When Rugby Meets Tennis: Kolisi Meets Alcaraz
Sports fans around the world got a delightful treat over the weekend as Springboks captain Siya Kolisi crossed paths with tennis phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
A video shared on TikTok quickly went viral, showing Kolisi in an adorable, star-struck moment after meeting the young tennis star. The clip, captioned “@siyakolisi meets @carlitosalcarazz for the first time and the reaction is WILD 😂,” has racked up nearly a million views, with fans flooding the comments with amusement and admiration.
@atptour POV: you meet @Carlos Alcaraz 🧠❤️🥚🥚 for the first time 😂😳🤭 #SiyaKolisi #worldrugby #springboks #nittoatpfinals #alcaraz ♬ original sound – ATP Tour
Kolisi’s Star-Struck Reaction
In the video, Kolisi fanned himself and nearly doubled over in playful disbelief. “He came to me and asked me for a photo. Alcaraz. He came to me! I didn’t go to him. Alcaraz 🫣. Oh my goodness,” he exclaimed, clearly thrilled by the encounter.
Social media users were quick to react.
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@itsangie_.n: “I think Siya sometimes forgets he is Siya Kolisi. 😂 Now I wanna see Carlito’s reaction video. 😂”
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@miss.kittypong: “I don’t think the Springboks have ever had an awesome down-to-earth captain like Siya. He is the best in history 🥺❤️”
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@mo11571: “Alcaraz noticed Siya 😭😭 I would have screamed too 😂😂 Siya is even blushing 😂”
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@iam.ralton: “Great recognises Great! 💜”
Fans celebrated Kolisi not just for his sporting achievements but for his humility and down-to-earth nature, noting how he seemed just as thrilled to meet Alcaraz as the tennis star likely was to meet a rugby icon.
@atptour Team @Springboks.rugby in the house at the –#NittoATPFinals after their win over Italy today 🔥 #tiktoktennis #springboks #rugby #tennis ♬ original sound – ATP Tour
A First-Time ATP Experience
Kolisi attended the ATP Finals after the Springboks’ dominant win over Italy, marking his first visit to the prestigious tennis event. Known to be a tennis fan, he relished the chance to soak in the atmosphere, watch players train, and mingle with other sports stars.
“I love the atmosphere, I love the people, very friendly, and I love the fact that you can watch the players train too. It gives you a little bit more insight into what’s happening around,” Kolisi said.
He also mentioned plans to meet Canadian star Félix Auger-Aliassime while at the tournament, highlighting his enthusiasm for connecting with fellow athletes across sports.
Kolisi’s Unique Biopic Choice
In a playful aside during an interview at the event, Kolisi revealed who he would want to play him in a biopic. His answer? Chadwick Boseman, the late American actor. Kolisi joked that they share similar hairlines, adding a touch of humor to an already charming weekend for the rugby captain.
Humility Meets Stardom
The meeting between Kolisi and Alcaraz is more than a viral TikTok moment—it’s a reminder that mutual respect between athletes transcends sport. Fans loved seeing a rugby hero become a star-struck fan, proving that even icons can have moments of childlike excitement.
As Kolisi continues to balance his rugby commitments with his growing presence in other arenas, moments like these humanize the hero, making him even more relatable to fans both in South Africa and globally.
Source: IOL
Featured Image: X{@Soundsenz}
