Tennis

Sabalenka suffers surprise defeat to Cirstea at Italian Open

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 1:11 PM CDT

ROME (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock third-round loss to Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open on Saturday.

Sabalenka appeared to be cruising to victory while leading by a set and 2-0 but the 26th-ranked Cirstea stormed back to triumph 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.

It was a first win over a world No. 1 for the 36-year-old Romanian, who is playing her final pro season.

“I’m very, very happy,” a beaming Cirstea said. “Aryna is an amazing player. I thought I played really well today. I’m working really, really hard. It’s nice to have this result as payoff.”

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Auger-Aliassime hampered by leg injury, ousted in Italian Open’s second round

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Auger-Aliassime hampered by leg injury, ousted in Italian Open’s second round

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 11:36 AM CDT

ROME -

An uncomfortable Félix Auger-Aliassime was upset in the second round of Italian Open men's singles Saturday.

The 25-year-old from Montreal, who was the fourth seed in the tournament, was ousted by unseeded Mariano Navone of Argentina 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5).

Auger-Aliassime dealt with a leg issue in the second set and struggled to even walk at times during the second-set tiebreak.

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11:36 AM CDT

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez exits Italian Open after three-set loss to Masarova

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez exits Italian Open after three-set loss to Masarova

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 4:20 PM CDT

ROME - Leylah Fernandez was upset by world No. 160 Rebeka Masarova of Switzerland 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the round of 64 at the Italian Open on Friday.

The Laval, Que., native took the opening set before Masarova answered in the second and dominated on serve in the third, winning 95 per cent of her first-serve points while not allowing Fernandez a break-point chance in the final set.

Leylah Fernandez, ranked 23rd in the world and seeded 25th in Rome, finished with one ace and five double faults.

Masarova converted five of 10 break-point chances in the two-hour, 23-minute clay-court match.

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Yesterday at 4:20 PM CDT

Djokovic beaten by a Croatian qualifier 18 years younger than him at the Italian Open

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Djokovic beaten by a Croatian qualifier 18 years younger than him at the Italian Open

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:22 PM CDT

ROME (AP) — Novak Djokovic was beaten by a Croatian qualifier 18 years younger than him at the Italian Open on Friday in his first match after two months out due to a right shoulder injury.

The 20-year-old Dino Prižmić defeated the record 24-time Grand Slam champion 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 with an ace on his first match point.

The 38-year-old Djokovic hadn’t played since March when he lost to Jack Draper in the fourth round in Indian Wells, California.

Djokovic had taping on his right shoulder that was revealed when he changed shirts between sets.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:22 PM CDT

Arts & Entertainment

Naomi Osaka arrives at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the

Naomi Osaka recounts her show-stopping Met Gala outfit at the ‘Grand Slam’ of fashion

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Naomi Osaka recounts her show-stopping Met Gala outfit at the ‘Grand Slam’ of fashion

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 12:56 PM CDT

ROME (AP) — Naomi Osaka says she felt like she had “a 20-pound vest on” for her show-stopping outfit at the Met Gala — which she labeled “the Grand Slam for all fashion.”

“My outfit was so heavy,” she said with her tennis clothes back on at the Italian Open on Friday. “I felt like I had like a 20-pound vest on. But I just kept trying to tell myself to have good posture because tennis players ... sometimes we hunch over a lot.”

At Monday’s event in New York, Osaka stunned in a edgy Robert Wun white sculptural fitted dress featuring exaggerated shoulders and adorned with red feathers and a matching headpiece. To complete her look, Osaka wore two-toned red gloves. A similar look by Wun sits inside the Met’s Costume Institute exhibit, “Costume Art.”

On the carpet, Osaka opened her dress and removed her headpiece for a grand reveal underneath. She wowed in a sleek red beaded gown embellished with the human anatomy.

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Yesterday at 12:56 PM CDT

Tennis

FILE - Alexandra Eala of the Philippines waves to her supporters following her first round loss to Alycia Parks of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File)

Eala feels the Filipino support at the Italian Open and makes a discovery at the Vatican

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Eala feels the Filipino support at the Italian Open and makes a discovery at the Vatican

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:40 AM CDT

ROME (AP) — There were plenty of Filipino flags waving in support of Alexandra Eala amid the statues lining the picturesque Pietrangeli court at the Italian Open on Friday.

Eala beat 31st-seeded Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-3 to follow up her three-set victory over Magdalena French in the opening round and put together consecutive clay-court victories for the first time since the qualifying rounds for the 2024 French Open.

