Daily Dose of Social Media: Alcaraz stars in Louis Vuitton campaign, Rybakina gets driving lessons

Today in our Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players.  Carlos Alcaraz took advantage of his visit to New York for exhibition matches to stop by the new Louis Vuitton store and pose for photos in a casual outfit from his sponsor, while Ben Shelton surprised fans with a 'necklace cam' during his match against Alcaraz.

Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina shared a video of herself taking driving lessons, and Daria Kasatkina released a new episode of What the Vlog, this time showcasing her vacation with her girlfriend and fellow athlete Arina Rodionova.

Elena Rybakina finally takes steps to get her driver’s license

A video shared on social media shows Elena Rybakina finally in the process of obtaining her driver’s license. The world No. 6 claimed the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix title in Stuttgart back in April, defeating Marta Kostyuk in the final (6-2, 6-2).

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Traditionally, the tournament awards a brand-new Porsche model as part of the prize. However, the Kazakh player revealed during the trophy ceremony that she couldn’t drive it yet. “Well guys, I actually don’t have a driver’s license, so…” Rybakina joked in her on-court interview. “I’ve wanted one for a long time, so this will be a big motivation.”

A driving school saw Rybakina’s situation as a great opportunity during the off-season and partnered with her to offer driving lessons so she could finally get her license to drive the Porsche she won back in April. “I’m really happy to join and practice. I have a very strict instructor, but it was a very nice experience, and I’m looking forward to my exam tomorrow,” the 25-year-old player said in the video shared on social media.

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A new way to watch tennis? Ben Shelton’s ‘necklace cam’

During the off-season, one of the standout events was the Garden Cup, where local star Ben Shelton faced off against four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, with the Spanish player claiming victory. The exhibition, held at Madison Square Garden, also featured Emma Navarro and Jessica Pegula in the previous match.

Regardless of the result, one of the most striking elements of the encounter was the curious ‘necklace cam’ used by Ben Shelton during the warm-up session before the match. The camera, worn like a necklace, offered a first-person view of the player as he hit from the baseline, providing spectators with a closer and more immersive experience. However, due to Shelton’s movements, it was occasionally difficult to see exactly what he was seeing. Could this be a future innovation on the Tour?

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Victoria Azarenka gets back to training

Victoria Azarenka shared on social media that she is already training for the upcoming season and poked fun at her physical coach, Franco Herrero, for arriving late to her most recent training session. The two-time Grand Slam champion is gearing up for her 22nd season as a professional and displayed her discipline by returning to training with an on-court photo.

The Belarusian also shared on her social media that, for the first time in her career, she arrived at practice before her coach. "For the first time in my 20+ professional career, I’m arriving at practice before a coach. @pf.francoherrero, I don't know if I'm more professional or Franco is unprofessional," she joked on her Instagram stories.

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Carlos Alcaraz stars in a new Louis Vuitton campaign

Carlos Alcaraz once again takes the spotlight in an advertising campaign, appearing in a new photoshoot for Louis Vuitton. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who is one of the French luxury brand’s ambassadors, took advantage of his visit to New York for an exhibition match at Madison Square Garden to stop by the brand’s new flagship store. He posed for photos in a casual outfit.

“Carlos Alcaraz in Louis Vuitton. Winning his recent exhibition match at Madison Square Garden, House Ambassador #CarlosAlcaraz visited the new #LouisVuitton 57th Street NYC flagship store during his stay, discovering the breathtaking trunk installation in the soaring atrium,” read the brand’s statement.

The Spaniard is now enjoying his off-season with no upcoming commitments on the court. This week, he played an exhibition match against Ben Shelton in New York and, two days later, competed in Charlotte, where he lost to Frances Tiafoe. Alcaraz is now set to begin his vacation before preparing for the next season, with his expected return to the court at the Australian Open in mid-January, skipping any warm-up tournaments beforehand.

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Daria Kasatkina share holiday adventures in latest vlog

Daria Kasatkina released a new episode of What the Vlog, the YouTube channel she runs with her girlfriend, figure skater Natalia Zabiiako. Over the past two seasons, the Russian athletes have captivated fans by documenting their travels around the globe as Kasatkina competes on the WTA Tour, offering a behind-the-scenes look with casual interviews featuring several WTA stars.

Now enjoying her off-season, Kasatkina is taking well-deserved vacations after climbing back into the top 10 during the latter part of the year. She finished the season ranked world No. 9 and participated in the WTA Finals as an alternate, stepping in for Jessica Pegula (after her withdrawal). Kasatkina lost her only Round Robin match against Iga Swiatek (0-6, 1-6). Despite that, she can be satisfied with a solid season that saw her reach five WTA 500 finals and secure two titles, showcasing remarkable consistency throughout the year.

In their latest vlog, Kasatkina and Zabiiako are seen enjoying a luxurious resort in the Maldives, joined by their close friend Arina Rodionova. The video offers a fun glimpse of their holiday, featuring the couple relishing the comforts of the idyllic destination. However, tennis wasn’t completely left behind, as Kasatkina took time to engage with local children in a tennis lesson.

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