Gabriela Ruse may have exited the US Open earlier than she hoped, but the Romanian tennis star is making waves off the court with a stunning social media post that has fans talking.
The world No. 65, who suffered a first-round loss to Jessica Pegula in late August, took a well-deserved break from the WTA Tour and treated her followers to a glimpse of her downtime. In a rare swimsuit snap shared on Instagram, Ruse posed confidently, captioning the photo, "A little bit of summer, a lot of me."
The post quickly went viral, with fans and fellow athletes flooding the comments with praise. It's a side of Ruse that fans rarely see, as the 28-year-old typically keeps her personal life private, focusing on her game.
This season has been a rollercoaster for Ruse. She burst onto the scene at the Australian Open, reaching the third round, and followed that up with a semifinal appearance at the Linz Open. But after a strong run to the Bad Homburg Open semis in June, she hit a rough patch, bowing out early at Wimbledon and then at the US Open.
Instead of dwelling on the losses, Ruse chose to embrace the off-season, traveling and sharing moments with her fans. Her latest post also hard-launched her relationship with Nuno Borges, the ATP Tour's No. 48 player. The couple's public debut has added a romantic twist to her break, and fans are loving the glimpse into her personal life.
Borges has had his own moments of success this year, including a fourth-round run at Roland Garros and solid performances at the National Bank Open and Cincinnati Masters in August. The pair's shared love for tennis and travel makes them a power couple to watch.
Ruse's swimsuit photo is just the latest in a series of sports stars embracing their downtime with bold social media posts. From Nelly Korda's Greek vacation to Danielle Collins' hiatus snap, athletes are increasingly connecting with fans beyond the court.
As Ruse prepares for the upcoming season, her fans are eager to see if her new-found happiness translates into success on the court. With her talent and renewed energy, the Romanian star could be poised for a breakout year.
