Rune shares "super difficult" steps after surgery, Sabalenka signs Jimmy Fallon’s forehead, while Federer watches beloved FC Basel

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, Aryna Sabalenka once again stole the spotlight during her time in the USA. Ahead of the "Battle of the Sexes," she made a fun appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she shared a hilarious moment signing the renowned host's forehead.

Meanwhile, Holger Rune shared fresh details on his recovery process following Achilles tendon surgery, while Roger Federer was spotted enjoying his team FC Basel’s latest Europa League match against the Premier League's Aston Villa.

Aryna Sabalenka appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss her upcoming date with Nick Kyrgios in the new edition of the "Battle of the Sexes." The WTA World No. 1 stated she feels comfortable in the days leading up to the match and has nothing to lose.

The popular American show has hosted some of the biggest figures in entertainment, and this time the tennis superstar joined the list, sharing a hilarious moment where she actually signed the renowned host’s forehead.

The 4-time major champion made the most of her time in New York following her exhibition match against Naomi Osaka at Madison Square Garden. She returned to The Tonight Show—which she previously visited last September, just a day after claiming her second US Open title by defeating local star Amanda Anisimova.

Holger Rune continues to show signs of progress in his recovery from the Achilles tendon injury that forced him to undergo surgery. The Dane shared a video on social media of his progress, showing him walking slowly again—a significant step forward in his rehabilitation process.

The former World No. 4 faces a long road to recovery with no clear return date yet. A surgery of this magnitude can easily keep a player out for 6 to 9 months, and it wouldn't be surprising if he missed the entire 2026 season. Regardless, Rune has no time to lose and is continuing his slow preparation to return to the courts following the serious injury sustained during the Stockholm Open late in the season.

“The end of phase 2 is getting closer, 7.5 weeks since surgery. The boot is slowly getting off and transition to walking in shoes with elevation has begun. It’s super difficult to walk 🤪 but I kind of get a kick out of the challenge 🦾 enjoy your weekend everyone.”

Roger Federer was in the stands for the latest Europa League clash involving his boyhood club, FC Basel, who faced off against Premier League side Aston Villa on Thursday.

The Swiss side hosted the match at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, with the 20-time Grand Slam champion—a well-known supporter of the team—watching from the VIP box. Unfortunately for Federer, the home advantage wasn't enough, as his team ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat to the visitors.

It was a busy news day for the Swiss legend, as he also confirmed his participation in the upcoming Australian Open Opening Ceremony. He is set to join Andre Agassi for a star-studded doubles exhibition against local heroes Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt, marking the first time the Grand Slam will hold a dedicated opening day event.

Some players are already hard at work preparing for the 2026 season. This time, it was Americans Sebastian Korda and Sofia Kenin who shared photos of their training days ahead of the upcoming Australian swing. Both have been pegged as major talents of their generation but have been complicated by injuries; now, both Americans are looking to return to their peak form in 2026, and the Australian summer could be the ideal stage to reset at the start of the season.

This is particularly true for former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. Currently World No. 28, she has secured a seeded spot for the first Grand Slam of the year and will look to pull off another surprise in Melbourne. Although she has been away from the headlines recently, there is little doubt regarding Kenin’s potential—a player who just a few years ago claimed her first major title and subsequently reached the Roland Garros final on clay.

While recent years have been tricky for Kenin, a solid 2025 allowed her to finish the year inside the top 30, granting her seeded status for upcoming major tournaments—an incentive that will help her face more manageable draws early in the season.

On the men's side, Sebastian Korda is another who has tumbled down the rankings, currently sitting at No. 48. The 25-year-old finished the season on a high note by reaching the semifinals of the Hellenic Championships in Athens, showing real progress in the final stretch of the year. The American was out of competition for nearly three months mid-season, which took a toll on his ranking. He is now preparing at full speed to kick off 2026, considering that during the second week of January, he has a significant amount of points to defend from the Adelaide International final he reached this year.