Welcome to this week's edition of "Hot Shots," a USOpen.org-curated look at what you may have missed on social media over the past week. Los Angeles’ 30th annual ESPY Awards saw lots of tennis love, including a Chris Evert nod and a meeting between two generations of Billies — Jean King and Eilish. Meanwhile, Serena Williams hit Athens, Genie Bouchard hosted a pizza party in New York, and Novak Djokovic traveled to Rio de Janeiro for martial arts training.
Billie on Billie, Chris Evert recognized at ESPY Awards
Two cultural icons share a first name and passion for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
At this year’s ESPY Awards in California, 39-time Grand Slam winner and social justice pioneer Billie Jean King met seven-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish. They found more common ground than one might expect, even forming the “#bestnameclub”.
The sports ceremony also honored Hall of Famer Chris Evert’s efforts to grant equal access to tennis to children through the USTA Foundation and the Evert Academy. She received the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award.
“To see these kids blossom, and to see them mature, and to see them engage with each other, it’s not only about the tennis,” Evert said in the video the ESPY Awards posted to Twitter. “It’s also about the education.”
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal won the award for best male tennis player of the year, and Emma Raducanu won best female player.
Naomi Osaka parts with coach Wim Fissette
After two-and-a-half years together (and two Grand Slam titles – the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open), Naomi Osaka and coach Wim Fissette have parted ways.
Fissette, who has worked with world No. 1 players from Kim Clijsters to Simona Halep to Angelique Kerber, announced the split on Instagram this Wednesday. He had nothing but kind words for Osaka, who he said “inspired a whole new generation” while wishing her all the best.
Djokovic, Alcaraz try new sports
What do you do after you’ve won your seventh Wimbledon title? Novak Djokovic headed to Rio de Janeiro to try capoeira, a Brazilian mixture of martial arts, dance and acrobatics. He may never be an MMA fighter, but the former 21-time Grand Slam champion looks like he’s having fun.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz tried table tennis between matches at the Hamburg European Open. He can do it all – clay courts, grass courts, hard courts, and now even miniature courts.
“The Big Four” will play together at this year’s Laver Cup
For the first time since the Laver Cup began in 2017, each member of the famed “Big Four” of men’s tennis – Serbia’s Djokovic, Great Britain’s Andy Murray, Spain’s Nadal, and – yes – Switzerland’s Roger Federer will finally team up at September's team event in London. This will mark Federer’s first competition since Wimbledon 2021, which he lost in the quarterfinals.
As Djokovic noted in his tweet, the news is worthy of a smile. And a scorching flame.
Serena Williams hits Athens
She’s just signed up for both August’s National Bank Open in Toronto and, the following week, the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. But for now, Serena Williams and her family are taking a little break in Greece.
Reflecting on her “glowing” image in an Instagram post, Williams took it as a positive sign: “I think Its a message to keep shining. Hope you shine bright today.”
Genie Bouchard understands New Yorkers
You’ve got to hand it to Wimbledon 2014 finalist Genie Bouchard. Canada's former world No. 5 understands that the key to a New Yorker’s heart is pizza.
She hosted her second annual “Genie’s Pizza Party” at Joe’s Pizza on Carmine Street during a blistering day, and an Instagram photo shows the festivity was a success.
“Should we do these more often?” she asked, in what may be the most rhetorical question of all time.
