Daily Dose of Social Media: Aryna Sabalenka’s polaroid mishap, rain forces Sinner and Alcaraz to train on same court

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we review some moments that caught attention from ATP and WTA stars. Aryna Sabalenka provided a humorous scene at the Australian Open when she tried to take a picture with her Polaroid camera but realised it had no film.

Meanwhile, ATP and WTA stars picked their favourites for the title, with Jannik Sinner and Sabalenka leading the choices. Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic enjoyed a relaxed day surfing with his children in Melbourne, while Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner were forced to share a training court due to the rain.

ATP and WTA stars predict Australian Open favourites

Top ATP and WTA players in Melbourne shared their predictions for the champions of this year’s Australian Open. In a fun twist, male players selected the women’s champion, while female players made their picks for the men’s champion.

Among the male stars, Aryna Sabalenka emerged as the favourite, receiving support from Grigor Dimitrov and Daniil Medvedev. “I would say Aryna Sabalenka is playing some tremendous tennis, ended last year as a deserved No. 1, so I think she’s the biggest favourite, and she just won the Brisbane tournament,” commented the former US Open champion from Russia.

“Of course, I’m rooting for Paula (Badosa). I’m not just dating her for the looks, I’m also dating her for her tennis,” joked Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff were also named by ATP players participating in the video.

On the men’s side, Jannik Sinner was the top pick for most players. “Jannik Sinner, defending champion, and the way he was playing last year at the ATP Finals was some great tennis,” said Coco Gauff. “I would choose between Sinner and Alcaraz because they dominated all four Slams last year,” added Zheng Qinwen.

Sabalenka celebrates win with TikTok dance

Aryna Sabalenka shone in her Australian Open debut, defeating World No. 81 Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2, marking her 15th consecutive victory in the tournament. The World No. 1 captivated the Rod Laver Arena not only with her commanding performance but also with a fun post-match moment as she danced during the on-court interview, drawing cheers from the crowd.

When asked about her signature TikTok dances and encouraged to show her latest dance moves alongside her team, Sabalenka responded playfully: “I’m trying my best. As you see, I’m not the best dancer, but I’m trying my best.” She then recreated the video, shared on the stadium screens, much to the delight of the audience. “Now I have proof that I’m the worst dancer,” she joked with a smile.

After the match, the Belarusian star brought out her Polaroid camera to snap a picture of the crowd, but there was one small problem – she hadn't loaded the film. After hilariously attempting to take the shot, Sabalenka quickly realised the issue and couldn't get the camera to work. "I didn’t come prepared," she admitted with a smile, putting the camera away as the fans laughed along.

Sinner and Alcaraz share court in rain-soaked Melbourne training

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz trained side by side, not on adjacent courts this time, but sharing the same one. Due to Sunday's rain in Melbourne, players were unable to use the outside courts, forcing some to share courts for their training sessions — including two of the strongest contenders in the men's draw.

Both players debut on Monday: defending champion Sinner will take to Rod Laver Arena for the morning session against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, while Alcaraz will feature in the night session on Margaret Court Arena facing Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko. The two are on opposite sides of the draw and could only meet in a potential final.

Djokovic enjoys surfing day with his children

Novak Djokovic enjoyed a day surfing with his children in Melbourne. The 7-time Grand Slam champion is preparing for his Australian Open debut on Monday against Nishesh Basavareddy. Unlike previous years, Djokovic travelled to Melbourne with his wife Jelena and their two children, making the most of his free time to enjoy family moments before the tournament begins.

Nole will aim for his 25th Grand Slam trophy in Australia after a 2024 season without major titles. Last year, he fell to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, ending a streak of 33 consecutive wins in Australia — the longest in the tournament's history.

Elena Rybakina's fitness work at Melbourne

A video on social media shows Elena Ybakina's fitness work ahead of her debut at the Australian Open. The 2022 Wimbledon champion faced physical struggles last season, forcing her to withdraw from several tournaments and play just one event after the US Open. A few weeks ago, Rybakina showcased strong form at the United Cup, leading Kazakhstan to the semifinals before falling to Iga Swiatek and being eliminated.

World No. 6 aims to stay healthy throughout the season and contend for major titles, with an opportunity to prove her resolve starting Tuesday at the Australian Open. She will face 18-year-old rising local star Emerson Jones, who recently secured her first top-40 victory against Xinyu Wang while making her initial strides on the WTA Tour.

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