“Yes, I did notice it,” Eala said of the Filipino support in Rome.

The 20-year-old Eala has become a worldwide sensation among the large Filipino diaspora ever since her breakthrough run to the Miami Open semifinals last year. Her fan base expanded again when she beat Clara Tauson in a long third-set tiebreaker in the first round at the U.S. Open last year for her first win in a major.

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Yesterday at 11:40 AM CDT

Tennis

Iga Swiatek’s new coach tore his Achilles’ tendon in a practice session

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Iga Swiatek’s new coach tore his Achilles’ tendon in a practice session

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 9:16 AM CDT

ROME (AP) — It was supposed to be a fun game between Iga Swiatek and her new coach on a special court in downtown Rome to help promote the Italian Open.

It ended with a torn Achilles’ tendon for Francisco Roig, who was recently hired by Swiatek, the six-time Grand Slam champion.

Swiatek recounted that there was a 100 euro ($120) bet on the line for a volleying game and Swiatek had match point when the injury happened.

“He did a split step and tore his Achilles. It happened on Saturday. On Tuesday he had surgery already in Warsaw. We kind of took care of him,” Swiatek said after a three-set victory over American opponent Caty McNally in her opening match Friday.

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Yesterday at 9:16 AM CDT

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Tennis

ITF says tennis players from Belarus and Russia to continue playing as neutrals despite IOC shift

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

ITF says tennis players from Belarus and Russia to continue playing as neutrals despite IOC shift

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 6:02 AM CDT

LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and former men's No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will continue to play under neutral status after the International Tennis Federation announced Friday that it will “not change its existing position” over suspensions for Belarus and Russia.

In a political shift Thursday, the International Olympic Committee said athletes from Belarus should once again compete with their full national identity and not be vetted for neutral status, even as the war in Ukraine continues.

“The International Tennis Federation confirms that the IOC’s announcement does not change its existing position regarding the Belarus and Russian Tennis Federations’ suspensions, which remain in place,” the ITF said.

“The membership status of the Belarus Tennis Federation will be considered at the ITF Annual General Meeting in October by the ITF’s voting member nations,” the international federation added.

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Yesterday at 6:02 AM CDT

Tennis

Bianca Andreescu, of Canada, plays a shot to Barbora Krejcikova, of the Czech Republic, during their first round match at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, July 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Canadians Andreescu, Shapovalov ousted from Italian Open clay-court tournament

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canadians Andreescu, Shapovalov ousted from Italian Open clay-court tournament

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

ROME - Canadians Bianca Andreescu and Denis Shapovalov were eliminated from the Italian Open clay-court tournament on Thursday.

Andreescu was defeated 6-4, 6-1 by 12th seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in the women's second round, while Shapovalov dropped his men's opening-round match 6-4, 6-2 to Argentina's Mariano Navone.

Bencic converted four of her six breaks in a dominant second set to wrap up the match in one hour 17 minutes.

Andreescu, of Mississauga, Ont., struggled with her serve and committed seven double-faults.

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Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Tennis

Jannik Sinner, of Italy, listens to a reporters' question during a press conference at the Italian Open at the Foro Italico in Rome, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Sinner adds his voice to French Open prize money protests and awaits Wimbledon response

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Sinner adds his voice to French Open prize money protests and awaits Wimbledon response

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

ROME (AP) — The top tennis players are already upset they're not receiving a bigger share of tournament revenues at the French Open. Now they’re hoping Wimbledon and the U.S. Open respond to their demands, according to Jannik Sinner.

Fellow No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka said this week the players should consider a boycott.

“It’s more about respect. Because I think we give much more than what we are getting back,” Sinner said on Thursday at the Italian Open. “It’s not only for the top players; it’s for all of us players.”

Sinner wouldn’t commit to a boycott.

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Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Tennis

Italian Open leaders side with players on prize money issue and aim to become a 5th Grand Slam

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Italian Open leaders side with players on prize money issue and aim to become a 5th Grand Slam

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

ROME (AP) — Italian Open organizers are supporting tennis players who are urging a boycott unless the Grand Slam tournaments improve their prize money.

Angelo Binaghi, the president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, is also campaigning to turn the Rome event into a fifth Grand Slam.

The players have targeted the coming French Open for reducing players' share of revenue to an alleged 14.3% — compared to the 22% at ATP and WTA events like the Italian Open this week.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff were among players this week threatening a boycott of the Slams if they don’t start receiving more compensation.

