Daily Dose of Social Media: Alcaraz and Shelton courtside for Knicks’ win, Naomi Osaka shine as film producer

In today’s Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most notable activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. Carlos Alcaraz has taken centre stage in New York, serving as the guest of honour during the New York Knicks' victory, alongside his colleagues Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula, and Emma Navarro, with whom he will play the Garden Cup exhibition tonight at Madison Square Garden.

Meanwhile, players like Naomi Osaka, Katie Boulter, and Alex De Minaur shared updates with their fans about their off-season training, while Dominic Thiem delivered an emotional message to his supporters as he reflected on his remarkable career.

Carlos Alcaraz enjoyed the latest New York Knicks game alongside the stars of the Garden Cup. The 4-time Grand Slam champion is set to play an exhibition match tonight at Madison Square Garden and took part in promotional activities, attending the Knicks' win over the Orlando Magic, which secured the team a spot in the playoffs.

The Spaniard joined local tennis stars Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula, and Emma Navarro ahead of Wednesday's exhibition. After the game, Alcaraz handed out tennis balls to the Madison Square crowd and, like his colleagues, received a Knicks jersey featuring the number 24. World No. 7 Pegula shared photos of the evening, showcasing the tennis stars as VIP guests in New York. “Night 2 at @TheGarden getting ready for night 3 tomorrow @tennisnightout @nyknicks,” she posted on X.

Dominic Thiem shared a heartfelt reflection on his career just weeks before his retirement. The former US Open champion, now 31, ended his career after battling injuries for several years. Thiem bid farewell to his fans at his final tournament, the ATP Vienna Open, where he received a wildcard to make one last appearance in front of his home crowd.

In a year marked by the retirement of several prominent players, including Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and Angelique Kerber, Thiem held a special place in the hearts of fans who celebrated the former World No. 3’s journey. “They gave me so much joy, so many kind messages, and so much energy over the years; but also a lot of cheers after tough losses and matches. The journey with all the fans was incredible,” he shared in an ATP video on social media.

“Tennis is so connected to life because there are so many amazing weeks and incredible moments, but also tough, long, and sad weeks and days. There are no highs without lows, and it’s the same the other way around,” he added. “I’ve experienced these things from a very young age, and I believe they’ve helped me in life overall.”

Naomi Osaka is enjoying her off-season while balancing training with attending events, this time for the film Julie Keeps Quiet, of which Osaka is one of the producers. The drama, directed by Leonardo Van Dijl, tells the story of Julie, a young tennis prodigy who faces a moral dilemma when her coach becomes involved in the suicide of a former prodigy.

A few months ago, Film Movement, whose executive producer is the 4-time Grand Slam champion, acquired the rights to the Belgian film following its debut at Cannes. Osaka took advantage of her time in L.A. to attend the promotional event for the movie, wearing a striking pink outfit.

However, the Japanese star remains focused on tennis as her top priority, evidenced by her consistent training during the off-season as she prepares for a promising 2025. Osaka, currently ranked World No. 58, will start her season at the ASB Classic in Auckland, beginning on 29 December. She is then set to head to Melbourne to prepare for the Australian Open, a tournament she has won twice, in 2019 and 2021.

Katie Boulter is looking forward to her participation in the 2025 United Cup, where she will form an intriguing partnership with Jack Draper. The World No. 24 is coming off the best season of her career, winning two titles and leading Great Britain to the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup a few weeks ago, though they ultimately lost to a surprising Slovakia team.

“I take representing my country very seriously. It’s a great way to start the year; you’ve got the team behind you,” the Brit No. 1 said. “I’ve got a lot to look forward to. I’m really excited for it because I have some great memories already, so yeah, looking forward to that,” Boulter added. “Turn up for Team GB,” she concluded.

Alex De Minaur shared videos of his training sessions in Monaco as he prepares for his United Cup debut. The Australian had a remarkable year, reaching the top 10 for the first time and ending the season as World No. 9. He aims to take an even bigger leap at the start of the new season, capitalising on home-court advantage in the early tournaments and his home Grand Slam, the Australian Open.

The 25-year-old was seen in a training session that included running on an athletics track, side-to-side drills on a tennis court, and, of course, baseline stroke exercises with his racket. “Work work work 🥵🥵🥵,” De Minaur posted.

He also received a playful response from his Spanish colleague, former World No. 21 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who replied in Spanish: ""I was waiting for you at the finish line...😂".

Holger Rune expressed his gratitude to the Danish crowd following his victory in the Nordic Battle exhibition against Casper Ruud. The event consisted of a two-leg exhibition series to determine the champion. The first match took place in Norway, with Ruud emerging victorious. Two days later, they played in Denmark, where the 21-year-old triumphed 6-4, 6-2. In the decisive tiebreak, Rune clinched the victory 10-6, crowning himself the winner of the 2024 Nordic Battle in front of nearly 17,000 spectators in Copenhagen.

“It was a very special evening for me yesterday,” he wrote on social media, “To feel the love and support from Denmark was amazing 🇩🇰 thank you for taking the challenge Casper . It was a pleasure having you in my country #NordicBattle”