Venus Williams says she is engaged to Andrea Preti after her first singles win in 16 months
After becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match, Williams gave thanks to her fiance, who was in the stands at the DC Open. He is Andrea Preti, who is a Danish-born Italian model and actor, according to the website IMDB.
The 45-year-old Williams hadn't played in a tournament in 16 months until entering the event in Washington. She won a doubles match on Monday and a singles match on Tuesday, before losing in doubles on Wednesday.
Williams, who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, is scheduled to face Magdalena Frech in the second round on Thursday night.
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Toronto Sun
8 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
New Jersey Little Leaguer plays after judge lifts his suspension for 'unsportsmanlike' bat flip
Published Jul 25, 2025 • 4 minute read In this undated photo provided by Joseph Rocco, his son Marco Rocco prepares to deliver a pitch in a baseball game in Haddonfield, N.J. AP DEPTFORD, N.J. — Marco Rocco fidgeted with his helmet and dug in at the plate to chants of 'Marco! Marco!' from his Little League teammates as he settled in for a night of baseball, after his family got mixed up in a court case where a judge — not an umpire or coach — made the call that allowed him to take the field. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The 12-year-old played Thursday night for his New Jersey team hours after he faced a suspension from his first state tournament game after he was ejected for flipping his bat as he celebrated a home run. Marco, who's from Haddonfield, New Jersey, tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament. Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what his family was told were actions deemed 'unsportsmanlike' and 'horseplay.' The family sought an emergency temporary restraining order that would allow him to play in the New Jersey state tournament that started Thursday. He got one. Judge Robert Malestein ruled hours before the game that Marco could play. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Joe Rocco, Marco's father, said the experience was 'stressful' but added he was 'just happy my son got to play baseball.' Marco played for Haddonfield against Elmora Little League in the first game of a four-team, double-elimination tournament at the Deptford Township Little League complex. Elmora won 10-0 in a game that was shortened to four innings by the mercy rule. Marco went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts. Marco was on the bench when the game started — his father said it was to ease Marco into the game — but was inserted at third base after Haddonfield's starting pitcher allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning and was pulled. Little League stood behind its umpires but said it would respect the judge's decision. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'While we continue to follow any orders governed by the court of law, Little League is extremely disappointed that time, energy, and attention were diverted away from our volunteers and communities who are creating positive experiences for all players and families throughout the International Tournament,' Little League International wrote in a statement. 'Trusted by parents and communities around the world, Little League holds the integrity of the game, respect for game officials, and sportsmanship of teams as core tenants of our program. We expect all players, coaches, volunteers, and staff to uphold these values at all times.' The sides made their arguments before a judge in Gloucester County Chancery Division on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the game. The winner of the state tournament advances to the regionals, where it has a chance to move on to the Little League World Series. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Little League maintains that tournament rules serve as the guide for any determination regarding conduct, of which falls distinctly under the discretion of the umpire,' the baseball organization said. 'As all youth sports officiating continues to face challenges and abuse by parents and fans, and as we face a nationwide shortage of umpires and volunteers, it is more important than ever that we are supportive of Little League umpires, including the judgements and decisions they make at the local league level.' Deptford Little League president Don Bozzuffi made national headlines in 2023 when he threatened to turn unruly spectators into umpires. What makes the ejection and suspension noteworthy is that Little League Baseball posts videos of bat-flip celebrations on social media that do not result in punishment. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In fact, Marco has tossed his bat in celebration in prior tournament games without warnings or punishment, according to the court complaint. 'We tried to settle with them. They refused to do it,' Rocco said. 'So I had no other option.' Brian Berkley, the Rocco family attorney, noted Little League has promoted bat-flipping highlights on its website and other social media platforms. 'Let's be clear, there is no express rule in the Little League rule book against flipping a bat in celebration,' Berkley argued. 'When it suits Little League's interest, it not only condones bat flipping, but it actually promotes bat flipping.' Malestein agreed there was a double standard when it came to punishing or promoting bat flipping. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'By punishing this youngster on this occasion and not him on the two prior occasions, or by punishing this youngster and not others, who are on the website and on the social media website, of the X website of Little League baseball, it appears they engaging in an application of their rules which would appear to be arbitrary and capricious,' Malestein said. 'Which is, would be, an abuse of discretion.' Ken Goldin, the owner of Goldin Auctions and star of the reality show 'King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch,' has a son on the Haddonfield team. He said the team was 'surprised' the flip merited an ejection. 'I've seen a lot of Marco bat flips,' Goldin said. 'It was a little high but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. It went straight up and it landed straight down, right where he was. I didn't think it was ridiculous. It certainly was a high flip. It's the championship game, the last inning, it put the game away.' But could this outcome lead to more parents taking blown calls and unhappy outcomes to court? 'I would think so,' Rocco said. 'When I talked about bring a suit against Little League, everyone said, 'You can't do that, you'll never win. Umpires can do whatever they want.' The court decided different today.' Toronto & GTA Columnists Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA News
