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Robert Griffin III makes Angel Reese blush again after her reaction to

By Al Faqiih May 19, 2025

Robert Griffin III makes Angel Reese blush again after her reaction to Caitlin Clark and brings Chennedy Carter into the picture

Caitlin Clark‘s dazzling triple-double during the Indiana Fever‘s 93-58 blowout win over the Chicago Sky should have been the defining moment of the WNBA‘s season opener. But as has often been the case with Clark and her chief rival Angel Reese, the spotlight shifted away from the basketball and onto controversy. T

his time, it stemmed from a third-quarter flagrant foul committed by Clark, and an emotionally charged reaction from Reese that instantly became a viral talking point.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III wasn’t shy about weighing in. During a recent episode of his podcast “Outta Pocket with RGIII,” he dissected the altercation and argued that Reese’s visible outburst confirmed what he’s long believed: that the Chicago forward harbors genuine animosity toward Caitlin Clark.

“You guys remember last year when Angel Reese celebrated Chennedy Carter getting that flagrant foul on the hip check against Caitlin Clark? You remember that?” Griffin asked. “On the sideline, just, yeah, baby, get her, you get her. Who celebrates like that for a flagrant foul on another player if they don’t dislike that player?”

Griffin says Reese’s bias toward Clark is clear

Griffin’s argument hinged on what he described as inconsistent behavior from Reese depending on who’s involved.

He referenced a moment from the 2024 season when Reese was violently fouled by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun – an incident that led to Thomas receiving a flagrant two and an automatic ejection. In that case, Reese remained relatively calm.

“So, where was this type of reaction last year, when Angel Reese got chokeslammed by Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun?” Griffin continued. “Y’all remember that? She got fouled so hard, they kicked Alyssa Thomas out the game with a flagrant two foul. What did Angel Reese do? Nothing. She didn’t get up and try to swing on her.”

According to Griffin, Reese’s comparatively tame response to a more dangerous hit – contrasted with her escalation of what he called a “routine” foul by Clark – highlights what he views as personal disdain toward the Indiana star.

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Coco Gauff strives for progress after losing Italian Open final: Lot to improve

By Al Faqiih May 18, 2025

Italian Open 2025: Coco Gauff said that she needs to work on her game before the French Open after losing back-to-back finals on clay in Madrid and Rome.

In Short

Coco Gauff has lost back-to-back finals on clay
On Saturday, Gauff lost to Jasmine Paolini in Rome
Gauff is set to become the World No.2

Coco Gauff said that she needs to up her game to win her maiden French Open title. The American youngster has lost back-to-back finals on clay and is looking to get third time lucky when she plays at Roland Garros. Earlier this month, Gauff lost to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final.

On Saturday, Gauff went down to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who became the first Italian woman in 40 years to win the Rome Masters. Paolini, who is set to reclaim her No.4 spot in the WTA rankings, won the match 6-4, 6-2 on Centre Court.

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Coco Gauff on area that is ‘definitely something I have to improve and do better’

By Al Faqiih May 18, 2025

Coco Gauff acknowledges that there is one crucial part of her game that is “something I know I have to improve and do better” following the Italian Open final.

The American reached back-to-back WTA 1000 finals as she lost in the Madrid Open final against Aryna Sabalenka at the beginning of May before going down against Jasmine Paolini at Foro Italico a fortnight later.

After surviving a three-hour, three-setter against Zheng Qinwen in the semi-final in Italy, Gauff was no match for the local hero in the final as Paolini won 6-4, 6-2.

There is no doubt Gauff was her own worst enemy, but she was quick to point out that her opponent forced her to make errors.

“Jasmine played I think great tennis today. I think it was one of her best levels today. I also didn’t play my best level. I think it’s both,” she said.

“It’s not to discredit my opponent. She forced me to play that way. Yeah, maybe I could have served better and put more balls in the court, could play better. I definitely could and can.”

Gauff served seven double faults in the final and 15 in the semi-final while her total unforced error count against Paolini was an astonishing 55 to go with the 70 against Zheng.

Asked if she was slightly concerned by those figures, the 21-year-old replied: “Yes and no. I knew today I was trying to be more aggressive because I felt like if I was being passive, she would run me across the court.

“I think for me I guess, yeah, with the double-faults, it’s something I know I have to improve and do better. If I want to make it to the next level, it’s definitely something I have to improve.

