After an intense battle in Rotterdam, Carlos Alcaraz didn’t just win a trophy—he won hearts worldwide with an unexpected embrace. No, not with a girlfriend (because he doesn’t have one), but with the tournament mascot.

Yes, in a moment that sent waves of pure serotonin across the tennis world, Alcaraz wrapped his muscular arms around the fuzzy figure like it was the love of his life. Fans watching live had two immediate reactions:

1. “Awww, that’s adorable!”
2. “Wait… does he actually prefer mascots over humans?”

Hugging It Out After a Tough Season

Let’s be real—Alcaraz has had a tough few months. Jannik Sinner has been flexing his way up the ATP rankings, leaving Carlitos watching from a slightly less glamorous spot. But instead of brooding over his rival’s success, Alcaraz took a different approach: mascot therapy.

After securing victory against Alex de Minaur in the final, Alcaraz turned to the nearest fluffy creature and let it all out. It was a hug that said:

• “I missed winning!”
• “You understand me better than my racquet does.”
• “Can you travel with me on tour?”

With no girlfriend in sight, fans are now wondering: Could a giant, costumed character be Alcaraz’s true soulmate?

Tennis Twitter erupted with theories:

• “He’s been spending too much time with his drop shots—now he’s dropping his emotional barriers too.”
• “That mascot just entered the ATP Top 10 in terms of best on-court chemistry.”
• “Djokovic kisses trophies, Nadal bites them, and now Alcaraz hugs mascots—we love to see it.”

Will Alcaraz make mascot-hugging a new post-match tradition? Will he demand the ATP introduce emotional support mascots at every tournament? Will Sinner respond by hugging a robot just to keep things competitive?

One thing’s for sure: Carlos Alcaraz may not have a girlfriend, but at least he’s got someone to hold onto when the ranking points go up and down.

And isn’t that what we all want in life? 🐻🎾❤️

Frances Tiafoe has made a significant shift in his apparel sponsorship, leaving Nike after a nearly nine-year partnership to join Canadian athletic wear brand Lululemon ahead of the 2025 Australian Open. The World No. 17 will debut his new look featuring a custom Metal Vent Tech Tee and Pace Breaker Short in “Passionate Pink,” along with a custom Sojourn Windbreaker Jacket that pays homage to his DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) roots.

For footwear, Tiafoe has also made a change, switching to K-Swiss and specifically wearing the K-Swiss Ultrashot 4 shoes on court.

Strategic Partnership

For Lululemon, signing Frances Tiafoe represents a major step in expanding their tennis presence. The brand first entered tennis in 2022 and sees Tiafoe’s dynamic personality and style as perfect alignment with their brand values. As part of his ambassador role, Tiafoe will:
– Test new performance innovations
– Provide feedback on product designs
– Help develop future tennis collections
– Inform both on-court and off-court solutions

Other Lululemon Tennis Athletes

The brand’s tennis roster includes:
– Leylah Fernandez (signed in 2022 as their first tennis ambassador)
– Daria Saville (formerly Gavrilova)

Contract Details

While specific financial terms of Tiafoe’s deal with Lululemon have not been publicly disclosed, the partnership appears to be a multi-year agreement. The timing is strategic for both parties, with Tiafoe entering his prime years on tour and Lululemon looking to establish a stronger foothold in tennis apparel.

The partnership represents Lululemon’s biggest men’s tennis signing to date and signals their serious intent to compete with traditional tennis apparel brands like Nike, Adidas, and Lacoste in the performance tennis wear market.