Daily Dose of Social Media: Kasatkina’s emotional return as an Aussie, Nadal’s wild reaction to Real Madrid’s goal

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, Daria Kasatkina was one of the main highlights at the Charleston Open after making her debut under the Australian flag, receiving a warm welcome as she stepped onto the court.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal visited the Santiago Bernabéu to watch his beloved Real Madrid and had a wild reaction after the goal that secured his team’s qualification.

As the Charleston Open unfolded, Belinda Bencic and Emma Navarro played tennis in the streets of Charleston, while a training session featuring Jessica Pegula and Ajla Tomljanovic had a special ‘ball kid’ assisting them—none other than Tomljanovic’s dog, Kruz.

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Charleston Open stars take on fun 'guess the champion' challenge

The stars of the Charleston Open took part in a fun challenge called "Guess the Champion". They were shown images of several former champions of the tournament, but only as silhouettes, requiring them to identify the players based on their movements on the court.

Emma Navarro, Daria Kasatkina, Madison Keys, and Diana Shnaider were among those who participated, though it wasn't easy for everyone. Some of the former champions featured included Serena Williams, Jelena Jankovic, Andrea Petkovic, and Belinda Bencic. Watch the entertaining video recorded on Charleston Open's media day below.

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A special ball boy for Pegula and Tomljanovic at Charleston Open

A video shared by Tennis Channel captured a unique ball boy helping Jessica Pegula and Ajla Tomljanovic during their Charleston Open practice session. The Australian reached the second round after defeating Kyoka Okamura, while Pegula made a winning debut against Iryna Shymanovich.

Ahead of their matches, the two players shared a training session with an unusual ball boy—none other than Tomljanovic’s dog, Kruz! The energetic pup had a great time on the court, chasing after the balls Pegula and Tomljanovic hit during practice.

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Navarro and Bencic play street tennis in Charleston promo

Emma Navarro and Belinda Bencic teamed up for a promotional video, playing tennis in the streets of Charleston. Both players are among the top stars competing in the tournament and took part in an iconic photoshoot across different neighborhoods in the city. The American (4th seed) made a strong debut, battling past Hailey Baptiste 6-4, 6-3. Meanwhile, Bencic struggled against a flawless Sofia Kenin, falling 0-6, 3-6 and making an early exit from the clay swing.

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Del Potro and Sabatini team up for Roland Garros Junior Series challenge

The 2009 US Open champion Juan Martín del Potro and 1990 US Open champion Gabriela Sabatini joined forces at the start of the Roland Garros Junior Series in a fun challenge where they tested their knowledge of each other’s careers.

Launched in 2022, the Roland Garros Junior Series by Renault aims to support the next generation of Latin American tennis talent. It offers young athletes the chance to develop their skills on clay courts, strengthen their competitive mindset, receive mentorship from tennis legends, and enjoy top-tier preparation for their future careers. In fact, João Fonseca was the tournament’s first champion in 2022, and today he is one of the most promising young stars in the sport.

During the challenge, Sabatini and Del Potro tried to answer questions about each other’s careers, including how many titles they won and their best results at Roland Garros.

Kasatkina receives warm welcome in Charleston as an Australian

Daria Kasatkina had an emotional reception from the crowd at the Charleston Open in her first appearance as an Australian player. The world No. 12 recently announced that she had acquired Australian citizenship and would be competing under her new flag starting this week. The 27-year-old received overwhelming support on social media after the announcement, and this was evident as she walked onto the Charleston Open's main stadium.

Kasatkina, the 2017 champion, felt the crowd’s affection in her dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over home favourite Lauren Davis in her opening match. The new Aussie No. 1 had a heartfelt reaction upon entering the court when her name was announced under her new nationality.

"I couldn't handle my smile, even though I was a bit stressed before the match," she said in her on-court interview. "Stepping on court with the new status, with the new flag, it was quite stressful. I had this little baggage of nerves, and it always explodes as soon as you step on court. I'm happy I was able to handle that."

Rafael Nadal’s passionate reaction to Real Madrid’s dramatic goal

Rafael Nadal experienced every moment of the thrilling second leg between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey semifinals. The 22-time Grand Slam champion endured the tension of the dramatic 4-4 draw, which secured Madrid’s qualification with a 5-4 aggregate score. A video captured by the Santiago Bernabéu cameras shows the former world No. 1 reacting intensely after German defender Antonio Rüdiger’s goal in extra time.

The 14-time French Open champion is enjoying his first months post-retirement and took advantage of the midweek clash to attend the stadium, as he has on many occasions. Previously, speculation arose about Nadal potentially becoming the club’s president once Florentino Pérez steps down, though for now, there are no indications that he will join Real Madrid’s executive team.

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