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Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Tennis

Marta Kostyuk withdraws from the Italian Open with physical issues after titles in Madrid and Rouen

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Marta Kostyuk withdraws from the Italian Open with physical issues after titles in Madrid and Rouen

The Associated Press 2 minute read Wednesday, May. 6, 2026

ROME (AP) — Fresh off the biggest title of her career, Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine withdrew from the Italian Open due to hip and ankle issues.

Kostyuk won the Madrid Open on Saturday and is up to a career-best No. 15 in the rankings this week. Having also won another clay-court title in Rouen, France, the week before Madrid, Kostyuk is on an 11-match winning streak.

“After the best stretch of my career, I was looking forward to Rome. But sometimes your body has other plans, and over the past few days I’ve been dealing with a hip issue. With my ankle still not fully at 100%, it’s just not smart to keep pushing right now, so I won’t be competing there this year,” Kostyuk posted on Instagram on Tuesday as the tournament in Rome began.

“Now it’s time to recover and get ready for Paris,” Kostyuk said, referring to the French Open, which starts May 24.

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Wednesday, May. 6, 2026

Tennis

Bianca Andreescu, of Canada, lunges for the ball during her first round match against Barbora Krejcikova, of the Czech Republic, at the National Bank Open tennis tournament in Montreal, Sunday, July 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Canada’s Bianca Andreescu defeats Sofia Kenin 6-4, 7-5 at Italian Open

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canada’s Bianca Andreescu defeats Sofia Kenin 6-4, 7-5 at Italian Open

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

ROME - Canada's Bianca Andreescu advanced to the second round of the Italian Open tennis tournament with a 6-7, 7-5 win over Sofia Kenin of the United States on Tuesday.

The opportunistic Andreescu converted five of six break-point chances and had five aces in the match that took one hour 46 minutes to complete.

Kenin also had six chances to break her opponent's serve, but she converted just three as she fell to 2-5 all-time against Andreescu.

The American won their previous meeting last month in the second round of the Charleston Open.

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Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

Tennis

No. 1 Sabalenka calls for boycott if players don’t get bigger cut of Grand Slam revenues

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

No. 1 Sabalenka calls for boycott if players don’t get bigger cut of Grand Slam revenues

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

ROME (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka believes tennis players should organize a boycott if they don’t start receiving a bigger share of tournament revenues at the Grand Slams — and the likes of Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini are prepared to protest, too.

Sabalenka and fellow No. 1 Jannik Sinner were among leading players — most of them ranked in the top 10 — who issued a statement on Monday expressing “deep disappointment” over the French Open prize money.

“Without us there wouldn’t be a tournament and there wouldn’t be that entertainment. I feel like definitely we deserve to be paid more percentage,” Sabalenka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, said on Tuesday at the Italian Open.

“I think at some point we will boycott it. I feel like that’s going to be the only way to fight for our rights,” Sabalenka added on her 28th birthday.

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Tuesday, May. 5, 2026

Tennis

Jannik Sinner seems unstoppable entering his home Italian Open with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Jannik Sinner seems unstoppable entering his home Italian Open with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined

Andrew Dampf, The Associated Press 4 minute read Monday, May. 4, 2026

ROME (AP) — Most tennis players — even some of the very best ones — have days where they struggle and don’t feel the ball the way that they want to.

For top-ranked Jannik Sinner, those types of days are getting rarer and rarer.

And with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to a right wrist injury, it doesn’t seem like anyone can beat the top-ranked Sinner as the heart of the tennis season approaches with the French Open and Wimbledon coming up over the next two months.

“He’s very stable. He doesn’t have dips. He doesn’t have phases where he goes down,” No. 3 Alexander Zverev said after getting routed by Sinner in Sunday’s Madrid Open final for his ninth straight loss to the Italian. “That’s why he’s world No. 1.”

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Monday, May. 4, 2026

Tennis

FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Top players criticize French Open prize money and unresolved welfare demands

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Top players criticize French Open prize money and unresolved welfare demands

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, May. 4, 2026

Top players including No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka expressed “their deep disappointment” at the French Open prize money on Monday.

The players, most of them from the top 10 in the ATP and WTA, added their other demands have not been addressed by officials from the four Grand Slam tournaments, including better representation, health and pensions.

French Open organizers announced last month they were increasing overall prize money by about 10% for an overall pot of 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), with the total amount up 5.3 million euros from last year.

But the players' statement said “the underlying figures tell a very different story,” claiming they will receive a smaller share of tournament revenues.

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Monday, May. 4, 2026

May 9, 2026

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