CNN
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Max Verstappen opted to bite his lip rather than speak his mind following a controversial decision that cost him the win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The four-time world champion finished second behind Australian driver Oscar Piastri after being hit with a five-second time penalty for leaving the track during a dramatic first-corner incident.

Verstappen had started on pole, but Piastri got a far better start and had his nose in front heading to the first corner. As the pair battled for the lead, Verstappen cut across a chicane which the race stewards deemed had given him an unfair advantage.

The Red Bull driver, who gave a sarcastic response over the radio when told about the punishment during the race, was clearly frustrated but said he didn’t want to comment about the incident due to new rules brought in by the sport’s governing body which seeks to prevent drivers from criticising the organization.

“The problem is that I cannot share my opinion about it because I might get penalized,” Verstappen told reporters. “So it’s better not to speak about it.

“I think it’s better not to talk about it. Anything I say or try to say about it, it might get me in trouble.”

When asked whether he was frustrated with having to keep quiet on such issues, Verstappen said “it’s just the world we live in.”

He added: “You can’t share fully your opinion because it’s not appreciated, apparently, or people can’t handle the full truth.

“For me, honestly, it’s better for me if I don’t need to say too much, it also saves my time because we already have to do so much.

“It’s honestly just how everything is becoming. Everyone is super sensitive about everything. And then, of course, what we have currently, we cannot be critical anyway. So, that’s fine, less talking, even better for me.”

Verstappen was referring to FIA’s latest Sporting Code which includes a new rule forbidding: “Any words, deeds or writings that have caused moral injury or loss to the FIA.”

Drivers can be banned 10,000 euros ($11,300) for the first offense, but can be suspended for a month and docked championship points for repeatedly breaching the new rule.

While Verstappen held his tongue, Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner said the decision was “tough” to take.

“I don’t know where Max was supposed to go in that first corner,” he told Sky Sports.

FIA published its reasons for handing Verstappen a penalty on its website, stating he “left the track and gained a lasting advantage that was not given back.”

It added: “Ordinarily, the baseline penalty for leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage is 10 seconds. However, given that this was lap one and turn one incident, we considered that to be a mitigating circumstance and imposed a 5 second time penalty instead.”

It’s the latest setback in what has been a turbulent season so far for Red Bull and Verstappen – with the driver having to dismiss rumors that he could leave the team.

The 27-year-old has been openly critical of the car’s performance in recent weeks but was at least buoyed by a distinct improvement in Saudi Arabia which saw him able to compete with his rivals.

Verstappen, though, still sits third in the standings, two points behind Lando Norris and 12 behind the current leader Piastri.

CNN
 — 

Holger Rune stunned Carlos Alcaraz to win the Barcelona Open on Sunday and end his two-year trophy drought.

The Danish player won 7-6 (6), 6-2 in Sunday’s final on Pista Rafa Nadal, ending Alcaraz’s nine-matching winning streak in the process.

The Barcelona Open trophy is Rune’s fifth ATP Tour title and first since 2023.

“It means the world, it was such a great match,” Rune said afterwards. “In the beginning, I was a little bit stressed because Carlos obviously plays big-time tennis.

“I had to breathe a lot and find my rhythm. After he broke me, I got more into the match and played my tennis. The first set was a big battle, it was super important to win it and gain the momentum. I’m so proud of myself.”

Alcaraz entered the final as the heavy favorite, having established himself as one of tennis’ most dominant clay court players and having beaten defending champion Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals.

The match was the first tour-level final between two players aged 21-or-under since 2022 and it was Rune who fell behind early on.

He was quickly broken by Alcaraz, playing in front of a partisan crowd, but rallied impressively to fight his way back into the match.

Rune won eight consecutive points to go from being a break down to moving ahead. He had two set points but Alcaraz was able to repel them in brilliant fashion.

And having gone to a tie break, it was Rune who came out on top in the first, with Alcaraz hitting his 10th forehand unforced error of the set.

“When I got broken in the first set, I thought to myself that I don’t need to hit every shot on the line,” Rune said afterwards. “So I (asked) myself: ‘What did Novak (Djokovic) do when he beat him?’ I played it in my mind, the Olympics final, and tried to play that style, making a lot of balls. I’m very happy with how I stayed composed when it mattered, and I was really brave.”

In the second set, Alcaraz took an off-court medical timeout in the third game – twice taking treatment during the match for an ailment on his right leg – and couldn’t regain his rhythm against a pumped-up Rune.

Rune saved all four of the break points against him in the second set as the Danish player didn’t drop another game to emphatically claim the Barcelona Open title.

With the result, Rune returns to the top 10 of the men’s world rankings.

CNN
 — 

Duke star Cooper Flagg has declared for the upcoming NBA draft after one season with the Blue Devils, both he and the school confirmed on social media.

Flagg said in an Instagram post: “Duke has always been a dream for me, but I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 draft.”

Duke basketball posted a succinct message on its social media: “League next. Duke forever. Thank you, Cooper Flagg!!”

Despite entering the college game at just 17, Flagg cemented himself as one of the top players at that level and why he’s thought to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA draft. He turned 18 in December, about a month after the season started.

Although Duke fell short in their hunt for a men’s national championship title – losing in the Final Four after Houston made a dramatic comeback in the final minutes – Flagg himself impressed, being named first-team All-American and named National Player of the Year in five of the six awards recognized by the NCAA.

In his one season with the Blue Devils, the Maine native played 37 games, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.

“Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood, everybody that was along for this journey, it was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life and I have so much gratitude and I feel so blessed for all the opportunities I was given,” he said on Instagram.

Flagg, who stands at 6-foot-9-inches and plays both guard and forward, could be a vital asset to any NBA franchise with his combination of height, size and ball handling skills.

His one and only season at Duke displayed his defensive tenacity, guarding both guards and big-men alike. He previously had been a five-star prospect out of Montverde Academy in Florida.

Flagg made college basketball history in Duke’s 70-67 defeat to Houston in the NCAA tournament semifinal. With his 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals, he became the first player, since defensive stats became official in 1986, to lead a team in all five categories in a Final Four game.

“Today’s just the beginning, but I have that brotherhood with me for life,” Flagg said.

The 2025 NBA draft lottery will be held on May 12 where teams that missed the playoffs will find out which picks they have and who will have the opportunity to select Flagg.