Daily Dose of Social Media: Marta Kostyuk brings her dog onto court, Ben Shelton nearly hits ball kid with rapid serve
WTAFriday, 25 April 2025 at 23:30
In our Daily Dose of Social Media, we take a look at the moments that you may have missed from social media over the past day including entertainment and news mainly from the Madrid Open.
This includes Marta Kostyuk adorably bringing her dog onto the court after beating Emma Raducanu, more hawkeye problems and Eva Lys ironically showing aggression.
Marta Kostyuk delights on court and adorable post win moment
Marta Kostyuk sealed a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win over Emma Raducanu on Friday afternoon at the Madrid Open as the Brit couldn't continue her exploits from Miami into the latest tournament.
Kostyuk though had a double treat for the crowd assembled who got to see her produce a superb final set. She brought her dog onto the court to celebrate after sealing the win.
Next up for Kostyuk is a tie on Sunday against Veronika Kudermetova and given her opening win, it could be a latter stage run from the returning Ukrainian who had to miss recent weeks due to an injury sustained at the Billie Jean King Cup.
Marta Kostyuk brings her dog on court after beating Emma Raducanu in Madrid.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 25, 2025
Too cute. 🐕❤️
pic.twitter.com/8VTC1sZ7Ln
Azarenka in more clay court hawkeye controversy
Hawkeye has been the source of much debate as of late in particular in the Aryna Sabalenka and Elise Mertens match at the Stuttgart Open.
It was the same again in Madrid in the doubles. Azarenka's serve was called out, Demi Schuurs and Asia Muhammad stopped to say it was actually in.
They talked to the umpire and gave Azarenka a first serve again in a great act of sportsmanship but also showcases the issues with hawkeye which have plagued the sport in recent months.
Read also
Some more clay hawkeye distrust:
— Owen (@kostekcanu) April 24, 2025
Azarenka's serve was called out, Demi and Asia stopped to say it was actually in, so they talked with the ump and gave Vika a first serve again 👏 pic.twitter.com/5zIm16XI29
WTA respond after AI controversy
The WTA have responded after the incident surrounding AI which saw Ben Rothenberg find out that they seemed to be using AI to doctor images.
In particular Iga Swiatek v Alexandra Eala which saw Rothenberg write a detailed piece about why it looked like AI and featured such issues as Swiatek's teeth being yellow and Eala's sponsors being removed.
They released a statement issued by Rothenberg saying the following: "An image was created in a tool that put together the two photos and to fit the size of that position on our website."
"Unfortunately, it did not render correctly and the cropping then distorted the photo."
The dangers of AI in full effect and an incident which has landed the WTA in an embarrassing quandary as evidenced by Rothenberg's piece.
Read also
I received this statement from the WTA this morning about this incident (will update the story when back home): https://t.co/FwUWyX5VWo pic.twitter.com/QVpSTjKPrR
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) April 25, 2025
Ben Shelton just misses ball kid with unreturnable serve
Ben Shelton is known as having one of the best serves on tour and the ball kid saw her like flash before her eyes in her latest win over Mariano Navone.
Shelton served an unreturnable ace and it cascaded in the direction of the ball kid who it just missed.
Panning over to the ball kid, it could be said that they were shook up by the incident as they had the look of just missing a close shave when it came to this serve.
Ever seen your life flash before your eyes?#MMOpen pic.twitter.com/CJSiMZw5H4
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 25, 2025
Azarenka shares behind the scenes of doubles tandem
Speaking of Victoria Azarenka earlier, the former World No.1 who has left the top 50 this week and is the last player born in the 1980's to do so with all other players in the top 50 being born later than.
Azarenka lost her opening match so dropped a load of points but she is usually a banker to play well in doubles in Madrid even after the controversy the other year of a lack of ceremony.
This time she is teaming with a rising American star in the form of Ashlyn Krueger in an experience vs present nouse tandem. Krueger was rocking a personalised Inter Miami jersey for the occasion as it showed the duo practicing together.
They saw off Schuurs and Muhammad and now have Ekaterina Alexandrova and Peyton Stearns to follow another tandem of experience and a rising American.
Eva Lys shows hilarious aggression
Eva Lys was well beaten by Jessica Pegula on Friday at the Madrid Open. The German ace continues to ascend higher up the WTA rankings but is yet to find the happy medium of being able to massively trouble the huge names.
She had a hilarious moment though in and amongst it all on Friday as she didn't want to smash her racquet.
The caption wrote: "I didn't know Eva Lys was capable of this kind of aggression." as she tapped her racquet off the ground in frustration.
She went on to lose 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour to the third seed who moves on and could yet become World No.2 this week.
I didn't know Eva Lys was capable of this kind of aggression 😱 pic.twitter.com/EcOMweSyDC
— Owen (@kostekcanu) April 25, 2025
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- Keep avoiding anti-Social Media, do your best to ignore loser sports writer's questions, and just do your own thing.
mandoist24-04-2025 - Let's face it, Saba is not the sharpest tool in the tool shed. Her sarcasm / passive agressive nonsense has always been annoying. Granted, attempting humor in another language is tough but she truly sucks at it.mandoist24-04-2025
- Well, that was ... all about nothing. Every excuse and future workout plan mentioned should have been dealt with a long time ago. R.I.P., Mark Petchey.mandoist22-04-2025
- I hope Marion Bley is the Chair Ump for the Final. It would be Karma Served for Saba after her disrespectful 'performance' in the semi.mandoist21-04-2025
- Coco needs to stop the Williams Hero Worship and play like 'Coco'.mandoist19-04-2025
- Didn't expect issues between these two...SakkariFan2318-04-2025
- Send her a crate of deodorant DoveSakkariFan2318-04-2025
- Good to see, hopefully Sakkari can return to the form she deserves.SakkariFan2318-04-2025
- Shame no play on Friday but some line-up incoming..SakkariFan2318-04-2025
- Zverev's reaction lacked a bit of class this time around. He handled it better in Australia.MrAndreeva18-04-2025
