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Sinner Wins Italian Open, Extends Masters Tournament Streak

Italy's Jannik Sinner (L) shakes hands with Norway's Casper Ruud after winning the men's final of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
Italy's Jannik Sinner (L) shakes hands with Norway's Casper Ruud after winning the men's final of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
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Sinner Wins Italian Open, Extends Masters Tournament Streak

Italy's Jannik Sinner (L) shakes hands with Norway's Casper Ruud after winning the men's final of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
Italy's Jannik Sinner (L) shakes hands with Norway's Casper Ruud after winning the men's final of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Jannik Sinner won the Italian Open on Sunday after beating Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to claim a record-extending sixth consecutive Masters 1000 tournament victory.

World number one Sinner has now completed the 'Golden Masters' by winning all of the ATP's top-ranked events after becoming the first Italian champion at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

Only Novak Djokovic had previously won all nine Masters 1000 events before Sunday, but there was little doubt about Sinner triumphing over the last 10 days.

Sinner heads into Roland Garros, which starts next weekend, on a 29-match winning streak after beating Ruud for a fifth time in as many meetings, AFP reported.

And his run of match wins is even longer, 34, in Masters 1000 tournaments, another record he has established in a season in which he has dominated the men's tour.

Sinner can complete his collection of Grand Slams at Roland Garros and with his great rival Carlos Alcaraz out of action few would bet against him securing a first title on Paris clay.

Ruud has won more matches and tournaments on clay than anyone else on the men's tour since the start of 2020 -- last winning a Masters 1000 event at Madrid last year -- but he couldn't beat Sinner for the first time.

Norwegian Ruud had never won a set against Sinner in any of their previous four meetings, but immediately improved on the fearful hammering he received here from the Italian last year by winning the first two games.

But Sinner broke straight back and took the lead in the match after an opening set in which world number 25 held his own against a player he'd previous said "cannot lose".

Sinner then broke Ruud again at the start of the second set and from there it was just a matter of time before he won the championship, even though Ruud performed with credit in front of a packed center court crowd.

It was a good day for Italian tennis as Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori also won the men's doubles title, beating second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (10/8), 6-7 (3/7), 10-3.

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Sports

Napoli Secure Champions League Spot as Juventus Stumble against Fiorentina

Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026. EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA
Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026. EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA
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Napoli Secure Champions League Spot as Juventus Stumble against Fiorentina

Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026. EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA
Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026. EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA

A 3-0 win over Pisa secured second-placed Napoli a place in the Champions League on Sunday, while Juventus suffered a shock 2-0 home loss to 10-man Fiorentina to drop from third to sixth in the Serie A standings.

AC Milan moved up to third with a 2-1 win over Genoa. AS Roma's 2-0 win over Lazio in a chaotic Capital Derby, courtesy of Gianluca Mancini's first brace of the season, left them tied with Milan on 70 points, but trailing by head-to-head performance this season.

Juventus, who suffered their first loss since February, are tied on 68 points with fifth-placed Como - who beat Parma - going into the final day of the season on May 24, when two of the four Champions League spots will still be up for grabs.

Napoli's title defence ended earlier this month when Inter Milan secured the Scudetto, and a draw at Como and a loss to Bologna had delayed their Champions League qualification, Reuters reported.

However, Antonio Conte's men eased to victory over bottom side Pisa, as Scott McTominay and Amir Rrahmani scored within six minutes to put them 2-0 ahead in the first half, before Rasmus Hojlund's stoppage-time strike capped a dominant performance.

Juventus had started well against Fiorentina, with Francisco Conceicao and Dusan Vlahovic creating early chances. But shortly after the half-hour mark, Cher Ndour's shot took a deflection off Juve defender Teun Koopmeiners and found the net.

Vlahovic's equaliser in the second half was disallowed after a VAR review due to offside, but Fiorentina's Luca Ranieri was sent off for protesting against the goal being initially awarded.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, 15th-placed Fiorentina doubled their lead in the 82nd minute through Rolando Mandragora.

BRAWL AT CHAOTIC CAPITAL DERBY

There was high tension between Roma and Lazio, as a brawl broke out in the derby shortly after Mancini's second goal. Wesley and Nicolo Rovella were both sent off, and Roma held onto their two-goal cushion to win their fourth straight league game.

The derby at the Stadio Olimpico was scheduled early, along with the league games relevant to the top-four race, to avoid security complications from the Italian Tennis Open men's final taking place next door at the Foro Italico.

Meanwhile at Genoa, Milan took the lead when Christopher Nkunku scored from the spot early in the second half, and doubled their lead through Zachary Athekame in the 80th minute. The hosts fought back with Johan Vasquez's strike five minutes later, but fell short.

Como edged Parma 1-0, with Alberto Moreno striking in the 57th minute.

With seventh-placed Atalanta sitting 10 points below Juventus, all clubs in the top six are assured of at least a place in the Europa League if they fail to secure a top-four finish on May 24.

Milan will host Cagliari next Sunday, while Juventus visit city rivals Torino. Roma play at Verona and Como end their campaign at Cremonese.

