Little Stella Steals the Show at Tennis Tournament
At just nine months old, baby Stella Wagley has become quite the sensation in the U.S. after making a memorable appearance at a tennis tournament.
Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, she attended the Queens Tournament on August 28th and 29th, where she captured the attention of notable players like Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, and John McEnroe. In fact, the event garnered over 2.5 million views online.
“Seeing everyone’s genuine reactions was my favorite part. People didn’t expect to see a baby in a helmet,” Stella’s mom, Katerina Buck, shared.
Buck explained that the helmet is helping with some irregular growth on Stella’s head. It’s just a temporary measure for now.
The signature spree began with Alcaraz, who is currently ranked second in the world. Buck’s sister, Eleni Sablakos, brought Stella to the area near the court to meet the players.
Buck recalled how Eleni started inching closer to Alcaraz with Stella in tow. “Suddenly, he paused… I could see him do a double-take, like, ‘Wait, is that a baby?'”
But the most unforgettable moment came when tennis legend McEnroe approached. “He jokingly said, ‘What? I think I might break her neck,'” Buck remembered fondly.
The sweetest moment unfolded with world number one Jannik Sinner. “He was so adorable,” Buck said, describing how he sweetly held Stella’s hand as he signed the helmet.
Afterward, she received comments from friends saying, “Oh, that guy would make a great dad.”
Buck noted that Taylor Townsend, who excels in doubles, was particularly gracious with her time. “She was like, ‘How can I say no?'”
However, Buck felt a special connection to the signature from Karolina Muchova. “She had the cutest reaction! She’s my favorite female player,” Buck added with a laugh.
The video of Stella’s interactions aims to raise awareness about her helmet use, which she may need for the next six months. Buck mentioned how people often ask, “What’s wrong with her? Why does she have a helmet?”
Stella’s presence has even sparked conversations about the importance of such awareness, with Buck’s mother running several nonprofits aimed at helping families in similar situations.
The Instagram video shared by Sablakos on August 31 has quickly gained traction, generating over 400 comments from new fans of Stella.
As for the future value of the autographed helmet, one commenter even speculated it could be quite valuable. “People laugh at me for saying this, but I wouldn’t dream of selling it,” Buck stated, emphasizing how precious this experience has been.