“Unforced errors? I mean, I was just going for my shots. In the semi, I mean, there is context behind that in the semi-final. The court was super slow. We were both missing balls. It’s not so easy to hit a winner. The only way to win the points is to force your opponent to make an error or they make an unforced error.

“Today I think it was just a tough day for me.”

Coco Gauff News

Points and money earned by Paolini, Gauff, Swiatek, Raducanu, Eala at Italian Open

Jasmine Paolini wins second WTA 1000 title, dominates Coco Gauff to lift Italian Open trophy

But there is no doubt Gauff’s performances in Madrid and Rome will give her a boost ahead of the French Open where she will be seeded second behind world No 1 Sabalenka.

She reached the semi-final at Roland Garros last year, the quarter-final in 2023 and finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek in 2022.

“I think it’s both confidence and motivation to do better. Hopefully I can get to the final in Roland Garros and maybe the ‘third time is a charm’ thing is a real thing. That’s looking so far ahead,” the American said.

“Overall I lost to two quality opponents, Aryna in Madrid and Jasmine here. So yeah, I think I have a lot to improve, a lot that I can work on.

“I made the final with those errors. Made the final maybe not playing my best tennis. It just gives me confidence if I can find that good form heading into Roland Garros, I can do well there.”

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Italian Open 2025: How Much Money Will Coco Gauff or Jasmine Paolini Earn

By Al Faqiih May 17, 2025

Italian Open 2025: How Much Money Will Coco Gauff or Jasmine Paolini Earn After Clinching the Title?

Clay is more like an Achilles’ heel for most American tennis players unless it’s Coco Gauff! She won her first career junior Grand Slam tournament title at the 2018 French Open, and then four years later, she reached the finals of the 2022 French Open. If we look at her performance this season, she was struggling a bit on the hard courts earlier, but on clay, she has yet again found her winning momentum. Gauff has a win-loss record of 11-2 on clay this season, and while speaking on her performance, she recently said, “There’s something about clay that I have always felt comfortable on. I feel like this year, more than ever, I am moving the best that I have, especially so early in the clay season.” After reaching the QF in Stuttgart, she has now made it to two consecutive finals (Madrid and Rome). Gauff will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the final of the 2025 Italian Open, and guess what? There is a lot at stake for these two superstars in this match…

It’s time for a Buona Fiesta in Rome as the two Top 10 players face off against each other in a do-or-die match! Home-favorite Jasmine Paolini has now become the first home finalist on the women’s side in more than a decade, and she will be keen to clinch her third WTA title and her second at the WTA 1000 level. If she manages to seal a victory against Gauff, she will not only secure her first title on clay but also become the new world number 4! On the other side, irrespective of the result, Coco Gauff will return to her career-high ranking of number 2, replacing Iga Swiatek on Monday.

Other than that, in monetary terms, both Gauff and Paolini have already assured themselves €456,735 in prize money, and whoever wins the final will take home €877,390. Interestingly, despite a 2023 commitment of equal prize money for both men and women since the 2025 season, the tournament website confirmed that the prize money for the men’s winner will once again be a little higher than the women’s champion. In the previous season, Alexander Zverev took home €963,225, while Swiatek received €669,690. This year, although the gap has reduced quite significantly, with the men’s champion taking home €985,030 (around $1,123,566), it’s still not equal.

This has now indeed become the talk of the town before the finals. Now, coming back to the two finalists, Coco Gauff is currently ranked third in the world, and she has a net worth of $35 million. Gauff has an overall prize money of $23,817,810, and her earnings this season are $2,235,821. If we make a comparison, Jasmine Paolini (5) has a net worth of $4 million. She has an overall prize money of $9,765,349, with $1,295,362 (in 2025).

Who will add more to these numbers with a win on Super Saturday? It’s going to be Coco Gauff’s grit and resilience versus Jasmine Paolini and the Italian crowd! Gauff (21) has now become the youngest woman ever to reach the finals in Madrid and Rome. On the other hand, Jasmine Paolini is the third-oldest woman to reach her first Italian Open final. So, intensities are quite high, and also the stakes in this epic duel. What did both of these tennis stars say before the match?

Coco Gauff snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat in her previous match against the number 8, Qinwen Zheng. It took her 3 hours and 32 minutes to beat Zheng in the previous match by 7-6(3),4-6,7-6(4) in the SF. Following this match, Gauff admitted that she wasn’t at her best level, but she was happy to be in yet another final.

