Unprofessional comments: Sabalenka apologises to Coco Gauff after French Open defeat

World number one Aryna Sabalenka apologised on Tuesday for comments she made after losing the French Open final to Coco Gauff earlier in June.

Sabalenka succumbed to Gauff in three sets at Roland-Garros, with the American overcoming a set down to win her maiden French Open title.

After the loss, the 27-year-old told reporters that it was “the worst final I’ve ever played”.

READ ALSO:

• Benue massacre: More outrage during defence chief, IGP visits
• 15 killed, 75 injured in major Russian attack on Ukraine
• Some Igbos shedding tears for Plateau, Benue victims kept mute during S’East killings – Joe Igbokwe

“I don’t think she won the match because she played incredibly well, but because I made all those mistakes.”

However, in an interview with Eurosport broadcast on Tuesday ahead of this week’s WTA tournament in Berlin, the Belarusian said the comments were “simply completely unprofessional of me.”

“I let my emotions guide me. I absolutely regret what I said back then,” she added.

She is the number one seed in the German capital and could face second seed Gauff again in the final.

Unprofessional comments: Sabalenka apologises to Coco Gauff after French Open defeat

16 Italian side players hospitalised over food poisoning

Salernitana players were hospitalised with food poisoning after coming south from a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their Serie B relegation play-off against Sampdoria.

Salernitana announced on Monday that training had been cancelled after 21 members of the playing and training staff contracted “serious food poisoning”, which caused illness during Sunday’s return trip to Salerno from the northern port city of Genoa.

“The situation required the intervention of ambulances on arrival at Salerno airport and the hospitalisation of a significant number of those concerned,” added Salernitana.

According to Italian media, 16 players were hospitalised, eight of them were members of the playing squad, and police visited the hotel where Salernitana players slept before the first match and prepared the team’s in-flight meal for the return to Salerno.

Sampdoria were relegated to the third tier for the first time in history last month but were saved by a points deduction for Brescia, which moved the 1991 Italian champions into one of the division’s two relegation play-off spots.

READ ALSO:

• Police arrest suspected killer of Minnesota lawmaker
• Church collapses on worshippers in Taraba
• Dangote Refinery announces nationwide free delivery of fuel

The second leg of the play-off is set for Friday night, but Salernitana has requested that the match be moved to a later date due to a wave of food poisoning.

“We are very concerned about what happened and the series of events which risk undermining our ability to face the final minutes of this season in a normal and calm way,” said Salernitana.

Sampdoria, one of seven Italian clubs that have only participated in the top two leagues, was demoted to Serie B in 2023.

They were about to go bankrupt before being rescued by current president Matteo Manfredi and former Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani, who has since left the club.

The club’s current principal ownership is Singaporean billionaire Joseph Tey.

Club legends Alberico Evani and Attilio Lombardo were hired as coaches in April in a bid to salvage Sampdoria from relegation following substantial transfer market activity last summer and January.

Evani is Sampdoria’s fourth head coach this season, following Andrea Pirlo, Andrea Sottil, and Leonardo Semplice.

16 Italian side players hospitalised over food poisoning

Al Hilal jack up Osimhen’s offer to astronomical N89b yearly

Al-Hilal are reportedly prepared to offer Victor Osimhen a staggering €50m (about N89 billion) per season salary to join them from Napoli.

Last week, Osimhen turned down what was already a huge wage offer of €30m (about 54 billion)  per season. This was after Al-Hilal had already agreed to activate the release clause in his contract worth €75m, as the Partenopei are not prepared to lower their expectations.

There was a time constraint then, as Al-Hilal wanted the striker to be part of their group for the Club World Cup. Now that deadline has passed, Simone Inzaghi’s team are still trying to bring in Osimhen over the summer and believe they can convince him.

According to Turkish transfer pundit Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, the latest proposal on the way to the Nigerian’s entourage is worth an astonishing €50m per season.

Napoli simply want him off the books after his loan experience with Galatasaray, but clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are looking at other targets first

Juventus remain interested, but Napoli would only sell Osimhen to them as a last resort, not wanting to reinforce a direct Serie A rival.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray are reportedly “optimistic” of signing Osimhen on a permanent deal this summer, despite competition from seven European heavyweights.

READ ALSO:

• Police arrest suspected killer of Minnesota lawmaker
• Church collapses on worshippers in Taraba
• Dangote Refinery announces nationwide free delivery of fuel

The 26-year-old  striker  spent last season on loan at Galatasaray and after scoring 37 goals in 41 appearances for the club, they are eager to finalise an agreement to sign him on a permanent contract.

In fact, the Turkish giants have submitted a net annual salary offer of between €15-20 million, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

Galatasaray are said to be “optimistic” of landing Osimhen this summer, however they are yet to finalise a payment structure with Napoli. Antonio Conte’s side are eager for Osimhen’s €75 million release clause to be paid in as few instalments as possible and this remains a sizable issue for Galatasaray.

Despite Galatasaray’s desire to land Osimhen, they are set to face significant competition for his signature this summer.

That is according to TEAMtalk reporter Rudy Galetti, who claimed that AC Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are all keeping close tabs on Osimhen’s situation ahead of a possible bid.

He is viewed as a suitable replacement for Rasmus Hojlund, who is wanted by Inter Milan, although his wage demands are currently a major stumbling block.

Furthermore, TEAMtalk  has stated  that Osimhen wants to join a club competing in next season’s Champions League, meaning Man United  face an uphill battle to finalise a deal for his signature following their failure to qualify for any European competition.

Al Hilal jack up Osimhen’s offer to astronomical N89b yearly