Welcome to today's edition of "Hot Shots," a USOpen.org-curated look at what you may have missed on social media over the past few days.
As the world continues to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, tennis players took to social media to support their communities, entertain their fans and share their experiences of what day-to-day life looks like without ATP and WTA tournaments taking place.
On the final day of July and with the return of professional tennis imminent in August, Gael Monfils is dancing into a new month on the calendar with girlfriend and WTA world No. 5 Elina Svitolina — and impressing Stefanos Tsitsipas in the process.
Monfils and Svitolina are showcasing that it's important to take the weekend to relax, especially when a tough work week got the better of you.
Just ask Americans Madison Keys and Shelby Rogers.
Someone else who might be ready for a relaxing weekend is Dominic Thiem. The world No. 4 shared this scenic shot from his time off in the Austrian vinyards after competing in an exhibition tournament in Germany earlier this month.
Speaking of viral videos... during the pandemic, two sisters from Italy captivated tennis fans everywhere in a rooftop tennis session that spread far and wide, and even Roger Federer took notice.
Fast forward to the present, 13-year-old Vittoria and 11-year-old Carola were given the surprise of a lifetime by the 20-time Grand Slam champion, and got the chance to meet their idol, recreate their viral match with the all-time great and get a special surprise.
Federer's viral visit with the two girls warmed many hearts on social media, including those of other tennis pros.
Rounding out the week was a special birthday for a trio of tennis influencers: legendary coach Nick Bollettieri, who turned 89 on Friday, former World No. 1 Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and two-time French Open doubles champion and current Spanish Fed Cup captain Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Former US Open finalists Kei Nishikori and Mary Pierce, both of whom honed their tennis games at Bollettieri's academy in Florida in their formative years, sent kudos to their legendary coach.
Meanwhile, WTA stars past and present were celebrating the Aussie and Spanish champs from afar.
Check back soon for another edition of "US Open Hot Shots."
