Sports
Elina Svitolina defeats Coco Gauff in 3 sets for Italian Open title
Elina Svitolina hits a return during her match against Elena Rybakina at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif., March 13, 2026. Elina Svitolina recovered from a second-set tie-breaker loss and went on to defeat Coco Gauff, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 on Saturday to win her third Italian Open championship in Rome.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian became the second woman age 30-plus to take the WTA 1000 title in the Italian capital. Serena Williams won three after she turned 30 in 2013-14 and 2016.
Svitolina, who was seeded seventh in the tournament, won back-to-back Italian Open titles in 2017-18 and her win on Saturday was the 20th in her career.
“It’s very hard to believe that it’s been eight years since I held this trophy,” said Svitolina on-court after the match. “Very, very pleased with the two weeks here. I want to say congrats to Coco for a great tournament and for your team as well. You’re such a great champion. Hopefully we’ll have more battles in the future.”
“I want to thank my team. I had a tough loss in the final in Dubai this year. It was my 19th title and I was aiming for 20. I told my coach it would be nice before I finish my career to have a round number.”
The third-seeded Gauff broke her foe’s serve out of the gates and led, 4-2, before Svitolina rallied to win the next four games to capture the set. She saved 8-of-10 break points, while Gauff conceded all three break points on her shaky service.
The two women held serve for the first ten games of the second set. Then, there were back-to-back breaks, with Gauff failing to hold at 6-5. But she won all five points on serve during the tie-breaker and tallied the final six points to send the match to a decider.
The Floridian had one break point chance at 2-1, but Svitolina responded and captured 17 of the next 24 points of the match to take a 5-2 lead.
Ever the fighter, Gauff dug in, earning three break points and fending off two match points before Svitolina won her first WTA 1000 title since 2018.
She defeated the No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina (quarterfinals) and No. 4 seed Iga Swiatek (semifinals) to reach the big stage in Rome.
Ukrainian women swept the clay court WTA 1000 events in 2026, as Marta Kostyuk captured the 2026 title in Madrid last month.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Chelsea to hire Xabi Alonso as new head coach
[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli-Reuters via Imagn Images Chelsea is set to hire Xabi Alonso as their next head coach, according to multiple reports.
He is finalizing a four-year contract and was the club’s top target, per The Athletic.
Alonso was hired as the head coach of Real Madrid in 2025, but both sides mutually agreed to part ways in January. His overall record with the club was 24-6-4.
Liam Rosenior was Chelsea’s previous head coach. He was hired in January, but he was fired in April after a scoreless, five-game losing streak. Calum McFarlane has been serving as the club’s interim manager.
Chelsea lost in the FA Cup final on Saturday 1-0 to Manchester City. They hold a Premier League record of 13-13-10 with 49 points.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yohendrick Pinango hits first career homer, Blue Jays outlast Tigers
May 16, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling (8) is tagged out by Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) trying to steal second in the second inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Daulton Varsho’s RBI single in the 10th gave the visiting Toronto Blue Jays a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Varsho’s one-out hit off Tyler Holton (0-2) knocked in the runner at second, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Yohendrick Pinango hit his first career homer for Toronto’s other run. Louis Varland (2-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the victory. He gave up two hits and struck out two.
Matt Vierling homered for the lone Tigers run. Detroit has lost nine of its last 11 games.
Riley Greene had a ninth-inning single to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest active streak in the majors.
Detroit starter Casey Mize tossed six scoreless innings in his return from the injured list. Mize held the Blue Jays to two hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He was sidelined since late April by an adductor strain.
Spencer Miles, the second pitcher used by the Blue Jays, did not allow a run in 3 2/3 innings. He gave up two hits and struck out five.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the third. Zach McKinstry led off with a single and advanced to third on Kevin McGonigle’s single. Dillon Dingler walked to load the bases, but pinch-hitter Gage Workman struck out, leaving the runners stranded.
Varsho had a one-out double in the fifth but Mize responded by retiring the next two batters with a strikeout and popout.
Vierling broke the deadlock with two out in the sixth. He took advantage of a hanging Braydon Fisher slider and pulled it over the left field fence for his third homer of the season.
Pinango tied it the next inning with his leadoff homer against Kyle Finnegan. Pinango jumped on the first pitch Finnegan threw and drove it over the right field wall.
The Tigers had runners at first and third with two out in the ninth. Varland then struck out Colt Keith to send the game into extra innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red Sox SS Trevor Story (sports hernia) lands on IL
May 4, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) hits a single in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Boston Red Sox placed shortstop Trevor Story on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a sports hernia. It will be retroactive to May 15th.
The Red Sox recalled utility man Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester to fill Story’s roster spot.
Story, 33, reportedly been dealing with a minor groin strain for much of this season.
He is batting .206 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 41 games this season, while his six errors are tied for second most in the American League heading into play on Saturday.
Story is hitting .262 with 207 homers and 655 RBIs in 1,106 career games with the Colorado Rockies and Red Sox.
Sogard, 28, played in 61 games spread over the last two seasons with Boston.
He is batting .269 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 36 games this season with Worcester.
–Field Level Media
Reports: Chelsea to hire Xabi Alonso as new head coach
NYT Strands hints, answers for May 17, 2026
