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Carlos Alcaraz shared his thoughts on tennis icon Rafael Nadal’s "tough" decision to retire from professional tennis. In other tennis-related news, Chris Evert commended Coco Gauff's mental strength in achieving the latter's maiden WTA Finals title.
Meanwhile, Barbora Krejcikova reacted strongly to a tennis insider’s "unprofessional" comments on her appearance. Fashion critic shared his hot take on players' outfits at the ATP Finals photoshoot.
On that note, here's a recap of today's trending pop moments in tennis:
Carlos Alcaraz opens up about the "tough" reality of Rafael Nadal’s retirement
Carlos Alcaraz has shared his feelings about Rafael Nadal's decision to retire from professional tennis.
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Currently, in Turin for the 2024 ATP Finals, where he is in the John Newcombe Group with Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, and Andrey Rublev, Alcaraz will next compete at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, coinciding with Nadal's retirement.
In a recent Marca interview before the ATP Finals, Alcaraz expressed his sadness over Nadal's retirement, noting that the latter explained his "tough decision" came after thorough discussions with his family and team.
"No, not really. I wish I could have. I know that the decision has already been made. I asked him if it was a tough day when he announced his retirement, if it was a tough decision to make," Alcaraz said.
"He said yes, but it is a decision that has been carefully thought out because these decisions are not taken lightly. It was thought out with his family, with his team, these are his feelings," he added.
Third-seed Carlos Alcaraz will kick off his ATP Finals campaign with a first-round robin match against sixth-seed Casper Ruud on November 11.
Chris Evert attributes Coco Gauff's WTA Finals triumph to her mental toughness
Chris Evert heaped praise on Coco Gauff for capturing her first WTA Finals title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Gauff advanced to the semifinals with straight-set victories over Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek, where she then triumphed over top seed Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(4), 6-3 to secure a championship match against Zheng Qinwen, ultimately winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2)
Evert commended Gauff’s "mental toughness" throughout the match, emphasizing that her resilience was a key factor alongside her powerful forehand and reliable serve.
"The forehand was impressive, the serving consistent and powerful, but what stood out, as always, was the mental toughness of @CocoGauff @WTAFinalsRiyadh," Evert posted on X.
Barbora Krejcikova hits back at tennis insider for his "unprofessional" remarks on her appearance
Barbora Krejcikova called out tennis journalist Jon Wertheim for what she described as unprofessional conduct following his controversial remarks on her appearance during the 2024 WTA Finals.
Wertheim's snide remark about Krejcikova's forehead on the Tennis Channel led to significant backlash on social media.
"What do you think I am? Barbora Krejcikova. Look at the forehead when Krejcikova and Zheng take the court. Eighthead," Wertheim had said.
Krejcikova responded to the remark with a pointed message on X, expressing her disappointment over such comments in women’s tennis.
The Czech tennis star, who recently concluded her season following a semifinal run in the WTA Finals, shared that while she had previously remained silent on similar issues, this instance compelled her to speak up, urging journalists to maintain higher standards of professionalism.
"You might have heard about the recent comments made on Tennis Channel during the WTA Finals coverage that focused on my appearance rather than my performance. As an athlete who has dedicated herself to this sport, it was disappointing to see this type of unprofessional commentary," Krejcikova wrote.
"This isn’t the first time something like this is happening in sports world. I’ve often chosen not to speak up, but I believe it’s time to address the need for respect and professionalism in sports media," she added.
Fashion expert weighs in on the players' outfits during the ATP Finals photoshoot
Canadian fashion writer Derek Guy gave his take on the players' formal outfits at the 2024 ATP Finals photoshoot, featuring stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Alexander Zverev, held at the Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento on November 7.
On X, Guy compared these outfits to the iconic 2009 ATP Finals photoshoot featuring Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. He criticized the color choices and the lack of ties, suggesting the looks didn’t quite match the style from 15 years prior.
"Some of the outfits on the right have bad color choices. but most conspicuously, they are missing ties, which makes the outfits look very plain," Derek Guy wrote.
Expressing further disappointment, Guy highlighted issues like the lack of padding and tailored fit, specifically calling Casper Ruud’s outfit “odd” and remarking that the clothing would work better as suits than as sport coats.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