With this win against Zheng, Gauff became the first American woman in nine years to reach the Rome final, and now she will look forward to clinching the title for the first time (as an American woman’s player) since Serena Williams’ heroics in 2016. On the other hand, Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian women’s singles champion at this event since Raffaella Reggi in 1985.

Talking about their H2H record, although Gauff has a 2-1 lead over the Italian, Paolini had the last laugh in the 2025 Stuttgart Open. She defeated her in the QF of the Stuttgart Open by 6-4,6-2. While sharing her thoughts about their previous encounter and this upcoming battle, Coco Gauff said, “[The Stuttgart quarterfinal vs. Paolini] was a tough match. She played well. She’s a tough opponent. I think especially here with the home crowd behind her, she’s going to be playing some great tennis. I have to expect that. Hopefully, I can bring a better level and hopefully win the title. If not, I’m proud just really of this [semifinal] match, too.“

On the other hand, the 2024 French Open champion, Jasmine Paolini, said, “I’m trying to be in the mindset that last year was a great year, but it give me a lot of confidence.” Who has the real edge in this battle on the red clay court? Share your thoughts in the comment box.

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Jannik Sinner surpasses Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer on

By Al Faqiih May 15, 2025

Jannik Sinner surpasses Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer on key milestone at Italian Open

Jannik Sinner, the current world No. 1, broke a record previously held by the Big Three, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer, after his match at the Italian Open.

Former World No.1 ‘shocked’ by some top 10 players’ decision ahead of Roland Garros
Rafael Nadal makes huge prediction about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s future

Italian star Jannik Sinner continues to make headlines at the Italian Open, matching a historic milestone once held by Bjorn Borg while surpassing legends Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal. The world No. 1 advanced to the quarterfinals with a strong comeback win in the Round of 16, his first tournament appearance after a three-month layoff.

Now set to face Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud, Sinner looks in top form despite the extended absence. His return has been nothing short of remarkable, and with another title in sight, the 23-year-old appears more motivated than ever to continue his dominant run on the ATP Tour.

With his win over Francisco Cerundolo, Sinner surpassed Juan Martin del Potro’s record as world No. 1 and matched Borg’s astonishing mark of 50 wins in his first 53 matches while holding the top spot. Notably, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic never achieved that level of efficiency at No. 1.

Sinner is now right on the heels of the “Big Three” in terms of victories as world No. 1. Federer notched 50 wins in 54 matches at the top, while Nadal needed 56 to reach the same milestone.

Sinner reflects on return after three-month absence

After reaching a key milestone in his career and drawing comparisons to legends like Borg, Jannik Sinner shared his thoughts ahead of a highly anticipated match against Ruud. The Italian star discussed his return to the ATP Tour following a three-month layoff due to a doping suspension.

“I’m happy to be back after three months out,” Sinner said before his quarterfinal matchup at the Italian Open. “In every situation, I feel fortunate and lucky. Let’s see what happens, whatever comes, comes.”

Sinner also spoke about his current form and overall performance since returning to the tour. “I’m very happy because today I felt I raised my level,” he added. “Game-wise, I felt a little bit better, which makes me very glad.”

Sinner aiming for first Italian Open title

Returning to competition on home soil could prove meaningful for Sinner as he advances to the later stages of the tournament. Despite his success on the ATP circuit, the Italian has yet to win a title in his home country. This year, with strong momentum and crowd support, he may finally have the opportunity to lift the trophy in Rome.

His first major test will be against Ruud, who enters the match in excellent form after winning the Madrid Open. Should Sinner move past him, he would face one of the breakout stars of the tournament: American Tommy Paul.

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‘Hurt’ Iga Swiatek in ‘vicious circle’ that could come to head at French Open – Justine Henin

By Al Faqiih May 15, 2025

Justine Henin believes Iga Swiatek has been in a “vicious circle of hurt” since last year’s French Open, and it could come to a head on her return to Paris.

Swiatek has had a difficult start to 2024, with even a switch to her favourite surface of clay yet to bring out her very best.

Indeed, in Madrid she was thrashed 6-1 6-1 by Coco Gauff, and in Stuttgart and Rome she lost to two opponents who have caused her problems in the past, Jelena Ostapenko and Danielle Collins.

Swiatek will now head to the French Open having not won a title since her victory at the Grand Slam a year ago.

Former world No. 1 Henin thinks Swiatek’s recent struggles on clay are causing her “hurt”.

“It wasn’t a problem until now. Now we are on the clay that she loves so much, approaching the tournament that she has won four times, if there was a time to find herself, it was now,” Henin told Eurosport France.

