Latest news with #ForoItalico
Washington Post
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Sara Errani to play padel event in Rome following French Open tennis
ROME — Former French Open finalist Sara Errani is going to trade in her tennis racket for a padel immediately after Roland-Garros. Errani was granted a wild card on Tuesday to play in Premier Padel's Italy Major at the Foro Italico next week. The 38-year-old Errani will pair with 20-year-old Giulia Dal Pozzo.
Associated Press
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Sara Errani to play padel event in Rome following French Open tennis
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy returns the ball against Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider of Individual Neutral Athlete during women's doubles gold medal tennis match at the Roland Garros stadium, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file) Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] ROME (AP) — Former French Open finalist Sara Errani is going to trade in her tennis racket for a padel immediately after Roland-Garros. Errani was granted a wild card on Tuesday to play in Premier Padel's Italy Major at the Foro Italico next week. The 38-year-old Errani will pair with 20-year-old Giulia Dal Pozzo. Errani has advanced to the semifinals in both women's doubles (with Jasmine Paolini) and mixed doubles (with Andrea Vavasssori) in Paris. She and Paolini also won gold in doubles at the Paris Olympics and have won two consecutive titles at the Italian Open, which is also contested at the Foro Italico. Errani has said she plans to move full time into padel when her tennis career is finished. When she lost in qualifying at the French Open, she said that was her final singles match in tennis. But she plans to continue playing doubles with Paolini. Errani lost the 2012 French Open singles final to Maria Sharapova. Errani also took part in two pro padel events this year in Melbourne, Australia, and Dubai. ___ AP tennis: The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
France 24
22-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Queen of clay Swiatek's reign under threat at Roland Garros
Swiatek dropped to a ranking of fifth this week, ending a 173-week stay inside the top two which now likely means she faces a tougher path to a fifth French Open crown in six attempts. She is without a title since winning for the third time in a row in Paris last June, the first woman to do so since Justine Henin lifted the trophy from 2005-07. "It hasn't been easy. For sure I'm doing something wrong. So I need to just regroup and kind of change some stuff," Swiatek said after a third-round loss to Danielle Collins in Rome. That put a swift end to Swiatek's title defence at the Foro Italico and came on the heels of a 6-1, 6-1 defeat by Coco Gauff in the Madrid semi-finals. Swiatek has advanced to the last eight or better at seven of the eight events she's played in this year but has yet to reach a final, squandering a match point against eventual champion Madison Keys in the Australian Open semi-finals. Her struggles can be traced back towards the end of last season when she missed the Asian swing citing "personal matters". Only later was it revealed that she had been absent because of a one-month ban for testing positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine. She has consistently denied knowingly doping, saying it came from contaminated non-prescription medication to help her sleep. Swiatek called it the "worst experience of my life" and said the incident caused "tremendous stress and anxiety". Authorities accepted her contamination explanation and she returned at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, but other issues have arisen this season. Swiatek came in for criticism after petulantly swatting a ball in the direction of a ball boy at Indian Wells. She then received extra security in Miami after being harassed by a spectator during her practice. The 23-year-old flew back to Poland last month for her grandfather's funeral ahead of the Madrid Open. During the loss to Gauff she broke down at a changeover and sobbed into her towel. Swiatek has often looked tense on court and admitted she cried for six hours after losing to Zheng Qinwen in the semi-finals of the 2024 Olympics at Roland Garros. She was also visibly upset while addressing the media after her Rome exit. Swiatek admits confusion Her partnership with multiple Grand Slam-winning coach Wim Fissette, whom Swiatek hired last October to replace Tomasz Wiktorowski, has also yet to bear fruit. Fissette helped Kim Clijsters, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka all win majors, but Swiatek said the coach was not to blame for her recent results. She also defended the role played by her longtime sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz. "I'm making decisions that are not really good at the moment because I just remember how it felt in previous tournaments or previous years," said Swiatek. "I kind of assume it's going to go in and then I make mistakes. It's not the same -- I'm confused." Henin believes it could get even worse for Swiatek at Roland Garros. "She's in a vicious circle. It's not surprising to see her struggling," Henin told Eurosport last week. "But maybe it's time for things to come to a head, for things to come out, for her to analyse and understand what's happening to the great perfectionist she is. "You'd think it would be here at Roland Garros where she'll finally sink before perhaps getting back on track." That view from Swiatek's fellow four-time French Open champion speaks volumes about a player who has been almost untouchable in Paris, winning her last 21 matches and 35 of 37 overall. Gauff, beaten by Swiatek in the 2022 final and whose past two French Opens have also ended at the hands of the Pole, warned against discounting her slumping rival. "I always think if someone wins a tournament that many times, regardless of what shape they're in, they can definitely figure out a way to win again," said Gauff.
