In today’s dose of social media, we look back at the most important activities and conversations from ATP and WTA players. Dominic Thiem was honored in Austria as he prepares to retire, receiving a special honor from Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. The Serb sent a special greeting from Shanghai, where the Chinese fans gave him an incredible welcome after his return after 5 years.Jannik Sinner gave Anna Kalinskaya’s brother a special gift: a jersey autographed by the famous basketball player Stephen Curry. Plus, Billie Jean King paid tribute to a late tennis legend, and more.
Dominic Thiem is honored by the Big 3
Dominic Thiem experienced a special surprise when he was honored by the Big 3. The 2020 USOpen champion was surprised with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lotteries Sporthilfe Gala. His Austrian compatriot, footballer David Alaba, four-time UEFA Champions League winner, was also there.
The 31-year-old Thiem has announced the end of his career. His last tournament is the Vienna Open, which starts on October 21st. At the gala on Thursday evening, the former world number three was recognized by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who shared the honors for one of their toughest competitors in recent years.
“Thank you very much for everything you have given to all of us, especially tennis. I am glad that in Vienna you will have the opportunity to say goodbye, to dance one last time,” said Djokovic. “Your friendship was always important to me on the tour, and the fact that we got along so well as rivals was always great for me,” said Federer. Below you can see the video of the special honor Thiem received.
Dominic Thiem was honored at a gala for Austrian athletes before playing the last tournament of his career in Vienna. 🙏🇦🇹 Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer left a message for their former rival. 🥹 🎥 @ORF
Billie Jean King honors the memory of the Australian legend
Billie Jean King has honored the memory of a late tennis legend. The American won a total of 39 Grand Slam titles in her career: 12 in singles, 16 in women’s doubles and 11 in mixed doubles. One of her closest partners was Australian Owen Davidson, with whom King won 9 major mixed doubles titles.
Davidson is also remembered as the first player to win a match in the Open Era when he defeated John Clifton in the first round of the British Hard Court Championships. The former world number 8 was inducted into the InternationalTennis Hall of Fame in 2010. The Australian died in May 2023, and King remembered him on social media on his 81st birthday.
“Australian tennis legend Owen Davidson passed away in 2023. He was my mixed doubles partner (we won 8 Grand Slam titles together), a @TennisHalloFame champion who played for his country in the @DavisCup, and a special friend to Ilana and me. We are thinking of him today on his 81st birthday.”
Australian tennis legend Owen Davidson passed away in 2023.
He was my mixed doubles partner (we won 8 Grand Slam titles together), a @TennisHalloFame champion who played for his country in @DavisCupand a special friend to llana and me.
Thinking of him today on what would…
Djokovic draws huge crowd for his comeback in Shanghai
As the Shanghai Masters begins, Novak Djokovic is perhaps the star attracting the most attention from the Chinese audience. The 24-time Grand Slam champion returns to the tournament after 5 years and as a 4-time champion, holding the record for most titles won at the event.
The former world number 1 has enjoyed an incredible reception in the days leading up to his debut. When he arrived at the training ground today together with Alexander Zverev, he was warmly welcomed by the spectators and dozens of people ran behind him to document Nole’s arrival at the training ground. Djokovic has wowed fans with his impressive ability to speak Chinese during his first few days in Shanghai.
It will be Djokovic’s first tournament since his early exit from the US Open a month ago. The Serb will face young American Alex Michelsen (No. 43) on Stadium Court on Saturday. “My love for tennis will never die out. I feel a lot of emotions when I play, and not only during tournaments but also during training sessions. Sometimes things don’t go the way I want, but I think mine Relationship with tennis goes far beyond a tournament, a year, a success or a failure,” said the Serb in his first press conference.
This MADNESS when Novak Djokovic arrives in Shanghai
Sinner gives unique gift from Stephen Curry to Kalinskaya’s brother
World number one Jannik Sinner received a thank you from Anna Kalinskaya’s brother for a special gift. The Italian has already established himself as one of the current top stars in the tennis world and has played alongside major sports and entertainment legends from all over the world.
Recently, Sinner met with basketball player Stephen Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time regular season MVP. Sinner and Curry exchanged signed jerseys, although the jersey was not intended for the two-time Grand Slam champion but for the brother of his girlfriend, world No. 13 Anna Kalinskaya.
The Russian player’s older brother, Nikolay Kalinsky, is a 31-year-old professional footballer who currently plays for FC Pari Nizhniy Novgorod. He shared a photo of the jersey on his social media and publicly thanked his sister, Sinner and Curry for the special gift.
Francisco Cerúndolo finds a piece of home around the world in the new ATP video
Francisco Cerúndolo was the star of a new ATP video in which the Argentine talks about finding “a piece of home” in different parts of the world. The former number 19 in the world rankings has been one of the leading figures in South American tennis in recent years. Due to the hectic demands of the tour, which takes him around the world during the season, he only spends a few weeks a year in his home country.
The 26-year-old player appears in a restaurant and tries Argentine-style steak and traditional empanadas: “When we travel, of course I miss my home, I miss Argentina. At least I have my Argentine team, so we feel a bit at home “Then you can go out and eat, even in China. We came here to eat steak,” he said at a restaurant in Shanghai. “Every time we eat steak it feels like home, but it’s probably not always as good as home,” he laughed. You can watch the rest of the video here.
