Italian duo Errani and Paolini win French Open women's doubles final
PARIS (AP) — Olympic gold medallists Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini won the French Open women's doubles title for the first time.
The second-seeded Italian pair, runners-up at Roland-Garros last year, beat Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 on Sunday.
It was Errani's second French Open doubles title, and her sixth at a major tournament. The 38-year-old previously formed a highly succesful partnership with Roberta Vinci, also winning trophies at the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open.
Errani won two titles in Paris this year, also claiming the mixed doubles title with Andrea Vavassori.
Paolini is also an accomplished singles player and was runner-up at the clay-court Grand Slam last year, losing to Iga Swiatek in the final.
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Winnipeg Free Press
27 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kayla Harrison survived sex abuse to win Olympic gold. She's now a UFC champ with a mega fight ahead
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Around her neck or around her waist, Kayla Harrison has a knack for winning gold. One key distinction, of course, between the Olympics and professional mixed martial arts is what happens in the immediate aftermath of a monumental victory — there is no four-year wait for the next fight. The next challenger is ready for a confrontation inside the MMA cage. Harrison barely had minutes to cool down after a dominant submission win earned her the 135-pound championship — in front of a packed house that included President Donald Trump and former boxer Mike Tyson — when she called out the seemingly retired, former champion and 2025 UFC Hall of Fame inductee Amanda Nunes. 'I see you Amanda! Come on up, Amanda,' Harrison bellowed from the cage. Nunes stepped out of retirement and into the fray, the two former training partners shook hands and exchanged a few pleasantries before the fighters struck a fierce, staredown pose. Just a little something for the poster. 'It felt big,' UFC President Dana White said. The moment indeed felt like the kickoff for something special, one more super fight for Harrison in a career sprinkled with them over different fight disciplines, fight promotions — almost always with the same result. Harrison's hand raised in victory. 'Everything I ever wanted is happening,' she said. Her biggest reward, in an adulthood full of professional triumphs, came Saturday night at UFC 316 at the Prudential Center when she made 135-pound champion Julianna Peña quit late in the second round to win a championship in only her third UFC fight. She's used to proving she's a champion at the highest level, from the Olympics to the cage, leaving only destruction in her wake. No U.S. judoka — man or woman — had ever won an Olympic gold medal before Harrison beat Britain's Gemma Gibbons to win the women's 78-kilogram division at the 2012 London Olympics. She won gold again four years later at the Rio de Janeiro Games and made her MMA debut in 2018. The 34-year-old Harrison was a two-time $1 million prize champion in the Professional Fighters League lightweight championship division before she moved on to UFC last year. She won her first two UFC bouts and her record — now a sparkling 19-1 in MMA overall — coupled with her fame made her a contender for an instant title shot. Through it all, Harrison has been open about the years of physical and mental abuse inflicted by a former coach leading into the Olympics. She was victimized as a teen, revealing she even thought of quitting judo and of suicide. Harrison turned to her deep faith — 'I trust God' — that has steadied her along the way and she wrote a book about recognizing and overcoming trauma. She's turned into an advocate of sorts for abuse, and as the best active female MMA fighter continues to elbow her way into the public eye, Harrison speaks out candidly and without shame about her experience. 'I'm well removed from it,' she said. 'I'm no longer that 10-year-old girl, that 16-year-old little girl. I'm an adult now. I feel like God gave me this story for a reason. It's my job to use it to try and make the world a better place. I want to talk about it.' Harrison reeled off grim child abuse statistics and noted, 'that's just the kids who say something.' 'How do we stop that? We stop it by having a conversation,' Harrison said. 'We stop it by looking at it in the eye and putting a face to it.' That face is now one of an elite MMA champion. 'I don't ever want another little girl or little boy to feel alone, to feel dirty, to feel ashamed,' Harrison said. 'There is hope. There is a shiny gold medal at the end of the tunnel. There is a UFC belt at the end of the tunnel.' Harrison made quick work of Peña — who authored one of the great upsets in UFC history when she stunned Nunes for the belt in 2021 — to add another championship to her fight collection. Harrison took a page from her judo career before the bout and bowed to Trump as a sign of respect. White, the long-time Trump ally, fastened the belt around Harrison's waist inside the cage and encouraged her to say hello to the president. She hopped down from the cage and draped her belt over Trump's shoulder as he stood from his cageside seat. They hugged and she posed for photos with the president and his entourage. 