Sinner matches Djokovic's record with 31st straight Masters victory before home fans at Italian Open

ROME (AP) — The records keep coming forJannik Sinner.

Italian Open Tennis

The top-ranked Sinner beat qualifier Andrea Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3 to reach theItalian Openquarterfinals on Tuesday and match Novak Djokovic’s record with a 31st consecutive Masters Series victory.

Sinner hasn’t been beaten in a Masters Series event — the biggest tournaments outside the Grand Slams — since he retired with cramps in extreme heat against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai in October.

Djokovic won 31 straight Masters matches in 2011.

“If you want to be a great player you've got to play on all the surfaces and all the tournaments at your maximum,” Sinner said. “It's the mind that makes the difference.”

Like in his previous match, Sinner took control quickly with a break in the opening game before a packed Campo Centrale — where many fans were decked out in orange, which is Sinner's theme color. He improved to 19-0 against fellow Italians.

If Sinner raises the trophy in Rome, he’ll become the second man after Djokovic to triumph at all nine Masters 1000 events. Djokovic has won each event at least twice.

Sinner has already won a record five straight Masters events and withCarlos Alcaraz sidelineddue to a right wrist injury, it doesn’t seem like anyone can prevent him from winning in Rome and at the upcoming French Open.

“It's time to take the title away from Adriano,” read a sign that one fan held aloft at the Foro Italico, referring to the last Italian man to win the singles title in Rome: Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.

Panatta will present the winner's trophy after Sunday's title match.

Overall, Sinner extended his winning streak to 26 matches. He hasn’t lost since getting beat by Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Feb. 19.

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Sinner’s quarterfinal opponent will be either 12th-seeded Andrey Rublev or Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, who were playing later.

Also, 19-year-old Rafael Jodar swept aside Learner Tien 6-1, 6-4 to become only the second teenager after Rafael Nadal (in 2005) to reach the Madrid and Rome quarterfinals in the same season.

Jodar will next face Luciano Darderi, who saved four match points in the second set of a 1-6, 7-6 (10), 6-0 victory over two-time Rome champion Alexander Zverev,

Casper Ruud eased past Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-1 with Musetti getting treatment for a left thigh issue.

Ruud will face Karen Khachanov, who beat Dino Prizmic 6-1, 7-6 (2). Prizmic eliminated Novak Djokovic on Friday.

Cirstea makes semifinal run at 36

In the women’s tournament, 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea reached the semifinals with a 6-1, 7-6 (0) victory over 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

Cirstea upset top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the third round and is now the second oldest semifinalist in a WTA 1000 clay-court event. Only Martina Navratilova did it at an older age, at 37 in Rome in 1994.

“I always said there’s no expiration date for ambition and dreams,” said Cirstea, who plans to retire at the end of the year. “I think everyone can see that I absolutely love this sport. I have so much passion for it.”

Defending champion Jasmine Paolini, who lost in the third round of singles, withdrew from the doubles competition due to a "minor foot issue.” She and partner Sara Errani are the defending champions in doubles, too.

AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

byAlpha World

in

May 14, 2026

Sinner matches Djokovic's record with 31st straight Masters victory before home fans at Italian Open

ROME (AP) — The records keep coming forJannik Sinner. Italian Open Tennis The top-ranked Sinner beat qualifier Andrea Pelleg...

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Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver Reveal the Text Message Jimmy Kimmel Sent When Melania Trump Got 'Mad at Him'

Jimmy Kimmel sent a group text message to his fellow late-night hosts when Melania Trump blasted him on social media

NEED TO KNOW

• John Oliver revealed during a joint interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that Kimmel had a text for his peers when "Melania got mad at him"

• The first lady called on ABC to "take a stand" against Kimmel over a joke he made on his show in April

Jimmy Kimmelreached out to his late-night peers during his latest rift with the White House.

During the Monday, May 11 episode ofThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Kimmel was joined by fellow guestsSeth Meyers,John OliverandJimmy Fallonas they helped ring in Colbert's final weeks on air.

At one point in the discussion, Colbert, 61, asked his guests if they ever anticipated to be "doing a job that the president of the United States would have strong feelings about."

"You know what's even weirder? Doing a job that his wife has strong feelings about. That's where it crosses over," Kimmel joked, referring to his recentback-and-forthwith PresidentDonald Trumpand first ladyMelania Trump.

"Most of us have avoided that part," Meyers, 52, said.

As it turns out, Kimmel, 58, texted his fellow late-night hosts via a group chat when the first lady called him out on social media. On Monday, April 27, Melaniaasked for ABC to "take a stand"against Kimmel over what she claimed was "hateful and violent rhetoric" on his show.

"It's an amazing thing to get in a group text, just a text from Jimmy saying, 'Oh boy,' and then a picture of Melania mad at him," Oliver, 49, said. "What a way to start the day."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"And then I sent a text to you guys. I sent, 'Don't be mad at me but I liked it. I think she's got a point,'" Fallon joked.

