Daily Dose of Social Media: Serena Williams went viral during the Super Bowl halftime, as Alexander Zverev inspires with diabetes awareness

erena Williams was the star of the day with her appearance in the Super Bowl halftime show, earning praise from Coco Gauff and Eugenie Bouchard. In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the best moments of the day.

A peculiar interruption in the match between Coco Gauff and Marketa Vondrousova, Nick Kyrgios congratulated his colleague Denis Shapovalov, while Lucas Pouille provided updates on his health status.

Serena Williams surprises with dance moves during Super Bowl halftime

Serena Williams surprises with dance moves during Super Bowl halftime. The former world No. 1 stole the spotlight during the Super Bowl halftime show, dancing to Kendrick Lamar’s performance of Not Like Us. The former tennis star captivated fans with her confidence and coordination, wearing a stylish two-piece blue outfit that made her stand out as an unexpected star of the night.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion needed only a few seconds to grab attention at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Her appearance did not go unnoticed and even sparked controversy. At one point, she performed a "C-walk," a dance historically associated with gang culture. While some defended her, arguing it was just a dance move fitting the music, others speculated it was a subtle message directed at her ex, Drake, as Kendrick Lamar’s song contains a diss aimed at the rapper.

Serena later shared videos of the moment on social media, captioning them: “Let’s go Super Bowl halftime??! I died a little!” Even tennis stars like Coco Gauff and Genie Bouchard praised her surprise appearance.

Lucas Pouille undergoes surgery and thanks fans for their support

Lucas Pouille underwent surgery and shared a photo thanking his fans. On social media, he wrote: "Thank you all for your messages!! The operation went very well."

The tennis player suffered an injury during a match at the Lille Challenger, where he was diagnosed with a complete Achilles tendon rupture. Because of this, the Frenchman decided to give himself a second chance in professional tennis and undergo surgery. Pouille stated that he will do everything possible to return.

📸 Check out the image here:

Elina Svitolina & Marketa Vondrousova's match interrupted by Ons Jabeur's fans

The match between Elina Svitolina and Marketa Vondrousova was interrupted due to the celebration of Ons Jabeur's fans. In their excitement, their cheering distracted the ongoing match.

Jabeur advanced to the second round of the Doha Open after defeating McCartney Kessler 6-2, 6-0. However, the interruption affected Vondrousova, who was visibly frustrated during a crucial moment in the match. Ultimately, she was defeated by Svitolina 6-0, 2-6, 5-7.

Coco Gauff stuns with new look and charitable act ahead of Doha Open

Coco Gauff shared a selfie showing off her braids and a serious expression as she prepares for her Doha Open debut. The photo received a wave of compliments. Tomorrow, she will face Marta Kostyuk.

The American has been praised not only for her talent on the court but also for her social commitment. Recently, she donated $100,000 to the UNCF for a scholarship program supporting students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Gauff explained her personal connection to the cause: "My family has a deeply rooted history with HBCUs, dating back to my great-grandfather. From aunts and uncles to cousins, HBCUs have played a fundamental role in shaping who we are."

Nick Kyrgios congratulates Denis Shapovalov on Dallas Open title

Nick Kyrgios posted his congratulations to his Canadian colleague Denis Shapovalov after the latter claimed the Dallas Open title, becoming the first player since Kyrgios to defeat three top-10 players in a single tournament.

Shapovalov wrapped up his week with victory in the ATP 500 event in Dallas, securing his third ATP title with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win after one hour and 41 minutes. This adds to his previous titles in Stockholm (2019) and Belgrade (2024), with Dallas marking his biggest career title so far.

The Canadian capped off the week by defeating the world No. 5 in the final, having previously eliminated third seed Taylor Fritz and ninth-ranked Tommy Paul in the semifinals.

Alexander Zverev joins diabetes awareness event with NGO 'Cuidar'

The NGO Cuidar, which works to minimize the impact of diabetes in the lives of children, young people, and adults, posted about Alexander Zverev taking part in one of their events.

The German player, currently world No. 2, has had type 1 diabetes since he was four years old. As a result, he founded the Alexander Zverev Foundation to support children with diabetes.

In an interview with Clarín, Zverev shared: "I've been diabetic since I was very young, and I don’t remember life without it. When I was four, I didn’t know what it meant—I just knew I had to check my levels constantly, but I didn’t understand why."

"I was always a bit insecure about my condition and wanted to hide it. If today, some kids feel more comfortable because they see me playing with diabetes or injecting myself on court, that makes me proud. It gives me another reason and motivation to keep doing what I do."

Hurkacz takes positives from Rotterdam Open

Hubert Hurkacz left the Rotterdam Open with positive feelings after reaching the semifinals but falling to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz. The Polish player shared some photos from his run at the Dutch tournament, where he defeated opponents such as Flavio Cobolli (6-3, 6-2), Jiri Lehecka (7-5, 2-0), and Andrey Rublev (6-7, 6-3, 6-4).

The Pole had an inconsistent 2024 season and added two high-profile coaches to his team: Ivan Lendl and Nicolás Massú. His performances are now showing signs of improvement. Hurkacz is currently ranked world No. 20 and aims to regain prominence on the Tour. He will return to t the court in a week at the Acapulco Open before heading into the Sunshine Double. "Progress comes one step at a time! Eyes forward! 👊"

"It means so much!" – Alcaraz celebrates Rotterdam Open victory

The Rotterdam Open concluded with Carlos Alcaraz winning his first title in an indoor hardcourt event. On Sunday, the four-time Grand Slam champion defeated Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to claim his first title since the China Open in October 2024.

The Spaniard now travels to Doha, where he is the second seed behind Jannik Sinner. 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal also congratulated his compatriot.

"It means so much to me to win in Rotterdam! 🏆 It has been a very special week! 🔝 Thank you for the support from day one! ❤️ Congratulations @alexdeminaur for the tournament and a tremendous battle today in the final! 🤝🏻🔥"

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