Daily Dose of Social Media: Aryna Sabalenka dances to “The Ketchup Song” at F1 Grand Prix – Tennis stars join Abu Dhabi fun

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stole the spotlight this weekend, with VIP spectators for the final F1 race of the season. Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner were among the most eye-catching, although several other tennis stars made an appearance, and you'll be able to see them in a new Daily Dose of Social Media.

Sabalenka shows her dance moves at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Aryna Sabalenka showcased her dancing talent during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, grooving to the infectious rhythm of "The Ketchup Song" by Spanish pop sensation Las Ketchup. Dressed in Alpine F1 team gear, the Belarusian tennis star made a big impression with her moves on 8 December. The video amassed over 1.6 million views and drew reactions from her colleagues, including Ons Jabeur and Garbine Muguruza.

In an Instagram Reel shared by the Alpine F1 team, the 26-year-old tennis player was seen fully suited up in team attire, joyfully dancing to the catchy tune of "The Ketchup Song." After an energetic performance, she removed her helmet and blew a playful kiss to the camera, captivating viewers. The caption on the team’s social media read: “Last race vibes in Abu Dhabi 🤙 Good to have you here @arynasabalenka 🎾”

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Sinner’s GP moment: Chequered flag duty in Abu Dhabi

Jannik Sinner was another star present at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, taking on a key role in the season’s final race by waving the chequered flag. The world No. 1, a well-known F1 fan, has often been spotted at F1 events, and this time he was a special guest in the Ferrari garage, reflecting his close friendship with driver Charles Leclerc.

The thrilling 2024 season concluded with a spectacular race in Abu Dhabi, featuring a dominant victory. Lando Norris claimed the win in the UAE, securing the championship for McLaren, while Spain’s Carlos Sainz bid farewell to Ferrari with a second-place finish.

Norris clocked a time of 1:26:33.291, finishing ahead of both Ferrari drivers, Carlos Sainz (+5.832) and Charles Leclerc (+31.928). Lewis Hamilton (+36.486) delivered an impressive comeback to secure fourth place, marking his farewell to Mercedes after 13 years with the team. His next stop: Ferrari.

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Jannik Sinner wasn’t the only tennis star at the event. Later, he met former WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia, who was also in attendance at the Grand Prix. The French player shared a message for Sinner on her Instagram stories, wishing him luck for the upcoming season: “As unstoppable as Verstappen. Good luck in 2025, Jannik. 🙌 🙌”

Other tennis stars spotted at the event included Elena Rybakina, Sorana Cirstea, and Paula Badosa. “Living life in the fast lane 🏎️✨ Thrills, speed, and the roar of engines – F1, you’ve got my heart! 🏁🔥,” posted the Spanish former Indian Wells champion, who also posed with her compatriot Fernando Alonso. She was even surprised to discover that Grigor Dimitrov was also attending and snapped a photo of him from a distance.

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Simone Biles and Serena Williams share 'Goated conversations'

Recently, Simone Biles met with Serena Williams at a Vogue and Female Quotient event aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and inspiring change. Their joint appearance brought a special star power to the event, held in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan during Art Basel weekend.

The two posed for some photos as two of the most outstanding female athletes in history. "Yesterday, I sat with the goat @simonebiles at an EVENING OF IMPACTFUL CONVERSATION with @audemarspiguet, @vanityfair, @femalequotient, and a house full of women. I love to see it," posted Serena Williams.

Both have frequently expressed mutual admiration for the careers they've built, and later Biles also shared some photos with the 23-time Grand Slam champion. "Goated conversations 🐐," Simone Biles posted, while Williams replied, "Love! ❤️"

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Dustin Brown turns 40: A Tribute to the eccentric showman

Dustin Brown turned 40 years old, and a video by Tennis TV pays tribute to one of the most eccentric players to have graced the ATP Tour. The German/Jamaican is remembered for two huge victories over Rafael Nadal on grass: first when the Spaniard was world No. 1 at the 2014 Halle Open, and then when he decisively defeated Nadal at Wimbledon in 2015.

Beyond his memorable wins over the 22-time Grand Slam champion, Brown was one of the greatest showmen on the Tour, regularly showcasing his talent that delighted fans with its flair, even though his highest ranking was just world No. 64. Earlier this season, he announced his retirement after 22 years as a professional, due to a recurring lower back injury. Check out the video below featuring some of Brown's greatest highlights.

From Miami to Rome: WTA remembers 2024’s home soil Champions

A WTA video reminisced about all the home soil champions of the season, both in singles and doubles. After the season ended, social media was used to recall moments when a local player lifted the trophy in front of their home crowd. Danielle Collins at the Miami Open, Camila Osorio in Bogotá, and Katie Boulter in Nottingham were some of the standout players in 2024 who won titles in their home countries. In doubles, Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova in Prague, or the Italians Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani in the Rome Open, also stood out.

With the 2024 season wrapping up, there are still a couple of weeks left for players to enjoy the off-season, some on vacation while others are already training with 2025 in mind. The season begins on December 29th with the United Cup in Australia, a joint tournament with male players, featuring 18 teams competing. At the same time, the WTA 500 Brisbane International and the WTA 250 Auckland Open will be held, marking the start of the new tennis year.

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Monfils accepts backflip challenge at Ultimate Tennis Showdown:

Gael Monfils starred in a fun video where he accepted the challenge from Maxence Bertimon, a 25-year-old French tennis player currently ranked world No. 792, who was his batting partner for the day and has gained attention on social media as a content creator. While the Ultimate Tennis Showdown was underway, with Monfils among the participants, his compatriot challenged him to perform a backflip.

The former world No. 6, known for making big jumps on court, admitted he wasn’t in top shape to do it perfectly. "At the time I would have replied… I have a little girl at home," he said about his daughter with former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina. "I haven’t done it for a long time now. But you see, for me, it’s like that," he mentioned before making a large forward jump, though supporting himself with one hand. Nevertheless, he managed to surprise his colleague and social media followers. "I’m not there yet, you see, but it’s a short answer," Monfils added.

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