Daily Dose of Social Media: Tsitsipas’ unique cheer for Swiatek sparks laughter, as Evert calls for Navratilova statue at Wimbledon

Several legends headline a new Daily Dose of Social Media after Chris Evert joined the discussion about a potential Roger Federer statue at Wimbledon and proposed her great rival Martina Navratilova for the honor, considering that both hold the record for titles – male and female – at SW19. Evert also celebrated her 70th birthday today with special greetings from her colleagues.

On the other hand, the World Tennis League provided a fun moment during the last day of Round Robin when Stefanos Tsitsipas made a special cheer for Iga Swiatek from the sidelines, recalling the reaction the Polish player generates from fans when she plays at Roland Garros.

Evert supports Navratilova in Wimbledon statue discussion

A social media post sparked a debate about whether Roger Federer deserves a statue at Wimbledon, more than two years after his retirement. The Swiss Maestro is the most successful male Wimbledon champion, with 8 titles between 2003 and 2017, along with 4 runner-up finishes. Federer ended his career with a record of 105-14 (88%) at the All England Club, the tournament where he achieved his best results.

The discussion, initiated by a user on X, was joined by none other than 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert—who herself won the Wimbledon title three times. Evert added to the conversation by suggesting that her friend and great rival Martina Navratilova also deserves to be considered for a statue at the iconic grass-court Grand Slam.

The women’s record at Wimbledon belongs to the Czech-American Navratilova, who claimed 9 titles between 1978 and 1990, including six consecutive wins (1982-1987). The 18-time Grand Slam champion also reached three other finals at the tournament, finishing with an extraordinary record of 120-14 (90%) at SW19.

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Evert’s comments coincided with her 70th birthday, for which she received several special greetings. Among those who didn’t hesitate to congratulate her was the legendary Billie Jean King, who shared a photo with 'Chrissie' on social media and celebrated her as one of the greatest in tennis history.

“On this day in 1954, a future tennis legend was born! Happy birthday to 18x Grand Slam singles champion, the first woman athlete to be @SInow's sole recipient of the 'Sportsperson of the Year' award, and our dear friend, @ChrissieEvert,” wrote King.

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King wasn’t the only one, as Navratilova also had congratulations for Evert. The two built one of the most remarkable rivalries in history. They faced off 90 times between 1973 and 1988 – 60 of those in finals – with Navratilova leading 43-37 (36-24 in finals). Arguably the greatest rivalry in history, where each won 18 Grand Slam titles, meeting at least four times in every Grand Slam (14-8 for Navratilova), 14 of those in finals (10-4).

A unique aspect of their legendary rivalry is that Evert and Navratilova became close friends over the years, a friendship that still endures today, more than 50 years since their first encounter. It was precisely Navratilova who wished her former rival:

“Happy 70th today to my friend, nemesis, partner and most of all an amazing, strong, resilient and compassionate woman, champion of champions! Lots of love, m,” she posted. “Here is looking at you, kid:) @ChrissieEvert.”

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Cheering Champion: Tsitsipas delights fans supporting Swiatek

Stefanos Tsitsipas created a fun moment at the World Tennis League while cheering on Iga Swiatek during her match against Elena Rybakina. The Polish star, playing the opening match of the tie between the Eagles and Falcons, secured a commanding 6-3 win over the 2022 Wimbledon champion to give her team a strong start.

During the match, Tsitsipas, standing courtside with his girlfriend Paula Badosa—also a member of Team Eagles—offered a unique cheer for the 5-time Grand Slam champion. His enthusiastic shout drew laughter from Badosa and caught the crowd's attention. Later, the former World No. 3 shared a video of the moment on social media with the caption: “The way the French do at Roland-Garros 🙌.”

Swiatek, a 4-time French Open champion, later thanked Tsitsipas for his support and his amusing cheer. “That really made me smile. Thank you 🫶🏼,” she said. Swiatek then teamed up with Badosa to defeat the duo of Caroline Garcia and Rybakina, while Tsitsipas paired with Alexander Shevchenko to triumph over Rublev and Shapovalov in the men’s doubles. Despite the Eagles winning the tie, it wasn’t enough to reach the WTL final, and they were ultimately eliminated from the competition.

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Ben Shelton tackles the “Gift Wrapping Challenge”

Ben Shelton starred in Tennis Channel’s latest video, participating in the “Gift Wrapping Challenge” as he attempted to wrap a present ahead of the holiday season. The American, ranked World No. 31, had a fun time on camera, answering a round of questions and sharing his Christmas wish list.

“I actually just asked my agent for a gift yesterday. I need new headphones; I tend to lose them a lot, so hopefully, he comes through for me and gets me some headphones sent to my house,” said the former US Open semifinalist.

Shelton also revealed what’s currently on his playlist. “I’ve been listening to a lot of Afrobeat lately because the Afrobeat Artist of the Year award is coming up, but none of my guys were nominated, which I think is kind of messed up. I love Ruger, Rema, and I’m a big fan of Wizkid too. Those are a few of the artists I listen to.”

With the 2025 season approaching, Shelton still has a few weeks to prepare. He will play the ASB Classic in Auckland starting January 7 as the first seed before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open the following week.

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Chilean vs. Argentine: Tabilo claims South American exhibition

Alejandro Tabilo (World No. 23) and Tomás Martín Etcheverry (World No. 39) played an exciting exhibition match ahead of their journey to Australia to kick off the 2025 season. The Chilean and Argentine delivered an entertaining clash, with Tabilo claiming a straight-sets victory, 7-5, 7-6.

Two of South America's highest-ranked players competed in a match far from the bright lights of Dubai’s World Tennis League or the intense preseason grind in Australia.

Both players are now gearing up to cross the globe for a strong season start. Etcheverry is set to debut at the Adelaide International beginning January 6, while Tabilo will make a stop at the Brisbane International starting December 30 before heading to Auckland to defend his ASB Classic title. Below are some of the highlights from this South American battle.