Best off-court moments of 2024: Monfils meets Ronaldo & more!
Tennis may dominate their schedules, but the stars of the ATP Tour know how to embrace life beyond the court.
Whether swapping training tips with football legends or sharing laughs with NBA giants, a wide range of players has enjoyed a series of fascinating experiences across the year. As part of our annual season-in-review series, ATPTour.com looks back at some of the best off-court moments from 2024.
[ATP APP]Monfils meets Ronaldo in Miami
Gael Monfils, renowned as one of the most athletic movers on the ATP Tour, met one of the most graceful football players of all time when he crossed paths with Brazilian icon Ronaldo at the Miami Open presented by Itau.
“He’s such a legend,” Monfils said. “He is someone that when I was young, of course I was looking at him. He is a legend of the sport.”
When R9 met La Monf ❤️
🇧🇷⚽️ @Ronaldo 🫂 @Gael_Monfils 🇫🇷🎾@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/yGTGGcbUQ4
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 20, 2024
Djokovic visits Great Wall of China
As part of a special event hosted by Lacoste, Novak Djokovic climbed one of the best-preserved passes along the Great Wall of China. The Serbian star’s defensive skills have long been said to resemble ‘a wall’, so it was only fitting that he hit some balls when in Beijing ahead of the Asian swing.
<img alt=”Novak Djokovic” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/10/01/04/41/djokovic-great-wall-2024.jpg?w=100%25″ />Novak Djokovic at the Great Wall of China. (Photo Credit: Lacoste)
Federer declares himself a ‘Swiftie’ in Zurich
When Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ arrived in his native Switzerland, Roger Federer was quick to joining in the fun. The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who is keeping himself rather occupied in retirement, declared himself a ‘Swiftie’ after indulging in the highest-grossing tour of all time.
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Team USA share boat ride with LeBron James in Paris
WTA No. 3 Coco Gauff’s role as co-flagbearer for the United States, alongside NBA legend LeBron James, paved the way for a rather different experience of the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics.
Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul were among the American tennis players invited up to the front of Team USA’s boat to share a memorable ride with James down the river Seine.
“It was awesome for all of us because of the fact that we did kind of get to experience the opening ceremonies a little bit differently than all the other Americans,” said Fritz.
The American Olympics tennis team with LeBron James during the opening ceremony. (Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images)