Paolini-Errani crowned women's double Paris Open champions
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini conquered Roland Garros. The two Italian tennis players imposed themselves on the Serbian-Kazakhstan pair of Aleksandra Krunic and Anna Danilina at the end of a multi-faceted match: after an initial, 6-4 in favour of the Italians, the second set ended 2-6 in favour of the opponents.
In the third set, however, there was no mistaking who was in charge. The Italian Olympians hit two consecutive breaks and always held serve, taking a 5-0 lead. The match therefore ended with a score of 6-1, which gave the crown to the Italian pair.
It was the second consecutive title for Errani-Paolini after the one they had just won at the Internazionali in Rome. And it is a rematch on French soil, after last year's final defeat against Katerina Siniakova and Coco Gauff. The Italian tennis player's total haul thus rises to seven titles, including the Olympic gold medal (also in Paris) in 2024. Four in particular triumphed in WTA 1000 tournaments.
Sara Errani reached 34 titles in doubles; Paolini eight. Together with Roberta Vinci, she had already won Roland Garros in 2012, the US Open in the same year, the Australian Open in 2013-2014 and Wimbledon in 2014. For the Bolognese tennis player, this year's is therefore the sixth Slam in doubles, while for Jasmine Paolini who also took home the mixed doubles title together with Andrea Vavassori, it is the first one.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel wouldn't allow anyone to break its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, which he said was aimed at preventing Hamas from importing arms.
In a post on X Katz announced that he has instructed the Israeli Defence Force "to act to prevent the Madleen hate flotilla" from reaching the strip's coast: "You should turn back - because you will not reach Gaza."
Thunberg is among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The vessel departed Sicily last Sunday on a mission that aims to break the sea blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, while raising awareness over the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
The activists had said they planned to reach Gaza's territorial waters as early as Sunday.
Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent, is among the others onboard. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.
Also on board is "Game of Thrones" star Liam Cunningham.
After a three-month total blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month, but humanitarian workers have warned of famine unless the blockade and the war end.
An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.
Israel denied the allegations.
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