
Alex de Minaur progresses despite distraction of aerial display at Italian Open
The Australian No 1 was progressing well towards the last 16 despite the distraction of an unwell spectator when his match with Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien was interrupted by a flypast by the Italian Air Force's acrobatic team, the Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour arrows).
The seventh-seeded De Minaur lost focus, and his serve, before getting back on track to win 6-4, 6-4.
'I didn't handle it very well, because I got broken straight away,' said De Minaur who now plays 12th-seeded American Tommy Paul. 'I did well to bounce back and get the break back, but I've got to be a little bit better mentally to not let those things, outside factors affect me.'
Also seeking to regain focus is Jannik Sinner, who is making his comeback after his controversial three-month doping ban.
The world No 1 overcame a brief lapse during the first set of a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong in his second match back on tour in front of his home crowd.
Just like in his opening win over Mariano Navone on Saturday, the fans at the Foro Italico were fully behind Sinner – Italy's first No 1.
'It's good to have him back,' De Minaur's next opponent Paul said of Sinner, after beating Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4. 'He's such a big figure in the sport. He sets the bar right now.'
The last Italian man to win in Rome was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
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In the women's event Coco Gauff outclassed Emma Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 to move into the quarter-finals where she will face Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva.
World No1 Aryna Sabalenka beat Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 7-6 (10-8). She next encounters eighth seed Qinwen Zheng who beat Bianca Andreescu 7-5, 6-1.
American Peyton Stearns ended Naomi Osaka's eight-match winning streak with a 6-4 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) win and home favourite Jasmine Paolini beat Jelena Ostapenko 7-5, 6-2.
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ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
Euro 2025: England bid to retain their Euro crown in final against Spain
England are taking on world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 final as they bid for back-to-back European titles. In the hours before the tournament showdown, England boss Sarina Wiegman said the team is 'going to do everything we can to win it' and she would prefer to avoid a 'nerve-wracking' match. This comes after a number of dramatic late comebacks in the tournament to make it to the final in Basel, Switzerland, to face Spain, who beat them in the World Cup. Wiegman made only one change in her team from Tuesday's semi-final victory over Italy, playing Gotham FC defender Jess Carter. She elected to play Esme Morgan in defence earlier in the week. Chelsea forward James has also made the starting eleven, after she was forced off with an ankle issue in that final-four comeback against Italy. Carter started the Lionesses' first four matches in Switzerland, revealing before the semi-final that she had been targeted by racist abuse on social media and would be taking a step back from the platforms. There were two changes for Spain as centre-back Laia Aleixandri returned from suspension to replace Maria Mendez and forward Athenea del Castillo earned a start in place of Claudia Pina. The Prince of Wales, who is patron of the Football Association (FA) and set to be in Switzerland on Sunday to cheer the team on, wished them good luck on an online message, William said: 'Good luck to the Lionesses tomorrow.'The nation is so proud you are through to the final, after some stunning comebacks! We are all cheering you on! W.' On Saturday Wiegman said: 'We're happy that we're in the final and we're going to do everything we can to win it and make that happen.'When you are in some scenarios, you hope you can turn it around with some subs or shape change, but the most important thing is that the players believe we can win and change the game, and that's what we've shown.'We want to do well, we don't want a nerve-wracking game, but it also shows what the competition has been and I say it all the time, but the women's game is improving so much and every game is a hard game, so I'm just really glad that we made it through.'England clinched their place in the final with a last-gasp victory over Italy in extra time in Switzerland on also took a a dramatic penalty shootout win over Sweden to keep their title hopes alive and reach the semi-final, as England looked as though they were going out in extra time.


Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Caroline Wozniacki announces major personal news one year on from ex Rory McIlroy's divorce drama
Caroline Wozniacki has welcomed her third child with retired NBA forward and husband David Lee, the tennis star has announced. Wozniacki, 35, shared the heartwarming news on Instagram three months after revealing that she and Lee, 42, were expecting another baby. The loved-up couple, who tied the knot back in June 2019 after getting engaged two years earlier, already have a three-year-old daughter, Olivia, and a two-year-old son, James. And the former Australian Open champion announced Saturday that they have expanded their family again following the birth of son Max. Alongside an adorable photo of her two other children holding the newborn baby in their arms, Wozniacki wrote on Instagram: 'Max Wozniacki Lee, born July 26, 2025! Mom and baby are healthy and our family couldnt be happier!' Wozniacki's latest child with Lee, a former NBA All-Star power forward who played for the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors amongst others, comes almost a year on from ex-fiance Rory McIlroy 's shocking divorce drama. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki) McIlroy was in a relationship with the Grand Slam winner for three years before dramatically breaking off their engagement in 2014 after admitting he was not ready for marriage. Three years later he did tie the knot with current wife Erica Stoll. Last year, however, the five-time major champion filed to divorce Stoll after serving her with papers at their home in Florida, only to U-turn on that proposal less than a month later. Rumors suggested that McIlroy had been having some form of a relationship with CBS Sports' Amanda Balionis while they were both out on tour. None of these rumors have been proven and neither Balionis nor McIlroy have outright addressed them. By June, less than a full month after Stoll was served, the filing was withdrawn and the couple have remained together. A sporting super-couple, McIlroy and Wozniacki were together between 2011 and 2013 before he ended the relationship when he said he was not ready for marriage. The duo had sent out wedding invitations after a New Year's Eve proposal in Sydney and Wozniacki posted: 'Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! I said YES!!!!' But only months later, McIlroy changed his mind. At the time, he put out a statement, reading: 'There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people. 'The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails. 'I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we've had. I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting.' Wozniacki has since admitted to being stunned at the way in which the break-up was handled. She previously told Graham Bensinger: 'I was shocked. I thought at least I would get a face-to-face or something, but there was nothing. It was a phone call, and I did not hear from him again. It kind of just ended.


Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
England vs Spain LIVE: Euro 2025 final latest score and confirmed team news
Sort: Newest first Oldest first July 27, 2025 2:44 pm Wright's warning One of England's biggest problems this tournament has been their sluggish starts to matches. They've found themselves behind at half-time in three of their five games and against a Spain side who don't concede many goals, they cannot afford to do the same in the final 'We need to start games better than we're starting games,' Arsenal legend Ian Wright has said. 'We play tournament football. You never go into a game with England and feel really comfortable. 'For some reason, we make it very difficult and then we drag ourselves through because we've got such determination. We've got such character. 'You can't continue to rely on that. At some stage that luck is going to run out and we're going to need to find a way to start games better, and get a foothold in the game.' July 27, 2025 2:30 pm Early team news Sarina Wiegman doesn't tinker with her starting XI much but she may be forced to do so for the final. Lauren James came off at half-time against Italy with an ankle injury but did returning to training on Saturday. But should the Chelsea forward not be deemed fit to start, Wiegman will likely select Beth Mead or Chloe Kelly to slot in at right-wing. Kelly has had the more direct impact this tournament and came off the bench to score the winner in the Euro 2022 final but Mead is perhaps better suited to the tactical set-up. Discover all the early team news and our predicted line-ups here. July 27, 2025 2:15 pm Jess Carter England's journey to the Euro 2025 final has been marred by the online racist abuse aimed at Jess Carter. Ahead of the semi-final, the defender took a step back from social media while the Lionesses will no longer take the knee ahead of kick-off. Sarina Wiegman took Carter out of her starting XI for the Italy win, though she did come on in the final few minutes of extra-time. Esme Morgan is expected to continue in her place for the final. Read more on the story here. July 27, 2025 2:01 pm Bank Holiday on the cards Three hours to kick-off. There is so much on the line today: the chance to be immortalised in history, the pride of a nation and – most importantly – a bank holiday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to reward the country with a bank holiday if the Lionesses triumph this evening. He was in support of the idea ahead of the 2023 World Cup final loss and suggested it would've happened had the men's team won the Euros last year. 'Retaining the title would be one of our country's greatest sporting achievements,' Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said. 'Fans and patriots across the country deserve the chance to celebrate the talent, success and historic achievement of this amazing team. 