05/06/2026

SPORTS FRIDAY | JUNE 5, 2026

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Cobolli sinks Auger-Aliassime to book all Italian clash

Ferrari tipped to end Antonelli’s run LOCAL HERO Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are widely expected to end Ferrari’s long winless streak and finish Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli’s record streak in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. Leclerc, who this week agreed a contract extension with Ferrari, won his home race in 2024 and has claimed pole position three times in the last five years, but he was out-qualified and out-raced by a revived Hamilton, who finished second, in Montreal two weeks ago. In Canada, Mercedes’ precocious championship leader reeled off a fourth consecutive win, including his maiden F1 triumph, to open a 43-point gap ahead of teammate George Russell. But, Antonelli admitted, he had enjoyed some luck and recognised too that Ferrari’s more nimble car and power unit were likely to be better suited to the classic Mediterranean street circuit where Mercedes have often struggled. The Silver Arrows last won on the unforgiving barrier-lined streets of the principality in 2019 when Hamilton was on his way to his sixth title. It was his third Monaco win, the most by any current driver and he is relishing a return to one of his favourite circuits. “It’s the one track we go to where power is not king,” he said. “It’s definitely about the car performance and our car could be really strong there.” Antonelli, the boy prodigy mentored by Hamilton in his final days at Mercedes before moving to Ferrari last year, admitted: “I think Ferrari is the team to beat in Monaco. It’s going to be very interesting to see how we do there.” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has played down their prospects of continued success. “Monaco is different to all the other circuits and a car that has been competitive elsewhere is not guaranteed anything here,” he said. “The margins are small, the consequences are high.” Last year, Russell finished 11th and Antonelli 18th, a result that Mercedes will seek to avoid repeating as they defend their championship lead after five straight wins. For Ferrari, it represents a chance to claim a first win since Carlos Sainz triumphed in Mexico in 2024 and to confirm their renaissance with a car well conceived for the new hybrid era. As always, tomorrow’s qualifying session is likely to be a decisive factor, but many observers believe the “yo-yo” characteristic of this year’s racing – created by the use of a new overtake mode can create more possible overtaking moves in the race. Last year’s race saw world champion Lando Norris dominate with a classic hattrick of pole position, victory and fastest lap for McLaren, the most successful team in Monaco with 16 wins since their F1 debut there in 1966. – AFP

FLAVIO COBOLLI came back from a set down to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the French Open quarterfinals yesterday. By eliminating the Canadian fourth seed, Cobolli has ensured that there will be an Italian man in the final come Sunday. At the start of the tournament, that eventuality seemed almost a given with top seed Jannik Sinner on a scintillating clay-court run. However, the world No. 1 stunningly lost in the second round and blew the top half of the draw wide open. Three of his compatriots have more than taken advantage of that opening,

chance to move to a third Grand Slam semifinal, and first in Paris. After Alexander Zverev in the other half of the draw, Auger-Aliassime was the highest-ranked player left in the tournament. “I’m in a place right now with my tennis career that it’s tough. You know, I’m a little bit, like, I’m destroyed today a little bit,” the 25-year-old said. “It’s tough. I usually handle losses pretty well, I have to say. Like, my whole career, I was going back to training with optimism and positivity,“ he said. “Now I feel like I’m not the player I want to be, so today is a difficult day.” – AFP