'The president of the United States is giving me a kiss on my cheek and I'm like, holy (cow),' Harrison said. 'And then Mike Tyson is right there! I'm like, am I in a movie right now? What is happening?' She later pitched a trip to the White House as is customary for other sports champions. Harrison seemed like she'd rather grind through another grueling weight cut than answer which path was tougher, winning Olympic gold or an MMA title. She conceded picking a winner was like picking a favorite child, before noting 'I don't have any favorite children.' Harrison, of course, is proud to have lived her MMA dream as a single mom and playfully threatened to scold her daughter and son if they were up past midnight to watch her go to work. Tragedy struck in late 2019 when Harrison's mother had a stroke and her stepfather died months later, leaving Harrison's young niece and nephew without a guardian (her sister was out of the picture). Harrison became an instant caretaker — and, a mother as she eventually adopted both children. How about it, Harrison vs. Nunes in the main event of a UFC pay-per-view? 'I'm a mom,' Harrison said, laughing. 'The earlier you put me on the card, the better.' Nunes, who vacated the 135-pound title when she retired in 2023, is not currently in the UFC's drug testing pool. She needs at least six months of random drug testing before she can compete. It's a minor hiccup and only builds the hype and anticipation for the bout. 'We're definitely going to see each other in the future,' Nunes told Harrison inside the cage. Harrison tapped the UFC championship belt that rested on a news conference table and realized it meant much more than some polished gold that was just wrapped around her waist. What's ahead for Harrison — a super fight, greater riches, maybe even a trip to the White House — pales to what she endured on her journey toward staking her claim as the best in the world. 'I feel like my spirit is unbreakable and my faith is unshakable,' she said. 'Who I am as a person is someone that I'm proud of. Yes, this belt is amazing. But the journey to get here is what matters most to me.' ___ AP sports:
Toronto Sun
40 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Harrison, Dvalishvili celebrate as 135-pound champions at UFC 316 with President Trump looking on
Published Jun 08, 2025 • 4 minute read Kayla Harrison, right, exchanges punches with Julianna Pena during the second round of a women's bantamweight bout at the UFC 316 mixed martial arts event Sunday, June 8, 2025 in Newark, N.J. Photo by Frank Franklin II / AP Photo NEWARK, N.J. — Kayla Harrison had just added UFC gold to her championship fight collection — and hugged it out with President Donald Trump — and still clutched the title belt when she bumped into Merab Dvalishvili backstage. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Dvalishvili was on cloud nine — well, make it 13 to match his winning streak — after he successfully defended his 135-pound championship with a dominant performance in the main event of UFC 316. Two bantamweight champions. One big party. 'Congratulations, champ! Let me raise your hand,' Dvalishvili told Harrison. 'We are the champions!' U.S. President Donald Trump attends the UFC 316 event, headlined by a rematch between Georgian mixed martial artist Merab Dvalishvili and U.S. mixed martial artist Sean O'Malley at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on June 7, 2025. Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images Dvalishvili then issued a quick pointer to Harrison — more used to wearing Olympic gold around her neck — on how to hold the belt for a photo opp. She best enjoy her time atop the division while she can — Harrison's presumed next challenger in Amanda Nunes stepping out of retirement and into the cage for a chance to get her belt back. Dvalishvili retained his 135-pound championship when he tapped out Sean O'Malley in the third round and Harrison made 135-pound champion Julianna Pena quit with five seconds left in the second round in front of a crowd that included Trump and retired heavyweight great Mike Tyson on Saturday night at the Prudential Center. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Dvalishvili, a 34-year-old from the country of Georgia, won the belt in a convincing — though not aesthetically pleasing _ unanimous decision last year over O'Malley. O'Malley realized after the loss to truly be at his best — as a fighter, as a family man _ he needed to make difficult lifestyle sacrifices to round himself into peak form. The 30-year-old contender quit smoking marijuana among other bad habits and also ditched his trademark dyed hair. No more cornucopia of colours that turned his locks into rainbows or cotton candy tops. O'Malley sported brown, braided hair for the fight — leaving his fans to wear bright afro wigs in his honour. New look, same result. Dvalishvili — who had to duck a small railing collapse on his walk out that almost had fans spill onto the floor — ran his record to 20-4 and sat on top of the cage and bellowed toward the 17,343 fans in the start of an exuberant celebration of his 13th straight MMA victory, tied for fourth longest in UFC history. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I'm on top of the world!,' he said inside the cage. That made the bantamweight champs 1 for 2 on the night. Harrison, who said she struggled so hard with cutting weight to 135 pounds that she feared just how she would make it in one piece ahead of the weigh in, continued to move up the list in just a short time as one of the great female fighters in MMA history. She's used to major victories in the spotlight. No U.S. judoka — man or woman — had ever won an Olympic gold medal before Harrison beat Britain's Gemma Gibbons to win the women's 78-kilogram division at the 2012 London Olympics. She won gold again four years later at the Rio de Janeiro Games and made her MMA debut in 2018. The 34-year-old Harrison was a two-time $1 million prize champion in the Professional Fighters League lightweight championship division before she moved on to UFC last year. She won her first two UFC bouts and her record — now a sparkling 19-1 in MMA overall — coupled with her fame made her an instant contender for a title shot. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She needed just three UFC fights to become a champion. Harrison dropped to her knees in a teary celebration as Ivanka Trump stood and snapped photos of the moment. Harrison then called out Nunes, who retired in 2023 but said ahead of the fight she would return to the cage to fight the winner. 'I definitely want to fight Amanda. She's the greatest of all time,' Harrison said. 'I want to be the greatest of all time.' Harrison called out Nunes to enter the ring and after some encouragement from announcer Joe Rogan for security to open the cage door, she walked in and the two went face-to-face. Nunes, who is set for induction this summer into the UFC Hall of Fame, said she would indeed fight Harrison at some point for the 135-pound belt. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The crowd went wild as the two engaged in a brief staredown. 'We're going to bring women's MMA to a whole new level,' Harrison said. The moment had fans roaring in delight much as they did hours earlier when Trump walked out to a thunderous standing ovation just ahead of the start of the UFC pay-per-view card. Trump was accompanied by UFC President Dana White and the pair headed to their cageside seats for UFC 316 to Kid Rock's 'American Bad Ass.' Harrison took a page from her judo career and bowed to Trump as a sign of respect before the bout and hugged him after the win. She received a congratulatory kiss on the cheek from Trump and posed for photos with the President and his entourage. It wasn't the only nod to Trump's latest appearance at a UFC fight. UFC fighter Kevin Holland choked out Vicente Luque to win the first fight with Trump in the building. He scaled the cage and shook hands with Trump. He briefly chatted with Trump and White before he returned for his post-fight interview. Joe Pyfer draped himself in the American flag after he defeated Kelvin Gastelum in a middleweight bout by unanimous decision. 'We've got the President of the United States! We've got Mike Tyson,' Pyfer bellowed inside the cage. Sports Sunshine Girls Canada Sunshine Girls Columnists
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Mbappé steers France to 2-0 win over Germany in Nations League
MUNICH (AP) — Kylian Mbappé led France to Nations League consolation before Spain and Portugal play the final on Sunday. The Real Madrid star scored one goal and set up the other as France defeated host nation Germany 2-0 in the third-place decider. Aurélien Tchouaméni set up club teammate Mbappé to score just before the break after Germany had dominated the first half, and Mbappé set up substitute Michael Olise to seal the result in the 84th after a much-improved second-half performance from the visitors. France coach Didier Deschamps had made his lack of enthusiasm for the game clear the day before, noting his team had little to gain from playing it, and it was apparent which side was more motivated in front of the Stuttgart fans. Germany missed a host of chances then had Deniz Undav's equalizer ruled out for a foul by Niclas Füllkrug in the buildup. France was without injured Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé. Both sides were forced to play for the consolation prize after losing their semifinals. Germany lost 2-1 to Portugal on Wednesday before France lost 5-4 to European champion Spain on Thursday. Spain was playing Portugal later in Munich. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP soccer:
