Emotional Gauff Blames Switch from Clay to Grass for Wimbledon Defeat

US player Coco Gauff reacts as she plays against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska during their women's singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025. (AFP)
US player Coco Gauff reacts as she plays against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska during their women's singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025. (AFP)
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Emotional Gauff Blames Switch from Clay to Grass for Wimbledon Defeat

US player Coco Gauff reacts as she plays against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska during their women's singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025. (AFP)
US player Coco Gauff reacts as she plays against Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska during their women's singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025. (AFP)

A tearful Coco Gauff said she had not coped well with the switch from Paris clay to Wimbledon grass after she was dumped out of the championships in the first round on Tuesday.

The French Open champion looked uncomfortable under the roof on Court One and failed to find any serving rhythm as she succumbed 7-6(3) 6-1 to Ukrainian world number 42 Dayana Yastremska.

Gauff was eager to give her big-hitting opponent credit for the win but said she would probably change her tactics in future during the three weeks between Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

"I just feel like the surface I maybe could have used more matches. It's like finding the puzzle," the American second seed said.

"It's a quick turnaround, so I think just trying to learn on whether it's better to train more and maybe play Bad Homburg or Eastbourne."

Gauff, 21, was knocked out in the first round at Berlin and had little other grasscourt practice before Wimbledon.

Her win in Paris was the second Grand Slam victory of her career following last year's US Open triumph.

"I feel like mentally I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards, so I didn't feel like I had enough time to celebrate and also get back into it," she said.

Gauff wiped away tears as she discussed her disappointment at failing to adjust to the surface, which she said was harder to adapt to than from clay to hard court.

"I have faith that if I can make these adjustments, I can do well here. I really do want to do well here. I'm not someone who wants to write myself off grass this early in my career, but I definitely need to make changes if I want to be successful here," she said.

"I'm trying to be positive. After the match, I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don't like losing."

Gauff slipped over several times early in the match, while Yastremska looked sure-footed as she pummeled the American with winners from the baseline.

The Ukrainian had reached the final of the Nottingham tournament as well as the quarter-finals at Eastbourne in the run-up to Wimbledon.

"Dayana played great. I felt like I wasn't playing terrible in some points, and she was hitting winners."

Gauff followed compatriot and third seed Jessica Pegula out of the tournament in the first round on Tuesday.

"I feel like historically Wimbledon always has so many upsets in first rounds here... it's always a topic."



Fenerbahce Thanks Erdogan for Backing Kante Deal

FILE - France's N'golo Kante fights for the ball against Ukraine's Yehor Nazaryna during a World Cup 2026 group D qualifying soccer match between France and Ukraine in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, file)
FILE - France's N'golo Kante fights for the ball against Ukraine's Yehor Nazaryna during a World Cup 2026 group D qualifying soccer match between France and Ukraine in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, file)
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Fenerbahce Thanks Erdogan for Backing Kante Deal

FILE - France's N'golo Kante fights for the ball against Ukraine's Yehor Nazaryna during a World Cup 2026 group D qualifying soccer match between France and Ukraine in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, file)
FILE - France's N'golo Kante fights for the ball against Ukraine's Yehor Nazaryna during a World Cup 2026 group D qualifying soccer match between France and Ukraine in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, file)

France midfielder Ngolo Kante has signed for Fenerbahce thanks to "support" from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish club said on Wednesday.

The length of Kante's contract has not been revealed but it offers the two-time Premier League winning midfielder (Leicester 2016, Chelsea 2017) a chance to further his claim for a place in France's World Cup finals squad.

"Our club has successfully completed the transfer of N'Golo Kante, a prominent figure in world football," Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran said.

"On behalf of myself and our club, I would like to express my gratitude to our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his significant support in ensuring the positive conclusion of this process, which will contribute to the development of both Fenerbahce and Turkish football," he added.

Fenerbahce, 19 times Turkish champions, have also signed Kante's fellow France midfielder Matteo Guendouzi during the winter transfer window.

They are locked in a tight battle for the league title, three points off fellow-Istanbul side Galatasary, and face English outfit Nottingham Forest in the Europa League knockout phase play-offs later this month.


