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 bring you big news from Angelique Kerber, Madison Keys and Bjorn Fratangelo.
Three-time Grand Slam champion. Former world No. 1. And now... a mom!
2016 US Open champion Angelique Kerber and partner Franco Bianco welcomed their first child, Liana, on Saturday. The German shared the happy news in a Tuesday Instagram post.
"Having you with us is the most beautiful and overwhelming feeling we could have ever imagined," she wrote.
Kerber announced her pregnancy on Instagram just before the US Open in August.
"I really wanted to play the US Open but eventually I decided that two against one just isn't a fair competition," she posted at the time. "New York has often been a turning point in my career and it feels like this year will be no different in some way! From restarting my career in 2011 to winning the title in 2016 and becoming No. 1 in the world… the US Open has a special place in my heart."
More happy news this week came courtesy of Madison Keys and Bjorn Fratangelo, with Keys announcing their engagement Thursday on Instagram. The post was quickly flooded with comments from well-wishers, including messages from Sloane Stephens, Caroline Wozniacki, Frances Tiafoe and Dana Mathewson.
"Yesssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are getting married!!!!!!!!!!!" said Stephens, who wed soccer star Jozy Altidore last year.
"That ring is tuuuuffff," added Tiafoe.
From fine jewelery, we move to fine fashion. Well, fine tennis fashion at least.
Casper Ruud had a breakthrough season in 2022, reaching his first two Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros and the US Open and rising to world No. 2 behind his New York run. The Norwegian's sisters, Charlotte and Caroline, reminisced by raiding his closet to bring back some of Ruud's best on-court looks in this viral TikTok.
Unfortunately it's not all good news this week. Rafael Nadal, who has been out since the Australian Open with an injury to the iliopsoas muscle in his left leg, confirmed on Tuesday that he would miss Indian Wells and Miami as he continues his recovery.
The Spaniard reached the Indian Wells final last season but did not play Miami. He last competed at the South Florida event in 2017, when he reached the final.
Back on the court, we head to Acapulco for one of the shots of the young season. Competing with Mackenzie McDonald in doubles, Australian Open quarterfinalist Ben Shelton went behind the back for this jaw-dropping winner.
The American team rode the momentum of that stunner to upset fourth seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 7-6(5), 6-4 at the ATP 500. Their run ultimately ended in the quarterfinals as they fell just short in a match tiebreak.
Shelton also made his Acapulco singles debut this week as a wild card, dropping a 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-2 decision to Holger Rune. The pair are set to team up next week in Indian Wells as one of many marquee doubles duos across the men's and women's entry lists. Acapulco semifinal opponents Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul will also team up, as well as the tried and true American pairing of Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
Main-draw action at Indian Wells begins on Wednesday.
Check back next week for more US Open Hot Shots!
