Welcome to the latest edition of "Hot Shots," a USOpen.org-curated look at what you may have missed on social media over the past week. This week, we check in on the off-court exploits of Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray, who have both been racking up the wins this week on the ATP Tour.
Carlos Alcaraz rose to tennis superstardom in 2022, his ascent capped off by his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. Now the Spaniard is gaining exposure to a new audience with a feature in Vogue, complete with a fashion-forward photoshoot.
The 19-year-old, who won the Cordoba title last week in his season debut, discusses a wide range of topics in the story, including his admiration for the great Roger Federer.
Alcaraz has extended his perfect start to the season this week in Rio de Janeiro, where he is through to the quarterfinals. The defending champion at the ATP 500 event also took some time to hang out with a few furry friends in between his victories in Brazil.
Andy Murray has proven to be a marathon man this season, earning all five of his wins in deciding sets across the Australian Open and this week's Doha ATP 250. The 2012 US Open champ opened his Doha campaign by saving three match points against Lorenzo Sonego in a two-and-a-half-hour thriller that ended in a third-set breaker.
His mother, Judy Murray, tweeted after the stress-inducing victory: "A straight-sets win once in a while would be nice," adding a roller coaster emoji.
But the drama was far from over for her son, who scored two more three-set wins—againt fourth seed Alexander Zverev and Frenchman Alexandre Muller—to reach his 102nd tour-level semifinal.
There was still some downtime for the pair, who hit an arcade on Murray's day off Tuesday.
Ajla Tomljanovic, one of the stars of Netflix's 'Break Point,' made headlines at the US Open when she ended Serena Williams' farewell run on the way to the quarterfinals. The Aussie has yet to take the court this season as she recovers from a knee procedure, but she was able to spend some time with her good friend Chris Evert this week.
During her second straight Wimbledon quarterfinal run last July, the 29-year-old shared that she had become close with her fellow Florida resident.
"Over the past few months we've been talking more than ever. She's been there for me, like, this year a lot. It's been so nice," Tomljanovic said after her fourth-round win at the All England Club. "We love each other, so we are there for each other in that way. She texted me before the match that she believes in me."
Evert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022 but announced last month that she is now cancer-free.
Iga Swiatek won 37 straight matches last season, including her title defense at Roland Garros. Don't look now, but the reigning US Open champ might be working on another epic run.
After winning her first title of 2023 last week in Doha, she is through to the semis this week in Dubai. The world No. 1 has lost just eight games in those five wins, claiming four bagel sets and five 6-1 stanzas.
Such domination can be hard to put into words...
While we all love watching the pros play, particularly when they're in the sort of form Swiatek is displaying, it can be just as much fun to get out on the court ourselves. Thursday was Play Tennis Day in the U.S., but it's a great reason to get out and play anywhere around the world.
If you missed out on Thursday's festivities, theres a whole weekend ahead to find some court time. Word to the wise: If you're just playing for fun, maybe don't follow in Swiatek's footsteps with all those 6-0 sets... You might lose your playing partner!
Check back next week for more US Open Hot Shots!
