Sinner completes Medvedev win and passage into Italian Open final

Rome: Jannik Sinner will face Casper Ruud in the men's final of the Italian Open after finishing off Daniil Medvedev in Saturday's closing chapter of an enthralling last-four clash, which was paused overnight due to rain in Rome.

The world number one could claim a record-extending sixth Masters 1000 title on Sunday thanks to a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win which had almost everything over the course of its two-and-a-half hours. playerbros.org

Sinner had to have treatment on his right thigh and even vomited during Friday night's leg of the semi-final as Medvedev gave the Italian by far his toughest test of the tournament.

But he looked in much better spirits before the restart as he joked and played football with his coaching team during his warm-up in the bowels of the centre court arena, just as warm spring sunshine started to shine after a few days of volatile weather.

"It was a different challenge, a tough challenge to be honest," said Sinner.

"During the night usually I never struggle to sleep, but this night was not easy because when you're on the third set, you know I'm nearly nearly done but you still have to show up again, and you never know what's happening because It's basically a new start of a match. There are nerves."

The match was scheduled to restart at at 3.00pm local time (1300GMT) but was again delayed by an hour both due to more rain and the men's doubles semi-final, won by Sinner's compatriots Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.

A 4-2 lead in the third set for Sinner when play was stopped was too much for Medvedev to overcome, and the 24-year-old sealed his 33rd straight win in Masters 1000 tournaments.

Medvedev was at advantage in game seven of the third set, which he immediately won, but Sinner won the next game on his service to love and closed out the match in less than 20 minutes.

Ruud gets a chance for revenge for a brutal hammering against Sinner here last year after dismantling Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday, another match interrupted by heavy rain.

The Norwegian has not won a single set in any of his four matches with Sinner and was destroyed 6-0, 6-1 in the 2025 last eight in one of the most one-sided matches ever seen at the Foro Italico.

"I think he's playing much, much better tennis right now, so its going to be very tough," said Sinner.

"Every match every week, even if you play with the same player week after week. It's completely different, so I'm just happy to stand again here in the final."

Later Coco Gauff will attempt to claim her first Rome title in the women's final against Elina Svitolina.

American star Gauff lost to Jasmine Paolini in the last year's final but could go one better ahead of her Roland Garros title defence.

DOHA: Qatar will continue their preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a friendly match against Sudan on Thursday at 6:30pm during their ongoing training camp in Doha, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) announced on Saturday.

The match forms part of Al Annabi’s build-up to football’s global showpiece, with Qatar probables currently undergoing a training camp at home under head coach Julen Lopetegui before departing for North America later this month.

Lopetegui recently named a 34-man preliminary squad, blending youth and experience as the two-time Asian champions gear up for the tournament to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

The squad includes 19-year-old Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, the youngest member of the group, alongside veteran forward Sebastian Soria, 42, while star names Akram Afif, Hassan Al Haydos and fit-again striker Almoez Ali are also among the attacking options.

Qatar SC defender Niall Mason joins experienced campaigners Lucas Mendes and Pedro Miguel in defence, while Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Salah Zakaria and Shehab Ellethy make up the goalkeeping department.

Qatar will intensify preparations with further warm-up matches against the Republic of Ireland on May 28 and El Salvador in Los Angeles on June 6 before opening their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 13. Lopetegui has stressed the importance of reaching the tournament in peak physical and mental condition.

Barcelona: Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski said Saturday he is leaving the club this summer at the end of his contract.

The veteran Polish forward, 37, scored 119 goals for Barcelona in 191 games across all competitions since joining from Bayern Munich in 2022.

Lewandowski helped Barca to three La Liga titles, including this season's trophy, and the Copa del Rey in 2025.

"After four years full of challenges and hard work, it's time to move on," said Lewandowski in a post on Instagram.

"I leave with the feeling that the mission is complete. Four seasons, three championships."

The forward joined with Barca at a low ebb and struggling financially, helping restore them to the Spanish throne and also compete for the Champions League.

"Barca is back where it belongs," continued Lewandowski.

"I will never forget the love I received from the fans from my very first days. Catalonia is my place on earth."

Lewandowski will play for the last time at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium on Sunday against Real Betis, with coach Hansi Flick confirming he will start.

