3-time Grand Slam champion continues his intense off-season work after recently announcing on social media that he will retire this season. The 40-year-old player—known for his one-handed backhand—did not give clear dates regarding his retirement, although we can expect him to say goodbye playing the most important tournaments of his career, likely including action in the three Grand Slam tournaments he won: the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and the US Open.

The Swiss legend, recognized for being one of the biggest challengers to the Big-3's dominance, will start his season at the upcoming United Cup. There, he will be the leader of Team Switzerland, as well as the team captain, joining Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Belinda Bencic.

"Sunday in the lab. No excuses allowed 🧪🏃🏻🏐🏋🏻‍♀️🎳💙🖤," he posted alongside photos in the gym amidst his training before traveling to Perth.

Gael Monfils is another veteran anticipating his retirement in the 2026 season. He spent the last few days enjoying tennis at an exhibition in Bengaluru, India: the World Tennis League. He joined Paula Badosa to reach the final with his team, but they ended up falling on December 20th against the team of Marta Kostyuk and Nick Kyrgios.

"A great competition, an amazing energy, simple but strong feelings. Coming back to India after a few years really made me happy 😃. There’s always something special here.✨," posted the French former world No. 6.

Australian Nick Kyrgios—former Wimbledon runner-up—also shared snapshots from his time in Bengaluru, which marked yet another appearance in his off-season exhibitions. The former world No. 13 is preparing for one last exhibition in the "Battle of the Sexes" against Aryna Sabalenka, to be held in Dubai in a week.

He will then return to the courts officially at the Brisbane International, where he received a wildcard from the organization. "man……. INDIA!!!!! YOUR ENERGY IS CRAZY 🇮🇳⚡️👑😤🙏🏽 WTL CHAMPIONS!!!! KITES 🪁," Kyrgios posted.