Daily Dose of Social Media: Peyton Stearns shares painful picture, Zverev ranks Brazilian football legends

Peyton Stearns shared details on social media about the illness she suffered during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, after playing two matches in a single day. In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we also take a look at some of the most talked-about moments online.

Alexander Zverev ranked Brazilian football legends in a blind ranking, while Novak Djokovic tried to describe certain concepts using just one word. Meanwhile, players like Andrey Rublev and Jack Draper shared their favourite emojis. All that and more in another action-packed day on social media!

Peyton Stearns shares painful image after battling illness in Dubai

Peyton Stearns posted a photo capturing her pain as she battled an illness during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, following her round of 16 match against Mirra Andreeva. The American star delivered an impressive run, defeating Ons Jabeur and Zheng Qinwen (No. 7). However, after nearly three hours on court against Zheng, she later faced the teenager Andreeva, suffering a crushing 1-6, 1-6 defeat.

The world No. 46 was far from being in top physical condition, especially after playing two matches in one day. Stearns revealed on Twitter that she suffered from a GI illness, preventing her from performing at her best, and shared an image of her pain while receiving medical attention. "Highly don’t recommend having a GI illness & playing 2 matches in a day… not a good combo 🥲", she wrote.

ATP Stars reveal their favourite emojis at the Qatar Open

The ATP stars competing at the Qatar Open shared their favourite emojis in a fun segment for the tournament’s social media. Players including Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, and Jack Draper revealed which emojis they use most and their personal favourites, as well as attempting to describe Doha with a single emoji.

Meanwhile, the tournament has reached the semifinal stage, where Jiri Lehecka will face 8th seed Jack Draper, while the second semifinal will feature 5th seed Andrey Rublev against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Zverev ranks Brazilian football legends in "Blind ranking" challenge

Alexander Zverev took on a ‘blind ranking’ challenge featuring Brazilian football legends while competing at the Rio Open. The world No. 2 had to rank five World Cup champions from Brazil, including Pelé, Ronaldinho, and Neymar Jr. Zverev is playing the ATP 500 tournament as part of his first-ever Golden Swing tour, marking his debut in South America.

The three-time Grand Slam finalist had a surprising exit in the Argentina Open quarterfinals last week, falling to Francisco Cerúndolo. However, this week, he appears to have rediscovered his form on clay courts, securing straight-set wins over Bu Yunchaokete and Alexander Shevchenko. In the quarterfinals, he will face Argentine Francisco Comesaña, who survived a thrilling battle against Nicolás Jarry, even saving a match point along the way.

“One Word Answer” – Novak Djokovic plays fun word game in Doha

The 24-time Grand Slam champion was at the Qatar Open this week, where he made an early exit in the singles draw, losing his debut match to Matteo Berrettini (6-7, 2-6).

Despite the loss, the Serbian star remained in the spotlight. Earlier in 2024, it was announced that Djokovic would become the new ambassador for Qatari tennis, making his presence at the tournament a priority—even though he was still recovering from a thigh injury sustained at the Australian Open.

Physically, Djokovic looked in good shape and also competed in the doubles draw, teaming up with Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco, who played his final professional tournament. During his media press activities, Djokovic participated in a fun word game, where he had to describe certain concepts in just one word. Watch the entertaining moment as Nole plays along in Doha!

ATP reveals behind-the-scenes of Diego Schwartzman’s final week

An ATP video takes fans behind the scenes of Diego Schwartzman’s final week as a professional tennis player. The former World No. 8 bid farewell to his home crowd at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires, securing a memorable farewell victory against Nicolas Jarry (7-6[12-10], 4-6, 6-3).

The 32-year-old Argentine decided to retire after struggling with injuries that prevented him from regaining his best level, leading to a streak of consecutive losses. His last Grand Slam appearances came at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, using the opportunity to say goodbye on the sport’s biggest stages. But there was still one final stop—the Argentina Open, where he played his last match in the second round against Pedro Martínez.

However, results didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Schwartzman, the leader of South American tennis in recent years, was all smiles throughout the week, surrounded by his loved ones, girlfriend, and family, as he enjoyed an emotional farewell in Buenos Aires.

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