ICE Agents Have No Operational Police Role in Olympics, Says Italian Minister

Illuminated pictograms representing various disciplines are displayed in front of the Milan Cathedral in Milan, Italy, 03 February 2026, three days ahead of the 06 to 22 February Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. (EPA)
Illuminated pictograms representing various disciplines are displayed in front of the Milan Cathedral in Milan, Italy, 03 February 2026, three days ahead of the 06 to 22 February Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. (EPA)
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ICE Agents Have No Operational Police Role in Olympics, Says Italian Minister

Illuminated pictograms representing various disciplines are displayed in front of the Milan Cathedral in Milan, Italy, 03 February 2026, three days ahead of the 06 to 22 February Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. (EPA)
Illuminated pictograms representing various disciplines are displayed in front of the Milan Cathedral in Milan, Italy, 03 February 2026, three days ahead of the 06 to 22 February Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. (EPA)

Agents from the divisive US immigration enforcement agency ICE will have no operational role in the Winter Olympics, Italy's interior minister said Wednesday, two days before the Milan-Cortina Games open.

ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arm will operate within US diplomatic missions only and "are not operational agents" and "have no executive function", Matteo Piantedosi told parliament.

He said the outrage over their presence, which included the Milan mayor warning they were not welcome in the city during the February 6-22 Games, was "completely unfounded".

The HSI investigates global threats, including the illegal movement of people, goods and weapons, and is separate from the department carrying out the US immigration crackdown that has sparked widespread protests.

Piantedosi noted it was standard for countries to send security officials to the Olympics, with Italy having sent them to Paris for the 2024 Games.

"ICE does not and will never be able to carry out operational police activities on our national territory," he emphasized.

Italian authorities are preparing a major security operation for the Olympics, which will draw world leaders including US Vice President JD Vance, who is attending Friday's opening ceremony in Milan.

Some 6,000 police plus nearly 2,000 military personnel are being deployed across the Games area, which stretches across half a dozen sites from Milan to the Dolomites, officials said.

Bomb disposal experts, snipers, anti-terrorism units and skiing policemen are among those deployed, Piantedosi said.

The defense ministry is also providing 170 vehicles plus radars, drones and aircraft.


Arteta Says League Cup Final Will Give Arsenal Boost for Run-in

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) clashes with the fourth official Thomas Bramall (L) during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London on February 3, 2026. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) clashes with the fourth official Thomas Bramall (L) during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London on February 3, 2026. (AFP)
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Arteta Says League Cup Final Will Give Arsenal Boost for Run-in

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) clashes with the fourth official Thomas Bramall (L) during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London on February 3, 2026. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) clashes with the fourth official Thomas Bramall (L) during the English League Cup semi-final second leg football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, in London on February 3, 2026. (AFP)

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said reaching Wembley for the first time since 2020 - thanks to a 4-2 aggregate League Cup semi-final win over Chelsea - would give his players a boost ​for a hectic season run-in.

"It's the best vitamins we can put in our bodies because we are playing every three days," Arteta told reporters after Arsenal beat their London rivals 1-0 on Tuesday to seal their place in the final of England's second domestic cup competition.

The Spaniard said the prospect of a return to Wembley for the first time since he guided his team to victory in ‌the FA Cup ‌final - also against Chelsea - six years ago ‌was ⁠magical, ​before ‌adding: "Now we are going to have to go and win it."

Arsenal had failed to make it through their previous four major cup semi-finals - two in the League Cup and another two in Europe - before overcoming Chelsea on Tuesday.

With the visitors desperately seeking the goal they needed to level the tie on aggregate, former Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz ran clear to ⁠score in the final moments of the semi-final second leg.

The German has missed much of ‌this season through injury and Arteta hailed ‍his return to form.

"Today was a ‍special moment for him and I hope that he fully enjoys ‍it," he said.

The Premier League leaders - who are also competing in the FA Cup and the Champions League - will face either Manchester City or Newcastle United who play their semi-final second leg on Wednesday with City 2-0 ahead ​from the first leg.

Chelsea coach Liam Rosenior said his players' disciplined performance showed how much the team had developed ⁠since the chaotic 3-2 home loss to Arsenal in last month's first leg, which was only his second match in charge after replacing Enzo Maresca.

"Ultimately their goal comes when we’re throwing the kitchen sink at the game. That’s going to happen," Rosenior said. "We can’t let this setback affect our future. There were aspects of our game that I am very happy with."

He said winger Pedro Neto and club captain Reece James had not made the squad on Tuesday after picking up "small knocks" and he praised 18-year-old Brazil winger Estevao who made a 48-hour round trip ‌to Brazil for compassionate reasons but was back in London to come off the bench for Chelsea in the second half.