Daily Dose of Social Media: Sorana Cirstea comforts Simona Halep in her final career match, Carlos Alcaraz shows off football skills

Simona Halep shocked the tennis world by unexpectedly announcing her retirement at the Transylvania Open, and in a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we take a look at some of the key moments of the day, including the emotional embrace between the former world No. 1 and her compatriot Sorana Cirstea.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz celebrated his first victory at the Rotterdam Open, Elena Rybakina tested her memory in a fun challenge in Abu Dhabi, while Daria Kasatkina and Victoria Azarenka shared videos of their routines following the “A Day in the Life” trend.

Carlos Alcaraz impresses with football skills before ABN AMRO Open match

Carlos Alcaraz displayed his skills with a ball at his feet ahead of his debut at the ABN AMRO Open. The world No. 3 showcased his dexterity with various ball sizes, juggling a football, a tennis ball, and even an American football.

The 4-time Grand Slam champion made his tournament debut on Tuesday against Botic van de Zandschulp, securing a 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-1 victory to advance to the last 16. The top seed now awaits his next opponent, who will emerge from the clash between Andrea Vavassori and Félix Auger-Aliassime – the recent champion of the ATP 250 Rotterdam Open.

Following his win, Alcaraz shared a photo on social media celebrating his successful return in his first tournament since exiting the Australian Open quarterfinals. The Spaniard is aiming for his first indoor hardcourt title after adjusting his schedule compared to previous years, where he played the Argentina Open and Rio Open in February. This time, he opted to compete in Europe before heading to the Middle East swing at the Qatar Open. Alcaraz not only left a photo of his first appearance in Rotterdam, but also shared the mach point with which he closed his first triumph in the tournament.

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Elena Rybakina tests her memory recalling Abu Dhabi Open 2024 path

Defending Abu Dhabi Open champion Elena Rybakina took part in a Q&A challenge where she attempted to recall the path she took to claim the 2024 title. The former Wimbledon champion had some memory lapses when trying to remember her past opponents but managed to recall almost all of them.

"I remember I played with Danielle Collins (Round of 16). Then in quarterfinals… (Cristina) Bucsa, yes," she said while receiving help from the video production team. The former world No. 3 also defeated Russian players Liudmila Samsonova in the semifinals and Daria Kasatkina in the final. Watch the full video below to see how Rybakina’s memory was put to the test

The top seed was seen training a day earlier alongside her 2024 final opponent, Daria Kasatkina, as she prepared for her debut. Rybakina will take to the court this Wednesday at the main stadium against American qualifier Katie Volynets, who defeated Sonay Kartal in the first round. The Kazakh leads their head-to-head 1-0, with their only previous meeting coming at the 2022 French Open (6-4, 6-0).

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Simona Halep’s farewell: Emotional embrace with Sorana Cirstea

Simona Halep was the centre of attention in the tennis world today after unexpectedly announcing her retirement from professional tennis. Following a year-and-a-half suspension—before making her official comeback in March 2024—injuries have prevented her from maintaining a competitive level. As she revealed herself, she no longer feels capable of returning to her best form. After her match against Lucia Bronzetti, the Romanian announced on court that she would be ending her career, making the Transylvania Open her final tournament.

The former world No. 1 had an emotional farewell, fighting back tears as the Romanian crowd gave her a standing ovation. After delivering her farewell speech in Cluj-Napoca, Halep took time to greet and embrace several close friends, family members, organisers, and fellow players. One of the most heartfelt moments came with world No. 64 Sorana Cirstea, 34, who defended Halep during her suspension period and is also expected to retire later this year.

A few hours earlier, the official Transylvania Open account shared a fun video from Halep’s media day, where she attempted to guess some of her most iconic matches with her eyes closed, relying solely on the sound of players' grunts. The two-time Grand Slam champion showcased her sharp memory, recalling some of her biggest victories, including the 2018 French Open final against Sloane Stephens, the 2019 Wimbledon final against Serena Williams, and the 2017 Beijing semifinal, where she reached world No. 1 for the first time.

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Inside the Tour: Kasatkina and Azarenka share 'Day in the Life' videos

More and more, some players are sharing parts of their daily routines, following the ‘Day in the Life’ trend. During the Abu Dhabi Open, world No. 11 Daria Kasatkina showcased her own routine while competing in her first tournament of the Middle East Swing. The Russian player is seen training at the facilities, taking photos with fans, signing autographs, and chatting with her colleague Belinda Bencic while warming up before practice. “Hi guys, this is Dasha Kasatkina and I’m gonna show you a day in the life as a tennis player at Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open,” she told the fans at the start of the video.

Another player who joined the trend was Victoria Azarenka, who has recently become more active on social media, sharing glimpses of her personal life. This time, she filmed a ‘Day in the Life’ video from the early morning, starting with taking her son Leo to school before spending time with her horses—one of her biggest passions outside of tennis. The former world No. 1 also dedicated time to her on- and off-court training routine.

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