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 look back at Roland Garros and look forward to the grass-court season and beyond.
While the ATP and WTA Tours are shifting from clay to grass, Jack Sock is already thinking about getting back on the hard courts in the United States. With the US Open just over two months away, the American asked Nick Kyrgios to team up in New York.
The fan favorites have already won two ATP titles together, in Lyon in 2019 and last season in Washington, and their combined showmanship and shotmaking abilities would no doubt thrive in the Grand Slam spotlight. Both are already major champions in doubles, with Sock a three-time titlist (Wimbledon in 2014 and 2018, US Open in 2018) and Kyrgios the 2022 Australian Open champ.
Another duo has been making headlines off the court. The newest power couple in tennis, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa have been sharing snaps of their time together on social media, announcing their relationship to the world.
Tsitsipas posted a clip of the two hugging after an exhibition doubles match earlier this year in Indian Wells, a moment he said still sticks with him three months later.
Perhaps inspired by his new relationship, Tsitsipas tweeted a heartfelt message later in the week. Or did he?
The tweet was posted while the Greek was on the court in Stuttgart against Richard Gasquet, leaving fans to wonder whether he had scheduled the post to go live during his match.
Tsitsipas was beaten in the match by Gasquet, who earned his 600th career win with the 7-6(8), 2-6, 7-5 victory. In doing so, the Frenchman became just the fourth active player to reach the 600 mark, joining Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
"Of course I'm the worst by far!" Gasquet joked after joining the three legends, as quoted on ATPTour.com. "The worst player by far to reach this milestone But it's great."
Bringing it back to Roland Garros, Iga Swiatek celebrated her third Paris title by visiting 14-time champion Rafael Nadal for his academy's graduation in Mallorca, Spain. The Pole delivered the keynote speech, with Nadal also addressing the graduates.
One day after Djokovic won his record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam men's singles crown on Sunday at Roland Garros, there was more sporting success for Serbia. On Monday night in the U.S., basketball star Nikola Jokic won the NBA Finals MVP for his efforts in bringing the Denver Nuggets their first NBA title.
Djokovic took to Twitter to congratulate his countryman.
Finally, Great Britain's Katie Boulter shared some footage from her younger days as she marked the occasion of becoming the British No. 1 in the WTA singles rankings. The World No. 126 tempered her celebrations, noting that bigger goals lie ahead, and she has already taken further steps to return to the Top 100 this week by reaching the semifinals at the WTA 250 in Nottingham, Great Britain.
Check back next week for more US Open Hot Shots!
