CNN
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World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won a record-equaling Madrid Open title on Saturday, defeating the USA’s Coco Gauff 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the final.

With the win, Sabalenka equaled Petra Kvitova’s record three titles in Madrid, and secured her 20th career title. It also further consolidated her spot as world No. 1, following a dominant start to the year in which she has reached four consecutive finals, and won a tour-leading 31 matches.

Meanwhile, Gauff, who could have leapfrogged over Iga Świątek to take the world No. 2 spot with a win, remains the No. 3 seed in the rankings.

“It’s always incredible to come back to Madrid, I love this place, I’m always excited to play in front of you all,” Sabalenka said in her on-court interview afterward, thanking the crowd for its support.

She enjoyed a near-perfect start to the match, her powerful ground strokes overpowering Gauff as she won 17 consecutive points early on to take an ultimately unassailable first-set lead.

Though Gauff settled into the match, she could not recover that deficit and was left to launch her challenge in the second set. A perfectly executed passing shot ensured that Gauff broke Sabalenka early in the second and she eventually served for the set at 5-4 to level the match.

Sabalenka raced to a 0-40 lead but Gauff clung on, saved one break point and on the next, the racquet slipped out of Sabalenka’s hands as she scampered around the court.

That gave Gauff an opening and she took it, engineering a set point but Sabalenka once again snuffed out any chance, and later broke back. Ultimately, despite Gauff’s best efforts, the set went to a tiebreak which Sabalenka won, wrapping up the match.

CNN
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Roger Clemens has no shortage of memories from his time in Boston. The MLB legend picked up 192 wins with the Red Sox, enjoying a near-unstoppable 1986 season in which he claimed a record 20 strikeouts in one nine-inning game, was named American League MVP and won the league’s Cy Young Award.

But on Saturday, his son Kody managed to do something Roger never managed – hit a home run at Fenway Park. What’s more, he did it with his father watching on from the stands.

“To one-up him is great, even though he was a pitcher!” Kody Clemens joked afterward. “It’s super cool, super special moment for me and my family, and super happy I could put a good swing on there.”

With the Minnesota Twins and the Red Sox tied at 1-1 in the top of the sixth, Clemens – on his first ever outing at Fenway Park – hit a two-run, 398-foot home run to the right corner off Boston starter Hunter Dobbins.

It was the 15th homer of Clemens’ career, and his first since the Philadelphia Phillies traded him to the Twins on April 26.

As the 28-year-old rounded the bases, his father was pictured celebrating in a luxury box with his wife – Kody’s mother Debbie – as well as Kody’s wife Jessica.

“It was amazing,” Roger Clemens said per AP. “Just think about – I put myself in his shoes – even though he’s my kid, he’s here at Fenway, and he obviously wants to perform well, hitting a home run would be the ultimate thing to do and he goes up there up in a clutch situation and does it.”

“Just a great moment and I’m glad we’re here,” he added, also confirming that a friend of his had retrieved the ball for the Clemens family.

Clemens’ homer ultimately proved decisive – the Twins went on to win 4-3 and snap a four-game losing streak.

“It’s a big-time home run for us as a team, but that’s a sweet moment,” said manager Rocco Baldelli. “He’s got his whole family here, he’s at Fenway Park. Obviously, his dad had so much history in this place, with these fans.

“I bet that will be one of the biggest moments – no matter what he does, hopefully he plays for 15 more years – but that will be something he never forgets, and I’ll never forget either.”

CNN
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The fan who fell onto the field at PNC Park earlier this week, identified as Kavan Markwood, is “awake and continuing to work toward making his body stronger each day,” according to a post on social media from his girlfriend Alonna Brown.

An update was also posted to the family’s GoFundMe, which has raised more than $27,000 as of Saturday evening.

“At this time, he needs rest, peace, prayers, privacy, and all the positive thoughts and energy you can send as he continues on his journey,” Brown wrote. “… Please keep Kavan in your thoughts.”

The family has not responded to CNN’s request for further information.

The incident happened during the seventh inning of Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 20-year-old Markwood, fell from the right field wall onto the field and was listed in critical condition.

Players from both teams could be seen kneeling down, while others put their hands on their heads in concern for the injured fan.

The fall is being treated as accidental, police previously said.

“As of this morning, Kavan is awake, alert, and able to speak,” wrote Jennifer Phillips, who identified herself as Brown’s mother.

“After everything he’s been through since the accident on Wednesday night, this progress feels nothing short of miraculous. He still has a long road ahead of him but today brought a moment of hope that we’ve all been holding onto.”

CNN has attempted to reach out to Brown and Phillips.

Markwood graduated from South Allegheny High School in 2022. The school, in a post sent to CNN, said he was the team MVP of the football team and earned first team All-Conference honors.

“Kavan is best known for his resilience, strength, and kindness. He is a friend to all – someone who lifts others up and faces challenges with courage and grace.”

Markwood played college football at Walsh University and Wheeling University.

“The Wheeling University Community is heartbroken to hear of the tragedy that occurred at PNC Park involving former Wheeling Football Player Kavan Markwood,” the school said in a statement Thursday. “Kavan is a valued member of our Cardinal family. He played on the Football team for the 2023 season after transferring from Walsh University. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kavan, his family, friends, and all his loved ones. The Cardinal family is praying for a full and speedy recovery.”