Rybakina receives Presidential honor, Alcaraz meets Juventus star, while Badosa shares emotional update

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, the celebrations for Elena Rybakina's WTA Finals title in Riyadh continue. Besides posting her thanks and photos on social media, she received a tribute from the President of Kazakhstan, who announced a special decoration for the 26-year-old tennis player.

Meanwhile, the ATP Finals have begun, with Carlos Alcaraz among the protagonists, who had an encounter with a well-known Juventus star. Furthermore, Lorenzo Musetti and Casper Ruud are already training in Turin, while Diana Shnaider posted her own photo carousel after her time in Riyadh alongside Mirra Andreeva.

Paula Badosa shared a heartfelt reflection on social media after a tough season marked—once again—by injuries. The former World No. 2—who had been absent from the Tour for six months in 2023—managed to recover her level toward the end of 2024, and at the beginning of this year achieved the long-awaited return to the Top 10. However, the joy did not last long, as injuries reappeared, and she only managed to compete in one tournament after Wimbledon. Her last appearance was at the China Open, where she ended up retiring mid-match in the second round after just a few games.

"Sometimes life shakes us so hard that we believe we won't be able to get up. We go through moments where the soul breaks in silence, where doubts weigh more than hope, and where the internal noise doesn't let us hear anything else. But it is right there, in that void, where something sacred begins: the reunion with oneself," was part of what the former Indian Wells champion posted.

"Healing is not forgetting or pretending that it didn't hurt. Healing is looking at yourself with compassion, recognizing your wounds, and understanding that everything you lived through was a necessary part of the journey. It is discovering that peace is not in what you have, nor in who accompanies you, but in the simple fact of being able to breathe calmly with yourself.

"A moment arrives when you understand that you do not need anything external to feel complete. That serenity is born when you stop searching outside for what was always within. And that is when everything changes: what used to hurt, now teaches; what used to weigh, now drives. Because when you heal, you not only free yourself from the past, you reconcile with life."

Elena Rybakina took to social media to celebrate her victory at the WTA Finals, following a perfect campaign in Riyadh and defeating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) in the final. The Kazakh won the most important title of her career since Wimbledon 2022 and managed to finish the year as World No. 5—despite being the very last player to qualify for the WTA Finals.

"What. A. Week. 🥹🏆 Thank you to my team, my family, sponsors and everyone who believed in me. So proud of how far we’ve come. Thank you so much @wtafinalsriyadh for such an event and incredible atmosphere!"

Rybakina also received a tribute from the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in a photo posted on the social media of the Eurasian country's tennis federation. The 26-year-old player was born in Moscow and represented Russia in her junior career, but changed her nationality to Kazakh after accepting support from the country's tennis federation, currently making her Kazakhstan's most distinguished tennis player in history.

"You have shown first-class craftsmanship and an unwavering will to win in a prestigious tournament that basically summarizes the tennis year," the president stated. "On the occasion of this sporting triumph and as a sign of appreciation for the valuable contribution to the development of tennis and its popularity in our country, I signed a Decree awarding you the 'Barys' Order of the III Degree. I wish you well-being, good health and new sporting achievements for the benefit of the Republic of Kazakhstan!" —the congratulatory message read.

Carlos Alcaraz is all smiles after his first day of competition in Turin. The Spaniard met with Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik, a player for Juventus in Turin, who attended to witness his debut victory at the ATP Finals against Alex de Minaur 7-6(5), 6-2. The Spaniard still has two challenges ahead in the Round Robin, while maintaining a good chance of reclaiming the top spot in the ranking to finish the year as World No. 1. The win against De Minaur brings him closer, while he holds a 1,250-point advantage over Sinner—out of a maximum of 1,500 in the tournament.

The Spaniard also greeted a familiar rival: Casper Ruud, who traveled urgently to Turin following the changes in the lineup. Ruud arrived with a new haircut and had a friendly encounter with Alcaraz. Ruud will be the second alternate (the first is Bublik), who will only be able to play matches if there is an injury—although their presence in Turin already assures them more than $150,000.

After a busy defining weekend for the ATP Finals, Lorenzo Musetti finally arrived in Turin and is already training ahead of his tournament debut. The Italian had a rollercoaster ride in recent weeks—he lost his spot in the Finals by dropping to 9th place, then regained hope with a wildcard at the Hellenic Championships (where he needed the title to qualify), but ended up losing the final. With the season closed in 9th place, Novak Djokovic chose to withdraw from the Finals and Musetti took his spot, meaning there will be two local players in Turin. The Italian is already training and preparing for his first match this Monday against the American Taylor Fritz.

World No. 21 Diana Shnaider shared some photos from her first experience at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, after participating in doubles alongside her regular partner Mirra Andreeva. The young Russians successfully teamed up at the 2024 Olympic Games—winning the silver medal—and decided this 2025 to try their luck playing the full year in doubles, with great results by qualifying for the WTA Finals as the 5th seed.

However, their doubles campaign did not last long in Riyadh, as they suffered three consecutive defeats. The Russians were the youngest and least experienced players in the draw, but they showed their joy and camaraderie in their social media photos. "Amazing experience at the @wtafinalsriyadh with @mirraandreeva 🤝 Thanks everyone for support🫶" Shnaider posted, along with several photos with her partner Mirra Andreeva.