Rugby-Bertranou out of Argentine Squad but Petti Arrives after Club Final

Rugby Union - Rugby - Argentina v England - Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata, Argentina - July 5, 2025 Argentina's Gonzalo Bertranou in action REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo
Rugby Union - Rugby - Argentina v England - Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata, Argentina - July 5, 2025 Argentina's Gonzalo Bertranou in action REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo
TT

Rugby-Bertranou out of Argentine Squad but Petti Arrives after Club Final

Rugby Union - Rugby - Argentina v England - Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata, Argentina - July 5, 2025 Argentina's Gonzalo Bertranou in action REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo
Rugby Union - Rugby - Argentina v England - Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata, Argentina - July 5, 2025 Argentina's Gonzalo Bertranou in action REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo

Injured scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou has withdrawn from the squad to face England in the second test in San Juan on Saturday, the Argentine Rugby Union said.

Bertranou, 31, was taken off hurt during Saturday's 35-12 defeat by England at La Plata, replaced by debutant Simon Benitez Cruz at the start of the second half.

Coach Felipe Contepomi has called up Mateo Albanese as his replacement and now has three scrumhalves in the squad for the second test, with Benitez Cruz and Agustin Moyano also competing for a place in the team, Reuters reported.

Argentina have also called up Guido Petti, who can play at lock or flank, and utility back Geronimo Prisciantelli to strengthen their squad for the match, as well as the clash against Uruguay in Salta on July 19.

Petti arrives after competing for Bordeaux-Begles in the France Top 14 final against Toulouse on June 28, while the uncapped Prisciantelli is called up from Zebre in Italy.



Defending Champion Sabalenka and Gauff Meet for Miami Open Title

Mar 26, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates her victory over Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals of the women’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
Mar 26, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates her victory over Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals of the women’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
TT

Defending Champion Sabalenka and Gauff Meet for Miami Open Title

Mar 26, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates her victory over Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals of the women’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
Mar 26, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates her victory over Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals of the women’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are back on a big stage in the final of the Miami Open as their growing rivalry heats up.

Gauff, the South Floridian who beat Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open finals, will meet the top-seeded Belarusian at Hard Rock Stadium at 3 p.m. EDT.

This WTA 1000 final will mark their 13th meeting, with the series knotted at 6-6. They faced off three times in finals in 2025. Sabalenka won the last meeting in the group stage of the WTA Finals in November.

“We’ve played so many matches, and it’s physical when I play her every time," Gauff said. “She’s playing great tennis. She’s definitely world No. 1 for a reason and it’s going to be a great challenge."

Gauff is making her first Miami Open final appearance. The Delray Beach, Florida product had never made it past the fourth round in her hometown tournament.

“She’s a fighter,’’ The Associated Press quoted Sabalenka as saying. “She’s a great player. We played a lot of tight matches, a lot of big finals. She is an incredible player. I’m really excited to face her in the final. I think it’s going to be a great battle. I cannot wait to play that."

Sabalenka is attempting to win the “Sunshine Double” — the back-to-back March hard-court tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.

Sabalenka won in California on March 15 with a three-set victory over Elena Rybakina. Gauff had to retire during her third-round match against Alexandra Eala in Indian Wells because of a nerve injury in her left forearm. Gauff said her team wanted to skip the Miami Open but she insisted.

"With Coco, you know that you have to play an extra ball, and the ball always comes back, sometimes not perfect, but it’s always back on your side," Sabalenka said. “She pushes you into the long rallies and I think that’s what makes her difficult.”

Sabalenka’s new residence is Miami and she has a strong Brazilian following because of her Brazilian fiance, Georgios Frangules.

“I’m super curious how the stadium is going to be on Saturday,’’ Sabalenka said. “It couldn’t be a better final. I feel happy for her that she’s finding her tennis back."


Barcelona's Raphinha to Miss Champions League Quarters Due to Injury

Brazil's Raphinha takes a shot during the international friendly soccer match between Brazil and France in Foxborough, Mass, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Brazil's Raphinha takes a shot during the international friendly soccer match between Brazil and France in Foxborough, Mass, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
TT

Barcelona's Raphinha to Miss Champions League Quarters Due to Injury

Brazil's Raphinha takes a shot during the international friendly soccer match between Brazil and France in Foxborough, Mass, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Brazil's Raphinha takes a shot during the international friendly soccer match between Brazil and France in Foxborough, Mass, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Barcelona attacker Raphinha will miss their Champions League quarter-final tie with Atletico Madrid early next month after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty with Brazil, the LaLiga side said.

The 29-year-old, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions ⁠for Barcelona this ⁠season, picked up the injury on Thursday in Brazil's 2-1 defeat by France in Foxborough.

"The player is returning to ⁠Barcelona to begin the appropriate treatment. The estimated recovery time is five weeks," Reuters quoted Barcelona as saying in a statement on Friday.

Barcelona, who are four points clear of Real Madrid in LaLiga, host Atletico in the first leg ⁠of ⁠their Champions League quarter-final on April 8 with the return in Madrid on April 14.

Raphinha scored twice in Barcelona's thumping 7-2 victory over Newcastle United in the round of 16 earlier this month.


Sinner on Doorstep of 'Sunshine Double' after Beating Zverev in Miami

Mar 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;   Jannik Sinner of Italy hits a backhand against Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semi-finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
Mar 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy hits a backhand against Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semi-finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
TT

Sinner on Doorstep of 'Sunshine Double' after Beating Zverev in Miami

Mar 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;   Jannik Sinner of Italy hits a backhand against Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semi-finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
Mar 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy hits a backhand against Alexander Zverev of Germany in the semi-finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Jannik Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(4) on Friday to reach the Miami Open final, where the Italian will be a heavy favorite to complete the 'Sunshine Double' following his triumph in Indian Wells earlier this month.

World number two Sinner, who will play Czech Jiri Lehecka in Sunday's final, roared "Let's go!" after the German failed to put his powerful serve back in play on match point.

"It has been an incredible swing," said four-times Grand Slam champion Sinner, who picked up his 16th consecutive Masters 1000 match ⁠victory.

"I've been trying ⁠to play as many matches as possible and I couldn't do any better. Today was a very tough encounter, he played some incredible tennis, but I was serving very well, especially in the end and in the crucial moments."

Sinner is now one win away from becoming ⁠the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the 'Sunshine Double' by winning at Indian Wells in the California desert and the Miami Open in South Florida in the same season.

It could be a double Sunshine Double this year as world number one and Indian Wells champion Aryna Sabalenka will play Coco Gauff for the women's title on Saturday.

Earlier, Lehecka, 24,dismantled Arthur Fils 6-2 6-2 in just 75 minutes to reach his first Masters 1000 ⁠final.

Lehecka broke ⁠the 21-year-old Frenchman early and never relinquishing his grip on the match.

Fils briefly threatened a revival at the start of the second set but he struggled with consistency and committed a total of 21 unforced errors to Lehecka's 14, with three double faults.

"I'm very excited that I'm in a final, definitely one of my goals, but at the same time it's just a sport, there are more important things going on in the world right now. I'm just trying to do what I do best," Lehecka said.