WTA roundup: Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini fall in Berlin
Third-seeded Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy were knocked out during second-round play Wednesday on the grass at the Berlin Open.
Jasmine Paolini Sport News
Lakers to be sold in record-breaking $10 billion deal: ESPN
LOS ANGELES, United States: The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold in a record-breaking $10 billion deal that makes the iconic franchise the highest-valued sports team in US history, ESPN reported Wednesday. The report said the Lakers owners, the Buss family, would sell their controlling interest in the team to billionaire Mark Walter, who already owns a minority stake in the franchise. While Jeanie Buss would continue as Lakers governor, the deal ends the Buss family’s 46-year reign over the NBA giants. Walter is the chief executive of holding company TWG Global which has built an impressive portfolio of professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Sparks. He is also part of the ownership group of English Premier League side Chelsea. TWG also owns the Billie Jean King Cup tennis tournament and the Cadillac Formula One team. While further specifics of the deal were not disclosed, Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson — a business partner of Walter — was among the first to react to news of the agreement. “Laker fans should be ecstatic,” Johnson wrote on X. “A few things I can tell you about Mark — he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way.
Real Madrid wilt in Miami heat as Al-Hilal spoil Alonso’s debut
MIAMI: Real Madrid labored to a 1-1 Club World Cup draw against a spirited Al-Hilal in searing heat on Wednesday as Xabi Alonso’s managerial debut for the 15-time European champions delivered flashes of promise but ultimately felt like an exhibition match. Gonzalo Garcia, stepping in for the fever-stricken Kylian Mbappe, gave Real an early lead with a composed finish, but Ruben Neves levelled from the spot before halftime as Simone Inzaghi’s men showed defensive grit and enough attacking intent to rattle their illustrious opponents. A last-gasp missed penalty from Federico Valverde summed up a day when Real’s legs, and ideas, wilted in the heat and humidity at a nearly sold-out Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. RB Salzburg and Pachuca meet in the other Group H fixture later on Wednesday.
Back-to-back Cats: Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions by beating the Oilers in 6 games
SUNRISE, Florida: The Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the final on Tuesday night, becoming the NHL’s first back-to-back winners since Tampa Bay in 2020 and ‘21 and the third team to do it this century. Sam Reinhart scored four goals, becoming just the fourth player in league history to get that many in a game in the final. His third to complete the hat trick sent rats, along with hats, flying onto the ice.
Third seed Pegula tumbles out of Berlin Open, lucky loser Jabeur marches on
BERLIN :Third seed and defending champion Jessica Pegula tumbled out in the last 16 of the Berlin Open on Wednesday, losing to 2021 champion Liudmila Samsonova 6-7(8) 7-5 7-6(5) in a marathon match that lasted three hours and 21 minutes.
Last year’s Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini beaten by Ons Jabeur in first grass match of 2025
BERLIN: Last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini got off to a losing start in her first grass-court match of 2025, a straight-sets loss to Ons Jabeur. Jabeur, a Wimbledon finalist in 2022 and 2023, beat the fourth-seeded Paolini 6-1, 6-3 in the second round of the Berlin Tennis Open on Wednesday after the Italian had a first-round bye. Jabeur could face 2023 Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova or Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Paolini was playing for the first time since winning the French Open doubles title with fellow Italian Sara Errani.
Samsonova downs Osaka in Berlin WTA first round
BERLIN: Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova came from a set down to beat Naomi Osaka 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in the first round of the Berlin Open WTA event on Tuesday.
Frech stuns sixth-seed Andreeva, lucky loser Jabeur powers through
BERLIN :Poland's Magdalena Frech came from a set down to battle past world number seven Mirra Andreeva of Russia 2-6 7-5 6-0 on Monday, booking a place in the Berlin Open round of 16 and staging the upset of the tournament.