"He spoke with the team, said goodbye, and that it was a great time for him here in Barcelona," said Flick, who also coached Lewandowski at Bayern Munich.

"I've worked with Robert now for years, and we won together nine (trophies), all the titles I've won were with him.

"For me it's a privilege to work with him. He's a professional player... every day he gave the best with his body to be at the highest level.

"He's a perfect role model for young players... this is why he's still playing at this level."

Flick said Lewandowski was a "fantastic human, but also a world-class player".

"Thank you, Robert Lewandowski, for every goal, every (bit of) fight, and every magical moment wearing these colours," said Barcelona on social media. "He arrived as a star, he leaves as a legend."

Lewandowski is one of the most prolific strikers of his generation and finished as La Liga's top scorer in his debut campaign under Xavi Hernandez.

This season Flick rotated him up front with Spain international Ferran Torres, with Lewandowski scoring 18 goals in 44 games.

The striker did not confirm his next destination but has been linked with clubs in Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Fermo, Italy: Ecuadorian Jhonatan Narvaez powered away from his breakaway rivals to win stage eight of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday for his second victory and injury-decimated Team UAE's third so far.

Adam Yates, Jay Vine and Marc Soler have all been forced out of the Giro after a gruesome stage three pile up in Bulgaria, but the super-team from the Emirates has refocussed impressively.

UAE Team Emirates - XRG Ecuadorian rider Jhonatan Narvaez sprints to win the 8th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2026. (Photo by Luca Bettini / AFP)

A rolling 156km stage starting from Chieti on the Adriatic seemed to favour a breakaway win.

Narvaez, who had already won stage four in a sprint, was part of a breakaway midway through the day after an original escape had been reeled in.

At the end he opened a 32 second gap at the line on Norway's Andreas Leknessund of Uno-X Mobility, with another UAE man Mikkel Bjerg third.

"He was the man of the day," Narvaez said of Bjerg. "It was a full headwind over 60km and it was so hard for me.

We had agreed he would lead me though and I would take the climb."

Pink jersey Afonso Eulalio, who grabbed a sizeable lead on stage five, still heads the Giro ahead of Jonas Vingegaard and Felix Gall.

Race favourite Vingegaard ignited his own Giro title bid on Friday on the formidable Blockhaus climb, finishing 13 seconds clear of Gall, while former Giro winner Red Bull's Jai Hindley was a further 49 seconds back in third to remain in the chase.

On Saturday, Hindley attacked on a climb to the line but crossed the summit with Vingegaard on his wheel a slender 2sec ahead of the peloton.

Sunday's stage nine also starts on the Adriatic and finishes with a steep climb over the final three kilometres, where Eulalio will again be tested by the big guns.

Monday is a day off, and Tuesday sees what promises to be a decisive 42km individual time trial along Italy's west coast
Some 15 riders have pulled out so far, by comparison with 25 who never made it as far as Rome in 2025.

Washington: The San Antonio Spurs advanced to NBA Western Conference finals with a 139-109 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Detroit Pistons sailed past the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 to force a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Friday.

Spurs guard Stephon Castle finished with a game-high 32 points, going 11 of 16 from the field, and he was supported by De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, who chipped in 21 and 19 points respectively.

With a 13-point halftime lead, the Spurs pulled clear in the third quarter, extending its lead to an insurmountable 26 points heading into the final frame.

The Spurs will face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the West finals.

"Of course we're confident, but we need to keep the right confidence level," Wembanyama said. "Right now, I'm not even thinking about it. I'm just thinking about recovering."

Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 24 points but shot 9-for-26. Reserves Terrence Shannon and Naz Reid contributed 21 and 18 points, respectively.

In the East, Cade Cunningham scored 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Pistons' win. Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins had 15 points apiece, with Duren also grabbing 11 rebounds.

Paul Reed had 17 points and Duncan Robinson 14 as Detroit's reserves outscored Cleveland's 48-19.

Leading 54-51 at halftime, the Pistons opened the second half with a 12-2 run. After the Cavaliers pulled within 74-68 late in the third quarter, the Pistons rolled again with a 13-2 surge and never looked back.

James Harden scored 23 points for Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley had 18 each.

The Pistons host the decider on Sunday.