Jordan Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Jordan Times
Rome champion Alcaraz expects French Open threat from 'insane' Sinner
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Italy's Jannik Sinner pose for photo at the end of their men's singles final match for the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome on Sunday (AFP photo) ROME — Carlos Alcaraz won the Italian Open on Sunday after beating Jannik Sinner in straight sets but expects his rival to be "really dangerous" at Roland Garros as he steps up his return from a three-month doping ban. Alcaraz fended off two set points late in the first set and then seized control in the tie-break before pulling away for a 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 win, his fourth in a row over world number one Sinner. The Spaniard snapped Sinner's 26-match winning run to claim his first Rome crown and seventh Masters 1000 title, denying Italy its first male champion at the tournament since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Alcaraz was also the last player to beat Sinner, in last year's China Open final. Sunday's showdown could well be a prelude to the French Open final, with Sinner and Alcaraz set to be kept apart in the draw as the latter will return to second in the rankings on Monday. Alcaraz, who beat Sinner in a five-set semi-final en route to the Roland Garros trophy 12 months ago, has few doubts the Italian will again be a major contender in the French capital. "The level he has played in this tournament is insane after three months without playing, without any tournament," said Alcaraz. "I mean, what he has done, it's amazing. I mean, it's something that I have to have respect on that. "I'm pretty sure he's going to be better and better. This week of practising, he's going to feel better. If he's winning in Roland Garros and he's going farther, I think much better he's going to feel. "He's going to be a really dangerous player in Paris." Alcaraz won his third title of the season after eventually dominating Sinner and silencing the over 10,000 fans packed into the centre court stands at the Foro Italico. The Spaniard claimed victory in his fourth final of the season and sent a clear message that he is near the top of his game going into the year's second Grand Slam. "Beating Jannik and winning in Rome, I think both things mixed together give you a great confidence coming to Paris," said Alcaraz. "He's [one of] the best players in the world. It doesn't matter that he was out of the tour for three months. Every tournament he's playing, he plays great. The numbers are there. He wins almost every match he plays. "That's why I'm even more focused when I play against him. If I don't play at my best, 10 out of 10, it's going to be impossible to beat him." Alcaraz is the only man to beat Sinner in a tour final since the start of 2024, when his Italian rival began his rise to the top of men's tennis and three Grand Slam titles. The 22-year-old has had a hugely impressive clay court swing this season even with the thigh injury which cost him the chance to compete at the Madrid Open. Alcaraz won his second Masters 1000 title of the year in Rome to go alongside his victory at Monte Carlo last month. He also reached the final in Barcelona. Finishing runner-up is still a hugely positive result for Sinner in his first tournament since his three-month ban for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of clostebol, a contamination doping authorities accepted was accidental. Sinner let two set points slip in game 12 of the first set and that was the turning point in the match, with Alcaraz rattling off the first three points of the tie-break before going ahead in the match. Alcaraz then moved through the gears to win the first five games of the second set as he powered to his 19th career title -- drawing level with Sinner. Sinner's encouraging return though sets him up for another deep run at Roland Garros, despite his relative lack of match practice having not played since retaining his Australian Open crown in January before arriving in Rome. "Talking [in] general, [I'm] very happy about this tournament. It gives me then hopefully confidence to play some good tennis also in Paris," said Sinner. "After three months coming here making this result means a lot to me. "For sure there are some things like we saw today what we have to improve if we want to do good in Paris. I am closer than expected in a way of everything."
Observer
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Alcaraz downs Sinner to win Italian Open
ROME: Carlos Alcaraz won the Italian Open on Sunday after beating rival Jannik Sinner 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the final and firing a warning shot for Roland Garros. Alcaraz, who will climb to world number two behind Sinner on Monday, won his third title of the season, eventually dominating Sinner and silencing the over 10,000 fans packed into the centre court stands. The Spaniard claimed victory in his fourth final of the season and sent a message to the rest of the men's tour for the French Open, where he will defend the title once it starts next weekend. "Beating Jannik and winning in Rome, I think both things mixed together give you a great confidence coming to Paris," said Alcaraz. "I'm going to enjoy this moment with my family, with my team, friends that came from home. And a few days rest just to realise what I've achieved, that is important as well. And then my focus is on Roland Garros." Sinner tops the world rankings but his 26-match winning streak was ended by Alcaraz, also the man who had last beaten him in last year's China Open final. Alcaraz is the only man to beat Sinner in a tour final since the start of 2024, when his Italian rival began his rise to the top of men's tennis and three Grand Slam titles. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses for a photo with Italy's Jannik Sinner after winning the final. — Reuters The 22-year-old has had a hugely impressive clay court swing this season even with the thigh injury which cost him the chance to compete at the Madrid Open. Alcaraz won his second Masters 1000 title of the year in Rome to go alongside his victory at Monte Carlo last month. He also reached the final in Barcelona. FIRST ROME CROWN FOR ALCARAZ Finishing runner-up is still a hugely positive result for Sinner in his first tournament since his three-month ban for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of clostebol, a contamination doping authorities accepted was accidental. Sinner let two set points slip in game 12 of the first set and that was the turning point in the match, with Alcaraz rattling off the first three points of the tie-break before going ahead in the match. Alcaraz then moved through the gears to win the first five games of the second set as he powered to a first Rome crown. Sinner's encouraging return though sets up the possibility of another final clash with Alcaraz at Roland Garros, with the two young stars of men's tennis set to be the two top seeds in Paris. Sinner said on court that Alcaraz would be "the man to beat" at Paris and then jokingly thanked his brother Mark for "preferring to go to Imola to watch the Formula One Grand Prix instead of being here". The 23-year-old was gunning to become the first Italian man to win at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta back in 1976, but he failed to make it a hat-trick of triumphs for home players in the Italian capital. Earlier, Jasmine Paolini became the first woman since Monica Seles in 1990 to win the Rome singles and doubles titles when she and Sara Errani beat Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens 6-4, 7-5. Paolini secured that brace of victories a day after overcoming former US Open champion Coco Gauff in straight sets, and becoming the first Italian woman to win the Rome singles title since Raffaella Reggi in 1985. — AFP
