Sarrazin Undergoes Successful Surgery after Head Injury in Crash

France’s Cyprien Sarrazin skies during a training session before his crash, ahead of the Men's downhill race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event, in Bormio on December 27, 2024. (AFP)
France’s Cyprien Sarrazin skies during a training session before his crash, ahead of the Men's downhill race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event, in Bormio on December 27, 2024. (AFP)
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Sarrazin Undergoes Successful Surgery after Head Injury in Crash

France’s Cyprien Sarrazin skies during a training session before his crash, ahead of the Men's downhill race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event, in Bormio on December 27, 2024. (AFP)
France’s Cyprien Sarrazin skies during a training session before his crash, ahead of the Men's downhill race of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event, in Bormio on December 27, 2024. (AFP)

French skier Cyprien Sarrazin has successfully undergone surgery to drain a bleed in his brain after falling while training for the World Cup downhill in Bormio, Italy, the French Ski Federation (FFS) said on Saturday.

Sarrazin, who won at the venue last year, was transported to hospital by helicopter after losing control during his second practice run on Friday, bouncing off the surface and sliding a long way.

"Cyprien Sarrazin underwent surgery last night to decompress an intra-cranial hematoma," the FFS said in a statement.

"The operation went well, but he remains under anesthetic for the time being. We will give you more information later today."

Sarrazin won three downhill races in the previous World Cup, along with a Super-G race in January to finish fifth overall.



Zheng Says Too Much Respect for Sabalenka Hampered her in the Past

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
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Zheng Says Too Much Respect for Sabalenka Hampered her in the Past

Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman
Tennis - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 14, 2025 China's Qinwen Zheng celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Yves Herman

Zheng Qinwen finally got her first win over Aryna Sabalenka at the seventh attempt to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Wednesday and the Olympic champion said she had perhaps shown the world number one too much respect in their prior meetings.

The Chinese 22-year-old had gone down tamely in all but one of her previous six encounters with Sabalenka, including in the 2024 Australian Open final, but she delivered a clinical 6-4 6-3 win over the off-color Belarusian in Rome.

The win will come as a huge boost for Zheng as she continues her preparations for the French Open, which begins on May 25.

"The few times I faced her in the beginning, I gave her too much respect," Zheng told reporters, according to Reuters.

"I didn't face her like a normal player. I remember I was going to see her in the 2017 China Open ... My father was saying 'Oh, you need to learn about her forehand, her backhand'.

"I think this kind of respect, it takes a while to treat her like a normal player."

Sabalenka had been on a nine-match winning streak on clay but Zheng said she was in her comfort zone on the surface.

"This is the first time we've played on clay," she said.

"I guess when I play on clay, I'm more comfortable because I've got great experience on clay.

"I was more patient. I'm happy with my performance and happy to make the step forward to beat the world number one."

Zheng plays world number three Coco Gauff for a place in the final.