However, Cobolli said he won’t watch the later match between “two of my good friends”. Instead, he said he adhered to his superstition of not altering a winning routine. “I will do my same routine as every day,“ he said. “I go dinner with my friends, I go to bed and I sleep.” By reaching the semifinals, Cobolli will enter the ATP top 10 for the first time in his career. “I felt like this is the chance of my life,” Cobolli said. “I have to give everything in my matches and today I did that so I’m really happy.” Auger-Aliassime admitted he felt “destroyed” after missing out on the A RYNA SABALENKA saw her golden opportunity to claim a maiden French Open title go by yesterday as the world No. 1 spectacularly crashed out to Diana Shnaider in the last eight. After battling back from a set down and being led by a double break of serve in the second by the world No. 1, Shnaider prevailed to set up a last-four meeting with Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska. “I screw up, and then she stepped in and she played great. I feel like mentally I couldn’t really recover after the second set,” Sabalenka said after her 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss. “I don’t know when was the last time that happened to me that I lost 10 games in a row. I don’t know. I guess mentally I got into very deep, deep, dark hole over there, and I just couldn’t get back mentally on track.” Sabalenka’s collapse on Court Philippe Chatrier was reminiscent of last year’s final when Coco Gauff battled back to beat the four-time major winner in three sets. But this year’s defeat to 25th seed Shnaider will sting just as much as Sabalenka had entered the last eight as the overwhelming favourite to win Roland Garros, following the early exits of principal challengers Gauff, Iga Swiatek and world No. 2 Elena Rybakina. “I don’t like easy wins, you know. I guess for me it’s about suffer, over come, and get it done,” Sabalenka said tongue-in-cheek. Shnaider’s best previous per formance in a major was a fourth round run at the US Open in 2024. “Unbelievable, I still can’t believe it if I think where I was one month ago, I was nearly 150 in the world,” he added. “I’m tired, that’s for sure, but you know I train and I play tennis to play these kind of tournaments, these kind of matches. “Obviously today I was a bit more tired than usual… but I’m here.” Berrettini, ranked 105th, had enjoyed a brilliant tournament in his first appearance at Roland Garros since 2021.

with Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi battling it out in the night session in the other top-bracket quarter-final. Arnaldi, the winner of that match after Berrettini retired, will meet 10th seed Cobolli in the last four today, after the 24-year-old overpowered world No. 6 Auger-Aliassime. It will be the first all-Italian Grand Slam men’s semifinal in history. “For sure it will be another derby, but I think we have to be happy for Italian tennis,” Cobolli told reporters. “Another Italian, apart from Sinner and Lorenzo (Musetti), are in the final this week. So we have to be happy, and we have to enjoy that match.”

Sabalenka implodes in Paris … as Shnaider secures French Open semifinal date with Chwalinska

But he had also played some demanding matches, including the longest of his career in the last 32 against Francisco Comesana, and his efforts finally took their toll in the last night session of the event. “I have to take unfortunately the right decision,” said Berrettini. “Even though it was obviously a big stage, I’m the last one that wants to retire. I’m so tired of it. I just I don’t want to do it, but sometimes you have to do it.” – AFP But now the 22-year-old finds herself the favourite to reach the final at Roland Garros. “It’s gonna be a big switch for me for tomorrow’s match,” Shnaider said. “(I’m) happy for (Chwalinska). Yeah, I’m expecting a huge fight tomorrow. I feel like both of us is gonna be leaving it all out tomorrow with a huge opportunity in front of us.” Earlier, world No. 114 Chwalinska continued her stunning French Open run by becoming just the second women’s qualifier to reach the last four at Roland Garros in the professional era. The 24-year-old Pole again defied the odds to down Russian 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (7 3), 6-3. “I honestly don’t know what’s going on. I know I repeat myself but every single match here is kind of crazy for me so I’m very grateful,” Chwalinska said on court. It was her eighth win at the tour nament after she battled through three qualifying rounds to reach the main draw of a major for just the third time in her career. Prior to her run in Paris, Chwalinska had only ever won two tour-level matches on clay in her career, now she stands one victory away from competing for the biggest title the surface has to offer. “I feel like I just, for some reason, I don’t process it, you know,” Chwalinska said. “But definitely after the tourna ment finishes, I will kind of have time to, I guess, be grateful for what happened.” – AFP

Aryna Sabalenka reacts during her quarterfinal defeat to Diana Shnaider (not pictured) at the French Open in Paris yesterday. – AFPPIC

Arnaldi into last four after Berrettini retires MATTEO ARNALDI booked an all Italian French Open semifinal against Flavio Cobolli as Matteo Berrettini’s run at Roland Garros came to a sad end as he was forced to retire with a hip injury. Former Wimbledon finalist I hope he’s going recover and soon it’s going to come the grass and he’s going to be very tough to play.” Arnaldi has spent the largest time on court for a player en route to a Grand Slam semifinal, so will likely be grateful for the extra rest ahead of fac ing 10th seed Cobolli today.

Berrettini, who has struggled with vari ous injuries in recent years, called it quits in the second set when trailing 7 5, 5-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier. “You never want someone to end the tournament like this,” said the 25 year-old Arnaldi. “I’m sorry for him and

The world No. 104, who himself was sidelined with injury earlier this sea son, had played back-to-back five-set ters in the third and fourth rounds, totalling over 10 hours.