The Atlanta Hawks got some serious star power watching their game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at State Farm Arena. Four of professional tennis’ biggest names, including Ben Shelton, Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, and others, showed up to take in the action, bringing extra energy to what turned out to be an NBA matchup decided in the final seconds.
Ben Shelton, Naomi Osaka, and Others Take Center Stage at State Farm Arena
Shelton, Osaka, Sabalenka, and Christopher Eubanks all made the trip to State Farm Arena on December 5 to watch the Hawks take on Denver. The four players are in Atlanta for the inaugural Atlanta Cup, a new tennis exhibition taking place at Gas South Arena on December 6. They looked like they were enjoying themselves throughout the night, cheering courtside as the Hawks battled the Nuggets.
The official Atlanta Cup Instagram account posted multiple images of these players on their story, with a special message for everyone. While tagging the Hawks, the Atlanta Cup account wrote, “Atlanta’s own Chris Eubanks + Naomi.” Along with these, one image featured Shelton, who was visibly distracted by something, with tennis balls in his hands.
Christopher Eubanks and Naomi Osaka at State Farm Arena
Ben Shelton with Eubanks
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Sabalenka posed with an Atlanta Hawks victory sign, wearing the prop as a hand glove while holding their name in her hand. After the match, Osaka reposted a story from the stadium originally posted by a fan on her Instagram account.
Aryna Sabalenka with Atlanta Hawks’ photo props
Naomi Osaka’s Instagram story
The game itself came down to the wire. Atlanta started hot, leading by as much as 23 points in the early going, but Denver had other ideas. The Nuggets stormed back in the fourth quarter and pulled out a 134-133 victory.
Atlanta Connects the Tennis and Basketball Worlds
What made Friday night special was more than just the final score. The presence of these tennis players highlighted how Atlanta has become a real destination for both basketball and tennis fans. Shelton is from Atlanta, so being back home while preparing for the Atlanta Cup meant a lot.
Eubanks, a former pro tennis player from Atlanta who retired in November 2025, spent time with Osaka courtside, adding to the local flavor of the evening.
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The Atlanta Cup also posted an Instagram reel featuring major moments from yesterday’s match. The caption perfectly highlights the crossover between tennis and basketball, as the tennis stars will be picking up their rackets just the very next day.
Nick Kyrgios is also in Atlanta for the exhibition tournament, where he teams up with Sabalenka to face Osaka and Shelton. Interestingly, current partners will face each other on December 28 in the fourth Battle of the Sexes match ever, with the Belarusian facing the Australian.
Sabalenka currently holds the World No. 1 ranking, and this was her first time coming to Atlanta for the Cup. She made history as the first top-ranked female tennis player to compete in the city since Lindsay Davenport won the U.S. Women’s Hard Court Championships at Stone Mountain back in 1997.
AloJapan.com