'A Bank Holiday would also give our hospitality industry a much-needed assist and boost.' July 27, 2025 1:43 pm Hayes: 'Don't start Agyemang' Without question, the breakout star of Euro 2025 has been Michelle Agyemang. The teenager, who had just one England appearance to her name before the tournament, scored the crucial equalisers against Sweden and Italy. There's great clamour for the Arsenal forward to start, but Chelsea legend and USA manager Emma Hayes doesn't think she should. 'As good as Michelle's impact has been with her three goals in four caps, it is another jump up to do it from the start. 'There is so much a starting centre-forward has to do other than score goals, including to set the press, and Alessia Russo knows that role inside out.' Read the full story here. July 27, 2025 1:29 pm Spain's route to the final By comparison, Spain's journey to the Euro 2025 final has been fairly easy. They cruised to the top of Group B by defeating Portugal 6-0, Belgium 6-2 and Italy 3-1. Host nation Switzerland made things difficult in the quarter-finals, saving two penalties, but Spain still secured a 2-0 win. The only match they've struggled in was the semi-final against Germany, with only a moment of magic from Aitana Bonmati in extra-time separating the two sides. Spain may be world champions but this will be their first Euros final… July 27, 2025 1:17 pm England's route to the final To say that England's journey to the Euro 2025 final has been chaotic would be a massive understatement. Drawn in the 'Group of Death', the Lionesses lost their opening match 2-1 to France but recovered to beat the Netherlands 4-0 and Wales 6-1. They were so close to being knocked out at the quarter-final stage after going 2-0 down at half-time to Sweden but were rescued by late goals from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang. In the subsequent penalty shootout, they were twice on the verge of elimination but Hannah Hampton's heroics saved them and they snuck through. It was a similar story in the semi-final, with Agyemang netting a 96th minute equaliser after Italy had the lead the game for so long. With another shootout looming, England won a penalty which Chloe Kelly took – her effort was saved but she tucked in the rebound to send the Lionesses to Basel. July 27, 2025 12:54 pm England fans in good voice The atmosphere in Basel has been bubbling up nicely all weekend, with comedian Maisie Adam among the England fans getting ready for kick-off in just over four hours' time. They all believe the Lionesses will triumph, as does Rachel Brown-Finnis. 'What Sarina Wiegman does is create an environment off as well as on the pitch where players can thrive,' the former England goalkeeper writes in her Metro column. 'There is never a doubt from her that England can get an outcome and for her, rightly, the result outweighs everything. That's not complacency – just real, real belief. 'They now need to show that, because we all know how difficult this is going to be if our never-say-die Lionesses are to make history. But we can do it again, we really can.' July 27, 2025 12:37 pm 2023 World Cup flashback Today's final is of course a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final and the Lionesses will be hoping for a very different result. Spain beat England 1-0 in Australia to win their first World Cup with Olga Carmona scoring the winner in the first-half. Spain were the better team for much of the game and nearly doubled their lead late on, but Mary Earps notably saved Jenni Hermoso's penalty. Earps is among several notable England stars who started that final but are not at Euro 2025. July 27, 2025 12:14 pm Arsenal vs Newcastle Speaking of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta's side are in action right now as they take on Newcastle in a pre-season friendly. Martin Zubimendi is making his first start for the Gunners while new signing Viktor Gyokeres will be unveiled to the fans in Singapore. You can follow that match here, but make sure you come back to continue our build-up to the Euro 2025 final! July 27, 2025 12:00 pm Arsenal provide the key to victory? If nothing else, the Euro 2025 final should be a fascinating game of football from a tactical point of view. Sarina Wiegman will need to deliver a tactical masterclass to defeat Spain, who are the world champions and favourites to be crowned European champions. But could the Lionesses boss be inspired by Arsenal? The Gunners pulled off an upset win in the Champions League final two months ago against a Barcelona side near-identical to the Spain team that will play today. Read our full tactical preview here. July 27, 2025 11:44 am Euro 2022 flashback Just under three years ago, the Lionesses made history. After 56 years of hurt, England finally brought football home. Ella Toone opened the scoring at Wembley before old rivals Germany equalised, sending the final to extra-time. Cloe Kelly then did what she does best, coming off the bench to score the winner and giving the country a moment they'll never forget. The Lionesses brought football home. Today, they fight to keep it there. July 27, 2025 11:28 am Dear Sarina… 'So here we are again – the final. You've led dear England to three major finals in four years and a first trophy since 1966. 'Where would we be without you? It's a golden generation but great teams need great leaders and we have you. Never mind Southgate – Sarina, you're the one.' Read the Metro's full open letter to Sarina Wiegman and the Lionesses here. July 27, 2025 11:13 am Kick-off time Switzerland have done a great job of hosting this tournament, with the final taking place at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel. Over 34,000 are expected at the ground, with millions more watching worldwide. The final will kick-off at 5pm UK time. July 27, 2025 11:01 am Welcome! Good morning and welcome to the Metro's LIVE blog where we're counting down until the final of Euro 2025 between England and Spain! The European champions take on the world champions in Basel this evening. Can the Lionesses make history?