Tennis News Today: Journalist remarks on Naomi Osaka's controversial coaching hire days before Coco Gauff's split; Novak Djokovic's striptease with Grigor Dimitrov breaks the internet

Tennis Journalist Jon Wertheim questioned Naomi Osaka's decision to hire Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou amid the Coco Gauff-Brad Gilbert split. On the other hand, Novak Djokovic and Grigor Dimitrov stole the spotlight with a hilarious striptease in the Bulgaria exhibition match.

Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend Morgan Riddle joined Vogue magazine as a contributor, following a key meeting with influential fashion icon Anna Wintour. Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian challenged Pickleball's recognition as a legitimate sport.

Also, Anastasia Potapova and her husband Alexander Shevchenko sparked speculation after reportedly unfollowing each other on Instagram.

On that note, here's a recap of today's top tennis news:

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Novak Djokovic and Grigor Dimitrov dazzle the crowd with hilarious striptease at Bulgaria exhibition

Novak Djokovic and Grigor Dimitrov entertained the audience with a playful striptease during their exhibition match in Sofia, Bulgaria. The two tennis stars took part in the 'Postbank Visa Tennis Gala,' hosted by the Grigor Dimitrov Foundation on 17 September at Arena Sofia Hall.

During the changeover, Djokovic started dancing to the arena's background music while shirtless, even throwing in a few pushups, which drew loud applause from the crowd. The Serb then playfully challenged Dimitrov to join in, and the Bulgarian happily complied, slowly removing his shirt.

Watch the video here:

After Dimitrov won the match 6-4, 2-6, 10-6, Djokovic showcased his vocal talents, leading the audience in a lively sing-along.

Watch the video here:

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Tennis journalist remarks about Naomi Osaka missing out on hiring Coco Gauff's former coach following recent split

Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim commented on Naomi Osaka's decision to hire Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou in light of the recent split between Coco Gauff and her coach Brad Gilbert.

Osaka had recently ended her partnership with Wim Fissette, who had helped her win two of her four Grand Slam titles. After her second-round loss at the 2024 US Open, Osaka revealed she had parted ways with Fissette, with whom she worked from 2019 to 2022, and reunited after her maternity break. Soon after, reports surfaced that Osaka was training with Mouratoglou at UCLA.

Wertheim took to X to suggest that Osaka might have rushed into the decision to hire Mouratoglou, hinting that Gilbert could have been a better coaching choice for her.

"Naomi Osaka should have waited a week….," Wertheim tweeted.

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Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend Morgan Riddle announces new role as a contributor in Vogue magazine

Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend Morgan Riddle announced that she has become a contributor for Vogue magazine after a recent meeting with its editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

As a social media influencer, the 27-year-old documents the couple’s life both on and off the ATP Tour while traveling with Fritz. She has previously collaborated with major brands such as F1, Wilson, Heineken, and Fenty Beauty.

Riddle is now advancing her career by blending her passion for tennis and fashion. On Wednesday, she shared on Instagram that she visited the Vogue office last week, where her new role was confirmed.

"I thought this month couldn’t get crazier, and then last week i had the privilege to visit the vogue office and sit down with anna wintour — someone who i have admired for so long. incredibly excited to share i am joining @voguemagazine as a contributor. Follow along on the new app where ill be sharing BTS with editors and other contributors of fashion & fun," Riddle wrote.

The 2024 US Open finalist is currently in Berlin, where he will make his fourth appearance at the Laver Cup as a part of Team World.

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Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian downplays pickleball’s legitimacy

Alexis Ohanian (Source: Getty Images)

Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian expressed skepticism about pickleball's popularity, stating he wouldn’t consider it a legitimate sport until a highlight reel from a pickleball match went viral on social media.

Despite the sport’s rapid growth in the USA, the Reddit co-founder remains unconvinced of its current hype. From a digital analytics perspective, Ohanian believes pickleball has yet to achieve significant online visibility.

During his acceptance speech for AdWeek’s Brand Genius Award, Ohanian touched on the sport’s potential for online popularity and said:

"Can the atomic unit—can its fundamental highlights—go viral? Until I see a pickleball highlight go viral, I don’t think it’s a real sport," Ohanian said.

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Alexander Shevchenko and his wife Anastasia Potapova reportedly unfollow each other on social media

Alexander Shevchenko and Anastasia Potapova (Source: Getty Images)

Tennis couple Alexander Shevchenko and Anastasia Potapova have reportedly unfollowed each other on Instagram.

During the 2023 French Open, Potapova expressed uncertainty about how they would manage their relationship given the demanding tennis schedules. The couple, who began their relationship in early 2023, got engaged in September and tied the knot just a month later.

However, in a surprising development, Potapova has not only unfollowed Shevchenko on Instagram but also removed all photos of the two from her account, signaling a potential shift in their relationship.

Potapova recently came off a third-round exit at the US Open, losing 4-6, 2-6 to the eventual semifinalist Karolina Muchova. On the other hand, Alexander Shevchenko is currently participating in the Hangzhou Open, where he will take on Marco Trungelliti in the first round on 19 September.