Daily Dose of Social Media: Federer joins sporting legends for a special celebration, Coco Gauff courtside at Unrivaled Basketball - rocking denim chic
Tennis News
In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, Roger Federer made an appearance at a private birthday party alongside other sports legends like former footballers Thierry Henry and David Beckham. Meanwhile, a video of Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev training stole the spotlight in Rotterdam.
Coco Gauff attended the latest event of the Unrivaled Basketball League, in which she is one of the main investors. On the other hand, Donna Vekic went to support her compatriots at their Davis Cup tie, and former gold medalist Monica Puig announced she is pregnant with her first child.
Gauff’s stylish courtside moment at the Unrivaled Basketball league
Coco Gauff was seen attending recent games of the Unrivaled Basketball league, where the American is one of the investors. The women's basketball league was created as an alternative to the WNBA during the offseason and consists of six teams with five players each, featuring a unique 3-on-3 format with seven-minute quarters.
The world No. 3 joins a growing list of athletes and celebrities backing the league, including multiple Olympic champion Michael Phelps, NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Hollywood actors Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. In photos shared on social media, Gauff was seen sporting a stylish all-denim outfit.
Gauff kicked off the season with a nine-match winning streak across the United Cup and the Australian Open, where she reached the quarterfinals before losing to Spain’s Paula Badosa. The American displayed strong form in Melbourne but was ultimately outplayed by an inspired Badosa in straight sets.
Gauff will return to action in two weeks for the Middle East Swing, competing at the Qatar Open and Dubai Open before heading back to the U.S. for the Sunshine Double.
period!! https://t.co/17O7hT8qW8
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) February 1, 2025
Alcaraz and Medvedev train together ahead of Rotterdam Open
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev teamed up for a practice session at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, as they prepare for their second tournament of the year. Videos shared on social media show both players training at a high level as they gear up for their opening matches on Monday—Alcaraz will face Botic van de Zandschulp, while Medvedev will take on Stan Wawrinka.
Alcaraz reached the Australian Open quarter-finals before skipping Spain’s Davis Cup tie to focus on the indoor tournament, a shift from previous years when he typically competed in the South American swing after Melbourne. Medvedev, meanwhile, suffered an early exit in Australia, falling to rising star Learner Tien in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
Check out some of the best moments from their training session below, as the two top contenders prepare for their Rotterdam campaign.
Barty and Schuurs share a taste of home
Former world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty reunited with her former colleague, Dutch doubles specialist and former world No. 7 Demi Schuurs. The two shared a lighthearted moment in a photo for the WTA, exchanging traditional sweets from their respective countries. Schuurs gifted Barty Dutch stroopwafels from the brand Kanjers, while Barty returned the gesture with Tim Tam chocolate biscuits, an Australian favourite since the 1960s.
The reunion took place at the Australian Open in Melbourne Park, where Barty made a guest appearance for a few days and participated in a pre-tournament exhibition match. Meanwhile, Schuurs competed in the doubles draw alongside American Asia Muhammad, reaching the third round, and also played in the mixed doubles event with Germany’s Tim Puetz, advancing to the second round.
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Federer, Beckham & Henry reunite at exclusive birthday event
Tennis icon Roger Federer was spotted alongside football World Cup winner Thierry Henry, former Manchester United and Real Madrid star David Beckham, and five-time Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner. The legendary athletes attended a private birthday celebration of a mutual friend, with Federer joined by his wife, Mirka.
Since his last high-profile appearance at the Laver Cup in September 2024, Federer has largely stayed away from the tennis spotlight. However, he recently made headlines by auctioning off the racket he used in the iconic 2004 Wimbledon final, where he defeated Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(3), 6-4 to claim his third Grand Slam title.
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Simona Halep returns: Honoured reception at Transylvania Open
Simona Halep was welcomed with honours upon her arrival at the Transylvania Open, marking her return to the Tour in 2025. The former world No. 1 received a wildcard for the tournament in her home country, making it just her fifth event since her doping suspension was lifted in March 2024. The two-time Grand Slam champion had also received a wildcard for the Australian Open qualifiers but ultimately withdrew due to physical issues.
This time, Halep seems ready for her comeback. Her physiotherapist recently shared a video of her intense training sessions over the past weeks, confirming that her sights were set on the Transylvania Open. The Romanian previously reached the final here in 2021 but fell to Anett Kontaveit. She will begin her campaign against Lucia Bronzetti in the first round, scheduled for Monday or Tuesday.
Monica Puig announces pregnancy
Gold medalist from Rio 2016, Monica Puig, announced on social media that she is expecting her first child with her husband, Nathan Rakitt. The former Puerto Rican tennis player retired in 2022 after years of battling injuries. Puig received congratulations from several of her former colleagues, including Coco Gauff, Alja Tomljanovic, and Sabine Lisicki, among others.
Donna Vekic supports team Croatia in Davis Cup
Donna Vekic made a public appearance to support Team Croatia in the Davis Cup. The silver medalist from Paris 2024 took advantage of her time in Croatia and visited the Gradski Vrt Hall to watch her country's tie against Slovakia. The world No. 17 was greeted with a standing ovation from the local crowd, as the only Croatian tennis player—man or woman—to have reached an Olympic singles final.
Vekic seemed to be a good luck charm for the Croatians, who were missing their top male singles player Borna Coric, but comfortably won the series 3-1 after consecutive victories from Duje Ajdukovic, Dino Prizmic, and the doubles duo of former world No. 1 Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
WTA Linz stars take on fun NFL Team Logo Challenge
WTA Linz stars participated in a fun game of guessing NFL team logos, revealing they weren’t particularly familiar with American football. Players including Maria Sakkari, Karolina Muchova, Elina Svitolina, and Eva Lys took part in a round of logo identification, with teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Buffalo Bills among those featured.
The WTA 500 tournament is nearing its end as the finalists have been determined. On Sunday, Ekaterina Alexandrova will face Dayana Yastremska, both competing for their first title in this category.
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