Winnipeg Free Press
8 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Venus Williams is back and she is not done. She heads to Cincinnati next and maybe the US Open
WASHINGTON (AP) — After Venus Williams' four-matches-in-four-days return to professional tennis was over, after she was loudly feted by appreciative fans even after a loss in singles, the D.C. Open stadium announcer offered a thought: 'We're never going to say goodbye to Venus Williams, are we?' he said. Not yet, anyway. This was not a one-stop hello-and-farewell appearance for the 45-year-old Williams, who had been away from the tour for 16 months before showing up in Washington this week and winning once each in singles and doubles. She hadn't won a match since 2023, and the owner of seven Grand Slam singles titles, plus 14 in women's doubles with her sister Serena and another two in mixed doubles, was celebrated by the spectators and other players. 'I'm sorry to have (fallen) short,' Williams said after being eliminated by 24th-ranked Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday night, 'but I know I can play better. And I know I will play better.' Yes, there will be more: Williams next heads to the Cincinnati Open in August. That's certain. And she also might very well be competing at the U.S. Open later next month, if the U.S. Tennis Association awards her a wild-card entry. The USTA already announced that Williams asked for an invitation to play with Reilly Opelka in the tournament's newfangled mixed doubles event. Williams made quite obvious that the whole experience in Washington was fun for her. She loves the challenge. She loves playing tennis. Plus, what's not to like about so much adulation from so many? 'Everything is about her (at) this tournament. All the media, all the fans — everyone is for her,' Frech said. 'She's a superstar. She's a legend here.' There's more to it, though. Because Williams also made clear that this is not merely about having a good time. She wants to win, too. 'There's so many learnings from here. I know exactly what I need to work on, where I can improve. The good news is I'm always in control of the point. The important part is to put the ball in,' Williams said with a smile. 'So this is one thing I didn't do today. Was I in control? Absolutely. Will I be in control of most of my matches? Most likely, yes. That's the place I want to be, so I'm putting myself in that position. That's what counts.' Williams still can hammer a serve, as the series of aces she delivered at more than 110 mph during her straight-set victory Tuesday against 35th-ranked Peyton Stearns showed. Still can pound forehands and backhands, too. As Stearns put it: 'She played some ball tonight.' At the end of her final news conference in Washington, Williams spoke about her takeaways from the matches she played and the work she put in to make them possible after needing to stay off the court last year because of surgery for uterine fibroids. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Her answer sounded a bit like a warning to other players out there who will face her. 'I'll reflect on this match and the things I could have done better. I'll reflect on my preparation going into the matches to make sure I'm prime and ready. Those are the kind of things. But more than anything, I take a lot of information from this tournament. So much data,' Williams said. 'Like, I can't wait to get on the practice court. My coach and I were already talking about what we're going to work on and also how much better I got so quickly in these last few weeks, too, was kind of like straight up a mountain.' Then she paused and added: 'So we have made so much progress, and I expect that there will be more.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
Winnipeg Free Press
8 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fast bowler Afridi back in Pakistan squad for white-ball series against West Indies in US
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan recalled fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi for the white-ball cricket series against West Indies, starting at Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. The three Twenty20 matches in the U.S. — on July 31, Aug. 2 and 3 — will be followed by three ODI games in Trinidad and Tobago. Afridi, who is also in the ODI squad, was surprisingly excluded from Pakistan's last two T20 series against Bangladesh despite leading Lahore Qalandars to its third Pakistan Super League title in the last four years with a rich haul of 19 wickets this year. In Afridi's absence, Pakistan routed Bangladesh 3-0 at home but lost 2-1 to Bangladesh at Dhaka in a series which ended Thursday. Fast bowler Haris Rauf, who was forced to miss the series against Bangladesh because of a hamstring injury he sustained during Major League Cricket (MLC) in the U.S., has recovered and was named in the T20 squad. Pakistan's pace attack was further strengthened Friday with the return of Hasan Ali for both T20s and ODIs against West Indies. The selectors dropped pace bowlers Abbas Afridi and Salman Mirza, who both participated in the T20 series in Bangladesh, and retained all-rounders Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz. Middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz is the only uncapped player named in the ODI squad. Nawaz scored Pakistan's fastest-ever T20 century against New Zealand in March this year. Salman Ali Agha will continue to lead the T20 side while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was named skipper for the ODI series. ___ Pakistan: Twenty20 squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem. ODI squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem. ___ AP cricket:
