CNN
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Carlos Alcaraz made sure Italy’s celebrations did not continue on Sunday as he earned a statement 7-6(5), 6-1 win over world No. 1 and home favorite Jannik Sinner to clinch his first Italian Open title.

The Rome crowd had already seen an Italian player lift a trophy on Saturday after Jasmine Paolini ended a 40-year wait for a home winner by beating Coco Gauff in the women’s final in straight sets.

But there was to be no historic Italian double as an impressive Alcaraz saved two set points when serving at 5-6 in the opener, before emphatically brushing Sinner aside in the second to seal his seventh Masters 1000 title.

“I’m just really happy to get my first Rome (title), hopefully it’s not going to be the last one,” Alcaraz said, per the ATP.

“The first thing I want to say is that I’m just really happy to see Jannik back at this amazing level. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him coming back after three months and making the final of a Masters 1000 in his first tournament.

“It’s something insane, so I have to congratulate him.”

The defeat ends Sinner’s 26-match unbeaten run, with the Italian last tasting defeat in the final of the China Open in October 2024 to Alcaraz.

Sinner was playing in his first tournament since winning the Australian Open in January after serving a three-month doping ban, but the 23-year-old already looks close to his best.

The three-time grand slam winner’s form in Rome – in particular during his demolition of Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals – makes Alcaraz’s win all the more eye-catching, especially as the Spaniard was forced to withdraw from his first-round match in Madrid last month with injury.

There was no sign of the adductor issue that kept him from playing in his home Masters tournament and Alcaraz says he has “great confidence” heading into this week’s French Open, where he is the defending champion.

“I’m proud of myself, with the way I approached the match mentally,” Alcaraz said. “Tactically, I think I played pretty well from the first point until the last one.

“I didn’t do a rollercoaster. I maintained my good level throughout the whole match, so I’m really proud about everything I did today.

“All eyes are on Paris right now, on Roland Garros. Beating Jannik, winning Rome, both things mix together and give (me) great confidence going to Paris.

“I always say: ‘The final is not about playing, the final is about winning.’ I just repeat (that) approach every time I play a final.”

CNN
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The WNBA said it was investigating reports of “hateful” abuse directed towards Angel Reese during the Chicago Sky’s loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday.

“The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms – they have no place in our league or in society,” the league said in a statement, per the Associated Press. “We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.”

CNN Sports has contacted the WNBA for comment.

It’s unclear when the alleged incident happened in Saturday’s game but, the Fever released a statement Sunday saying they are “aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct” during the game.

“We are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,” Mel Raines – CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Fever – said in the statement. “We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.”

With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Fever up 56-42, Reese claimed an offensive rebound and was driving towards the basket when Indiana star Caitlin Clark made hard contact with her right arm, knocking the Sky forward to the ground and sending the ball rolling away.

Reese, clearly upset, got straight back to her feet and tried to confront the 2024 Rookie of the Year, who walked away with her back to Reese while Indiana’s Aliyah Boston stepped between the two. Clark’s foul was upgraded from a personal to a flagrant 1, while Reese and Boston each received technical fouls.

Both players downplayed the incident afterwards and it is unclear whether the alleged abusive comments were related to the confrontation.

Chicago Sky President and CEO Adam Fox said the franchise “welcome(s) the WNBA’s investigation of allegations of fan misconduct” during the game.

“We will do everything in our power to protect Chicago Sky players, and we encourage the league to continue taking meaningful steps to create a safe environment for all WNBA players,” Fox continued in a statement.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) said it was “aware of reports of hateful comments” and supports the WNBA’s investigation.

“Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport,” the players’ union said in a statement. “Under the WNBA’s ‘No Space for Hate’ policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, appropriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Sky and Fever will play four more times in the regular season.

Clark finished with a triple-double – 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists – in the season opener while Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds.

The pair faced off four times last year in their WNBA debut seasons, with the Fever winning three of the contests. Clark was named Rookie of the Year with all but one of the 67 votes, with the other vote going to Reese.

Both players have played down the rivalry, but after heated clashes at the collegiate level – most notably in the 2023 NCAA women’s championship game – the basketball stars have been closely linked.

Ahead of the new season, the WNBA unveiled its aforementioned “No Space for Hate” campaign, aimed at targeting hate and promoting respect in women’s basketball, both online and in stadiums.

“We believe that basketball can be a unifying force – a place where people from all walks of life come together not just to watch a game, but to connect,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “We want our arenas, and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom – not hate and vitriol.”

The league said the new venture will introduce technology to recognize hateful language used online, increase security in arenas and for teams, provide more mental health resources for players and an “alignment of core against hate.”

CNN
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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark says she supports the WNBA’s investigation into allegations of “hateful” abuse by fans directed at Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during Saturday’s game between the two teams.

The WNBA said after the alleged incident that it “strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms,” while the Fever said they are helping the league with the investigation.

“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Clark, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, told reporters after practice on Monday.

“Certainly, we want every person who comes into our arena, whether player or fan, to have a great experience.

“I appreciate the league doing that (the investigation). I appreciate that the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that since day one. The investigation we’ll leave up to them to find anything and take the proper action if so.”

With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Fever up 56-42 in Saturday’s game, Clark made hard contact with Reese’s right arm as the Sky forward drove to the basket, knocking the Sky star to the ground.

Reese, clearly upset, got straight back up to her feet and tried to confront Clark, who walked away with her back to Reese as Indiana’s Aliyah Boston stepped between the two.

Clark’s foul was upgraded from a personal to a flagrant 1, while Reese and Boston each received technical fouls.

Both players downplayed the incident afterwards and it is unclear whether the alleged abusive comments were related to the confrontation.

Though Reese and Clark have both played down their rivalry, the two players have been closely linked after heated clashes in college, most notably in the 2023 NCAA women’s championship game.

The Fever won Saturday’s season opener 93-58 with Clark posting a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Reese had 12 points and 17 rebounds.

The two teams will play each other three more times during the regular season.