Sports

Xabi Alonso Appointed Chelsea Manager on Four-year Deal

FILE - Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso looks on before the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia, File)
FILE - Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso looks on before the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia, File)
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Xabi Alonso Appointed Chelsea Manager on Four-year Deal

FILE - Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso looks on before the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia, File)
FILE - Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso looks on before the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia, File)

Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as the club's manager on Sunday on a four-year deal with the Spaniard the latest coach tasked with turning around the club's fortunes.

The Blues lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City on Saturday and lie ninth in the Premier League with two games of the campaign to go.

Alonso rose to prominence as one of Europe's brightest coaches by guiding Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten German league and cup double in the 2023/24 season.

However, he lasted just seven months in the Real Madrid hotseat. Appointed last year, he departed the Spanish giants in January.

"Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as manager of the men's team," Chelsea said in a statement.

"The Spaniard will begin his role on July 1, 2026, having agreed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge."

Alonso faces a huge task to get Chelsea back in the running for major honors.

Chelsea did win the World Club Cup and the UEFA Conference League last year but have little else to show for well over one billion pounds ($1.35 billion) of spending on players since as US consortium BlueCo took over in 2022 following Roman Abramovich's trophy-laden ownership of the club.

Defeat at Wembley on Saturday means they have now gone eight seasons without a domestic trophy.

Fans have continuously protested against BlueCo, who have embarked on a scattergun approach to hoovering up young talent from across the globe.

That policy has secured some notable successes such as England international Cole Palmer.

But a lack of experience in both the playing squad and, often in the coaching staff, has been blamed for a lack of consistency.

Alonso becomes the sixth permanent manager to take charge at Stamford Bridge in the past four years after Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.

The 44-year-old has a point to prove after a turbulent short spell in Madrid.

Alonso's arrival is a coup for Chelsea's much-criticised owners.

Many Liverpool fans were desperate for him to return to Anfield, where he starred for five years as a player between 2004 and 2009, to succeed the under-fire Arne Slot.

Sports

North Korean Women Footballers Land in South Ahead of Rare Match

North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC players arrive at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on May 17, 2026, ahead of the Women's Asian Champions League semi-final football match against South Korea's Suwon FC Women. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC players arrive at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on May 17, 2026, ahead of the Women's Asian Champions League semi-final football match against South Korea's Suwon FC Women. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
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North Korean Women Footballers Land in South Ahead of Rare Match

North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC players arrive at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on May 17, 2026, ahead of the Women's Asian Champions League semi-final football match against South Korea's Suwon FC Women. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC players arrive at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on May 17, 2026, ahead of the Women's Asian Champions League semi-final football match against South Korea's Suwon FC Women. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

A North Korean women's football team landed in South Korea on Sunday, marking the first visit by a sports team from the isolated country to its southern neighbour in eight years, to play in the Asian Champions League semi-finals.

Naegohyang Women's FC -- which means "My Hometown" in Korean -- emerged from South Korea's Incheon International Airport near Seoul surrounded by throngs of reporters and supporters holding welcome signs.

A total of 39 North Korean players and staff, dressed in identical dark jackets and skirts and wheeling pink suitcases, were greeted by dozens of people from South Korean civic groups holding welcome signs.

"We welcome you!" they said as the players walked past along a cordoned-off route under heavy security presence.

The players swiftly boarded a bus, which departed the airport under police escort.

"I came here today to welcome the Naegohyang team players, who are visiting South Korea for the first time in eight years," civic group member Choi Young-ok told AFP.

But she cautioned against having lofty hopes that the event would improve relations between the two Koreas.

"While I do hope it will help, I don't think this match alone will solve anything significant unless the fundamental issues between the two sides are addressed," she said, without elaborating.

"A sports match is just a sports match," she added.

Naegohyang Women's FC, based in Pyongyang, will face Suwon FC Women in the semi-finals of the Women's Asian Champions League on Wednesday.

Founded in 2012, the club won North Korea's top-flight title in the 2021-22 season and defeated Suwon 3-0 during the tournament's group stage last year.

The North Korean entourage arrived via Beijing on an Air China commercial flight and will stay at a hotel in Suwon, south of Seoul.

Local reports said the North and South Korean teams would stay at the same hotel but use separate dining areas and travel routes, limiting direct interaction.

Interest in the match has been intense, with more than 7,000 tickets selling out within hours. The game will be at Suwon Sports Complex, which has a capacity of just under 12,000.

Seoul's unification ministry has also provided funding for civic groups planning to support both teams at the game, describing the event as an opportunity to promote "mutual understanding between the two Koreas".

According to local media, civic groups have been discussing cheering guidelines with the authorities, because waving North Korean national flags in public is prohibited under the national security law.

In past such events held in the South, civic groups instead waved flags depicting the Korean Peninsula.

Women's football is one of North Korea's strongest international sports, with their national teams regularly competing at the highest levels in Asia and globally.

North Korea are ranked 11th in the FIFA women's rankings, far ahead of their men's team, who are 118th.