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. Coco Gauff and the rest of the WTA's best got into the Texas spirit in Fort Worth, while Carlos Alcaraz shed light on his trademark victory celebration.
The WTA Finals returned to the U.S. this week for the first time since 2005, with the stars of women's tennis competing for the final individual prize of the season in the Lone Star State. Before the action got underway, the players dished about several Texas topics, including their favorite food to throw on the barbeque.
Coco Gauff, being interviewed by world No. 8 Daria Kasatkina, didn't have to think twice about her answer: ribs. Jessica Pegula, Gauff's doubles partner and the only other American in the singles draw, opted for brisket.
But Gauff had a strong stance when it came to vegetables, saying there's only one that belongs at a barbeque... "It's corn!"
In last week's Hot Shots we saw Caroline Garcia don boots and a cowgirl hat as she enjoyed a warm Texas welcome. But Iga Swiatek, whose buggy-whip forehand was famously photoshopped onto a horse earlier this year, might have a claim for best horse-rider of the group.
While that question may never be answered, it's safe to say that Swiatek has been the WTA's best tennis player this season. The Roland Garros and US Open champion has lived up to her billing as world No. 1 with two dominant victories against Garcia and Kasatkina in the WTA Finals group stage, and will face Gauff on Saturday.
Before we move on from Fort Worth, we'll leave you with Barbora Krejcikova's Texas two-step.
'Watch this': Rolex Paris Masters
The ATP Tour is back in Paris this week, but we'll stay on the American theme with US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe. The Maryland native bowed out against the red-hot Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarters, but has now reached at least that stage in four of his last five events, beginning with his breakout run in New York. He is 14-6 in his last 20 matches, including a Laver Cup-clinching victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas for Team World.
Always a fan favorite, Tiafoe shared a sweet moment with a young ball person as he took a quick rest in Paris during his match against Auger-Aliassime.
US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz also saw his Paris run end on Friday, as he retired with an abdominal injury late in his match against Holger Rune. But the Spaniard did score two wins on the week in reaching the last eight, downing Yoshihito Nishioka and Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets and earning the opportunity to flash his famous victory celebration.
On Twitter, he explained that the go-to move is in honor of his friends, with "lupas" translating to magnifying glasses.
See the future!
Before the match with Rune, Alcaraz shared an old photo of him and the Dane from their junior days. The pair have now split their two meetings as professionals, with Alcaraz claiming victory one year ago at the Next Gen Finals, which he went on to win.
Speaking of the Next Gen Finals, we'll leave you with this gem from the 2019 event, which featured a star-studded lineup including Casper Ruud, Jannik Sinner and Alex de Minaur. Jannik Sinner's punch line — "See the future! — proved prescient in this case.
With the 2022 event set for next week, Holger Rune, Lorenzo Musetti and Jack Draper will lead the way this year in Milan.
