Sports
Petra Kvitova wins opener in Rome for first victory since 2023
Mar 5, 2025; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Petra Kvitova (CZE) hits a shot against Varvara Gracheva (not pictured) in her first round match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Well Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Czech Petra Kvitova won her first match since 2023, defeating Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 7-5, 6-1 in the first round at the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday.
Once ranked as high as No. 2 in the world — that was Oct. 31, 2011 — she is now the No. 830 player after taking 18 months off for pregnancy and childbirth. She was 0-4 this season in her comeback before her match with Begu.
The 35-year-old, who twice won Wimbledon more than a decade ago, was both surprised and delighted by her victory on the clay courts in Rome.
“It’s kind of weird that my first one came here,” she said. “I’ve never played my best tennis here. But it feels much better than losing, that’s for sure.”
Now, she’ll try to string together two wins in a row in Rome for the first time since 2015, when she advanced to the quarterfinals.
Eight years removed from that tournament, she walked away from tennis, feeling it was just time.
“I was 95 percent that I would never come back,” she said, recalling the final tournament before her maternity leave — Beijing in 2023. “I had enough of tennis at that time. I was like, ‘I can’t do it anymore,’ so we decided to try for a baby. I didn’t say anything because it wasn’t 100 percent.”
She and Jiri Vanek, her husband and coach, welcomed son Petr last July. She was excited to play again after he arrived.
“When I could do something finally after pregnancy, I played some tennis — and it felt so good,” she said. “I was laughing. Every shot I hit smoothly, I was like, ‘Wowwww — it’s still there.’ It’s not in the legs — but in the hands, it’s sometimes very good.”
Against Begu, ranked No. 83 in the world, Kvitova saved five break points and converted five. Tied 5-5 in the first set, Kvitova won eight of the next nine games to run away with the match.
Her next step is to increase her fitness level, she said, but it’s improving.
“I’m not as fit as I wanted to be, for sure,” she said. “But even in practices my game was going up.”
Kvitova will next face No. 27 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia in the second round.
Others moving on to the second round on Tuesday were another Czech, Marie Bouzkova, as well as the United Kingdom’s Sonay Kartal, Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia, and American Peyton Stearns.
Also advancing were Italian Lucia Bronzetti, Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands, Jaqueline Cristian of Romania and Lulu Sun of New Zealand.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Hannah Green wins her 2nd HSBC Women's World Championship
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