“Now, it will take on another level. Against Collins [in Rome], she went through a very complex emotional state. She arrived at the press conference with red eyes. You can feel that it hurts, deep down.”

Kyrgios set for French Open return
Henin ‘not surprised’ by Djokovic, Murray split

Henin thinks Swiatek’s recent struggles can even be traced back to last year’s French Open, most notably when she rebuked the crowd for making noises during points after her battling win over Naomi Osaka in the second round.

“In her speech to the crowd after her victory against Osaka, we already felt that she was not particularly well, she was off the subject, on edge,” said Henin.

“I think it had been very hard to go and get this title. She’s been going through complex things for a while. I think one of the bases is her very perfectionist side. She wants to do things in a certain way.

“The status she has had, the domination she has had, especially on clay. We felt at certain moments in her young career how much pressure it was sometimes difficult to bear.”

Swiatek has been the dominant force on clay since 2022, winning three straight French Open titles to add to the one she won as a 19-year-old in 2020.

But last year was not plain sailing as she split with long-time coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and was also given a one-month suspension after a positive test for a banned substance.

This will be the first time she hasn’t won a clay title in the lead-up to the French Open since 2020.

Swiatek could also enter the Grand Slam as world No. 4, which would be her lowest ranking since early 2022.

“The fact of feeling that her game on other surfaces was not evolving as quickly as she thought or wanted weighed [on her],” added Henin.

“Her victory at the US Open [in 2022] was not enough to free her. Something was gradually setting in. There is competition that is progressing.

“All of this puts pressure on her. She’s in a vicious circle. It’s not surprising to see her struggling.

“But perhaps this is the moment when it needs to explode, so that things come out, so that she can analyse, understand what is happening to the great perfectionist that she is.

“We say to ourselves that it’s perhaps there, at Roland-Garros, that she’ll finally sink before, perhaps, starting again.”

Gauff: Expect best from Swiatek in Paris

Swiatek’s recent form has cast doubts over whether she will make it four in a row at the French Open.

Gauff will be one of the leading contenders looking to dethrone Swiatek in Paris and should be buoyed by her crushing win against the Pole in Madrid.

However, Gauff is not writing off Swiatek given her impressive history at the Grand Slam.

“I think for sure it changes some things when you maybe see someone who won Roland-Garros that many times not having the best results,” said Gauff in Rome.

“I think it definitely gives players a lot of confidence when they come to face her.

“You also have to respect that she’s a four-time champion at Roland-Garros. I always think if someone wins a tournament that many times, regardless of what shape they’re in, they can definitely figure out a way to win again.

“If I were to play her at French Open, I would throw away the results in Madrid, not even think about it, expect her to play her best tennis.”

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Watch: Iga Swiatek Hits Roland Garros Practice Court 2 Weeks Early

By Al Faqiih May 15, 2025

Iga Swiatek surprised tennis fans by practicing at Roland Garros two weeks before the French Open.

Roland Garros shared a sneak peek at Iga Swiatek’s surprisingly early practice session before the French Open.

Iga Swiatek is battling through the worst slump of her professional career. The Queen of Clay no longer looks unstopped on her favorite surface and has not won a title since last year’s French Open.

Danielle Collins upset Swiatek in the third round of the Italian Open (Internazionali BNL d’Italia), giving Swiatek an extra long break before Roland Garros. It perhaps is not the best thing for a player struggling to find her form.

While some fans and media members speculated that Swiatek could add a tournament in the meantime, it is now apparent that she plans to spend her time in Paris gearing up for the second Grand Slam of the season.

On Thursday morning, the official Roland Garros social media channels shared a quick 27-second video of Swiatek training with her team inside an empty Philippe Chatrier. Swiatek arrived a full two weeks ahead of her first match at Roland Garros.

Four of Swiatek’s five Grand Slam titles have come at Roland Garros, including last year’s dominant victory over Jasmine Paolini. She is comfortable in the stadium and looks to regain her form before defending her title.

However, Swiatek has not won a tournament at any level since last year’s French Open. Even worse, she has not even made the finals of an event since last June.

There are plenty of reasons that can be attributed to Swiatek’s title drought. She has cited anxiety and a loss of confidence after dealing with her doping scandal, a coaching change, and family issues off the court.

Swiatek is currently the WTA World No. 2 with a record of 27-9 with zero titles. However, she will slide in the WTA Rankings after the conclusion of the Italian Open. She could be a fourth seed in the 2025 French Open.

The 2025 French Open runs from May 25 – June 8. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated’s Serve On SI for all of your tennis news from the court and beyond.

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Rafael Nadal: The Unmatched King of Clay and Tennis Legend

By Al Faqiih May 14, 2025

Rafael Nadal,the Spanish tennis maestro from Mallorca, has crafted a legacy that cements him as one of the sport’s-time greats. Bursting onto global stage as a, Nadal quickly to dominate the clay with his fierce-handed style, earning the title of the undisputed king of clay.

His reign at Roland Garros is the stuff of legend, claiming the French Open title a staggering 13 times from 2005 to 2021. Such consistent excellence at a single Grand Slam is unparalleled, setting the bar at the highest level.

However, Nadal’s prowess isn’t confined to clay alone. Throughout his stellar career, he has amassed 91 titles, including a historic 21 Grand Slam victories, and 36 Masters 1000 titles, just one shy of rival Novak Djokovic.

Nicknamed the “Bull of Manacor,” Nadal is among an elite group of seven men who have achieved victory at all four Grand Slam tournaments. His impressive haul includes two Australian Opens, thirteen French Opens, two Wimbledons, and four US Opens.

Nadal’s career is also marked by his sustained excellence, having spent 209 weeks at the pinnacle of the ATP rankings—a testament to his unwavering performance and durability. A proud flag-bearer for Spain, Nadal has played a vital role in five Davis Cup victories and boasts two Olympic gold medals—one in singles in 2008 and another in doubles in 2016.

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Chicago Sky Release Three of Angel Reese’s Teammates on Sunday

By Al Faqiih May 12, 2025

After securing a win in each of their first two preseason games, Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky couldn’t finish with an undefeated record, falling to 2-1.

On Saturday, Reese and the Sky suffered a 92-87 loss to Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx in their 2025 WNBA preseason finale.

With the regular season less than a week away, the Sky needed to release some players to cut their roster down to the WNBA maximum of 12.

In order to get to this number, Chicago was forced to cut three players on Sunday, including forward Morgan Bertsch, guard Alex Wilson and center Jessika Carter, per Sky reporter Karli Bell.

“The Chicago Sky have waived Morgan Bertsch, Alex Wilson and Jessika Carter,” Bell wrote on X. “This means that rookie draft pick Maddy Westbeld has made the 2025 roster.”

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Chris Evert rates Iga Swiatek’s French Open chances as she names four favourites

By Al Faqiih May 12, 2025

Tennis legend Chris Evert has voiced her concerns over Iga Swiatek’s form as she named her four favourites to win the women’s singles title at the 2025 French Open.

Swiatek has been the dominant WTA player on clay this decade, having claimed the Roland Garros crown in four of the last five years and at each of the previous three editions.

However, Swiatek has not reached a final at any tournament since her victory at the 2024 French Open.

The world No 2 was badly out of sorts in a shock 6-1, 7-5 defeat to Danielle Collins in the third round of the Italian Open — where she was the reigning champion.

Swiatek’s latest alarming defeat came after she was dismantled 6-1, 6-1 by Coco Gauff in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open.

The Polish star’s clay campaign began at the WTA 500 in Stuttgart, where she was upset by Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals — her sixth loss in as many meetings with the Latvian.

Evert, who won a record seven French Open women’s titles, revealed she cannot choose between the leading contenders for the Paris Grand Slam.

“I don’t know how you can pick anybody between [Aryna] Sabalenka, Iga and Coco, and with Madison Keys really to me would be my fourth pick,” the 18-time major winner told Forbes.

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“I just don’t know how Iga is going to react. That, to me, is the unknown.

“We know what she is capable of, and with her past records, she’s brilliant at the French Open, but I just don’t know if she can find her A game, because she’s going to need it. It’s kind of like we’re seeing her C game right now.”

Evert has previously revealed she expects Swiatek to break her Roland Garros title record.

“I’m worried about it every day. When I put my head under the pillow I’m worried about Iga,” the American said.

“I think Iga will end up on double digits. I don’t just think she will beat my record here. I think it’s double digits.”

The only active WTA players to win the Roland Garros title are Swiatek, Ostapenko and Barbora Krejcikova.

Gauff was a French Open runner-up in 2022, Aryna Sabalenka’s best result is reaching the semi-finals in 2023.

Australian Open champion Madison Keys was a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in 2018.

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