Latest news with #ITALIANS
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Errani, Vavassori fight back to retain US Open mixed doubles crown
ITALIANS Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retained their mixed doubles title at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, overcoming Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud 6-3 5-7 10-6 in the competition's reimagined format that drew some of the top singles players. The defending champions, who needed a wild card entry into the competition that prioritised singles rankings, relied on their veteran experience to outfox the Polish-Norwegian duo. The packed house at Arthur Ashe Stadium cheered wildly when Vavassori clinched it with a lethal forehand and hoisted Errani into the air in celebration, as the pair walked away with a $1 million prize. 'We are doing something in these two years amazing,' said Vavassori, who also won the French Open title with Errani earlier this year. 'We showed today that doubles is a great product.' Swiatek and Ruud had never played together before this year and at first appeared completely outmatched as the Italians went up 3-0 in the first set. Six-times Grand Slam singles champion Swiatek broke back with a superbly placed volley in the seventh game but that momentum evaporated as her double fault helped the defending champions to another break in the eighth. Vavassori then closed the first set with an unreturnable serve. The Italians went up a break in the second set in the seventh game but Ruud and Swiatek broke back in the 10th and levelled the match when the Pole struck a backhand winner in the 12th. Errani and Vavassori went up 4-0 in the tiebreak and were helped to the finish line after a double fault from Swiatek. 'We pushed to the end, we tried to make it competitive,' said Swiatek, standing on the same court where she won the U.S. Open singles title three years ago. Organisers have tested a novel format for the competition this year, hosting it during the week before the main singles draw with eight entries based on combined singles rankings of players and eight wild cards. It was an undeniable marketing success with a star-studded lineup that included Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, but the format rankled some who felt it unfairly excluded veteran doubles players. Hundreds of fans had lined up in the rain outside Arthur Ashe Stadium 90 minutes before the first of two semi-final matches on Wednesday, hardly the crowd one might have expected for the penultimate stage of the mixed doubles in past years. 'Playing with all these people is something incredible for us,' said Errani. 'This one is for all the doubles players who couldn't play this tournament.'- REUTERS
Scottish Sun
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Sunderland captain Dan Neil, 23, lined up for shock £15m transfer to Serie A giants with Jobe Bellingham also set to go
Scroll down to see Neil's stats CAP IT OFF Sunderland captain Dan Neil, 23, lined up for shock £15m transfer to Serie A giants with Jobe Bellingham also set to go Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ITALIANS Roma are poised to make a shock move for Sunderland skipper Dan Neil. South Shields-born Neil, 23, led the Black Cats back to the Premier League via the play-offs last week — but could now be off to Serie A. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Dan Neil helped his boyhood club to Prem promotion Credit: Getty Roma are keen on the hard-running midfielder who is aware of their interest and a £15million deal could be thrashed out. British players are respected in Italy right now off the back of Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour helping Napoli to the title. Neil's move would rock Sunderland, though, who are already preparing to lose Jobe Bellingham. The 19-year-old is already talking to clubs in Germany and likely to leave in the aftermath of their 2-1 win over Sheffield United. Bellingham joined the Black Cats for £3m in 2023. The midfielder has since played 90 times, scoring 11 goals. He is a regular for England's age group sides, and has so far earned four caps at Under-21 level. Speaking after winning promotion last week, Bellingham told Sky Sports: "I always believed, you have to believe. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Jobe Bellingham was a key figure for Sunderland this season Credit: Shutterstock Editorial "When you've got supporters like this and a group of lads like that, you always have to believe. "I always believed and I know people doubted us and that's understandable, we lost a few games, people talk about momentum. Jobe Bellingham takes swipe at Sky Sports pundits in live TV interview before awkward moment with panel at Wembley "But I think we did enough, we showed enough throughout the season for people to at least give us some credit going into the play-offs. "The typical 'inexperienced' by all the ex-pros that speak on Sky but we've just proved that don't matter. "You need experience, of course, with youth like at Sunderland you play loads of games you get that experience. "You get experience by failing and we failed together so many times and in the end we come good." Neil, meanwhile, burst onto the scene after debuting in 2018. The all-action midfielder has since become captain of his boyhood club. Neil has played 197 times for Sunderland, scoring 12 goals and laying on 20 assists. 4
The Irish Sun
31-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Sunderland captain Dan Neil, 23, lined up for shock £15m transfer to Serie A giants with Jobe Bellingham also set to go
ITALIANS Roma are poised to make a shock move for Sunderland skipper Dan Neil. South Shields-born Neil, 23, led the Black Cats back to the Premier League via the play-offs last week — but could now be off to Serie A. 4 Dan Neil helped his boyhood club to Prem promotion Credit: Getty British players are respected in Italy right now off the back of Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour helping Neil's move would rock Sunderland, though, who are already preparing to lose The 19-year-old is already talking to clubs in Germany and likely to leave in the aftermath of their 2-1 win over READ MORE TRANSFER NEWS Bellingham joined the Black Cats for £3m in 2023. The midfielder has since played 90 times, scoring 11 goals. He is a regular for Speaking Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Jobe Bellingham was a key figure for Sunderland this season Credit: Shutterstock Editorial "When you've got supporters like this and a group of lads like that, you always have to believe. "I always believed and I know people doubted us and that's understandable, we lost a few games, people talk about momentum. Jobe Bellingham takes swipe at Sky Sports pundits in live TV interview before awkward moment with panel at Wembley "But I think we did enough, we showed enough throughout the season for people to at least give us some credit going into the play-offs. "The typical 'inexperienced' by all the ex-pros that speak on Sky but we've just proved that don't matter. "You need experience, of course, with youth like at Sunderland you play loads of games you get that experience. "You get experience by failing and we failed together so many times and in the end we come good." Neil, meanwhile, burst onto the scene after debuting in 2018. The all-action midfielder has since become captain of his boyhood club. Neil has played 197 times for Sunderland, scoring 12 goals and laying on 20 assists. 4 4