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After Colbert asked Kimmel how he feels when he sees the "attention" that comments from the White House cause, theJimmy Kimmel Live!host revealed what the "saddest part of it is."

"I realize in those moments that the only four people who care are sitting right here. It takes 12 hours for the rest of the people in my life to even figure out that anything's going on," he said. "Two hours after that, a guy I used to work with sent me a text. He's like, 'Hey, do you know a real estate lawyer?'"

On Thursday, April 23, Kimmel delivered an "alternative" White House Correspondents' Dinner segment on his show, joking that Melania, 56, had "a glow like an expectant widow." The comment, which came two days before agunman opened fire, prompted backlash from both Melania and her husband, who called on ABC and Disney to fire Kimmel.

"When is ABC Fake News Network firing seriously unfunny Jimmy Kimmel, who incompetently presides over one of the Lowest Rated shows on Television," Trump wrote onTruth Social. "People are angry. It better be soon!!!"

Kimmel said during his April 27 monologue that his comment was "obviously a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they're together."

"It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he's almost 80 and she's younger than I am," he said. "It was not by any stretch a call to assassination and they know that I've been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence in particular."

Jimmy Kimmel Live!was temporarily pulled from the air in September 2025 after comments he made aboutCharlie Kirk’sdeath in an opening monologue. Hemade his return to the airwavessix days later.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC. Thefinal episodeof Colbert's show is scheduled for Thursday, May 21. Until then,The Late Show with Stephen Colbertairs weekdays on CBS at 11:35 p.m. ET.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

May 13, 2026

Jimmy Fallon and John Oliver Reveal the Text Message Jimmy Kimmel Sent When Melania Trump Got 'Mad at Him'

Jimmy Kimmel sent a group text message to his fellow late-night hosts when Melania Trump blasted him on social media NEED TO KNOW...

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🎧 EFC Daily: Everton among clubs targeting Bowen

The latest news and views on the Blues in two minutes, every weekday afternoon.

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Listen below oron BBC Sounds here- and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

byAlpha World

in

May 13, 2026

🎧 EFC Daily: Everton among clubs targeting Bowen

The latest news and views on the Blues in two minutes, every weekday afternoon. Advertisement Listen below oron BBC Sounds here- ...

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Maren Morris Maintains She Was 'Never Talking About' Leaving Country Music but Rather the Genre's 'Business Machine'

In a new TikTok video, Maren Morris clarified she loves country music and her past comments about leaving elements of the genre were about the music industry, not the genre itself

NEED TO KNOW

• The Grammy winner addressed criticism of her genre-blending work

• Morris emphasized her goal is to make the music industry safer and more inclusive while continuing to create in Nashville

Maren Morriswould like to set the record straight.

The Grammy winner, 36, made headlines in 2023 afterspeaking to theLos Angeles Timesabout her choice to step away from elements of country musicand subsequently faced backlash from some of the genre's fans. In aTikTokvideo posted earlier this week, Morris clarified her comments and urged she never wanted to leave the genre overall.

"As an artist, and as a Texan, I feel like I have pretty thick skin," began Morris. "You kind of have to if you’re in this line of work. But for years I’ve seen comments on my videos, or articles posted about me that say, ‘She said she hates country music.’ And it’s exhausting because I can’t reply to all of them and be like, ‘Cite your source.’"

The "Girl" singer-songwriter explained theLos Angeles Timesinterview featured her "talking about the music industry part, not country music as a genre" and noted she's had to "clarify" that ever since.

Morris continued, "I love country music, full stop. It’s my home. I grew up loving it in Texas, being so proud that so many of my country heroes are from that state. It made me want to be a songwriter. My dad bought me an acoustic guitar. I taught myself how to play and write songs in my bedroom as a kid. And then I moved to Nashville and made my dreams come true."

The star recalled facing criticism upon releasing her debut single "My Church" in 2016 from people who thought she was "disrespecting religion" with its lyrics. "It’s literally just a song about me loving driving around in my car listening to music. That’s my version of church," she said. "But even since then, the comments are like, ‘She’s not country.’"

Morris acknowledged that she blends genres in her work, which ranges from the traditional country of The Highwomen to full-blown pop with her hit "The Middle." She noted, "I’ve kind of done everything and in between, which is the fun part of this."

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The artist spoke about understanding people believe "what they've been fed" but explained, "I was always talking about the music business side of things because I think in country music particularly — I’m sure in other genres this is prevalent — but in country music, where it’s like, this is almost religion, and then the music business machine of it is like, you kiss the ring."

"You always say ‘thank you.’ You pave over the cracks. If you see something, don’t say something. And me and my friends, we’re just trying to write songs and have fun and make this feel safer," added Morris. "And I think I even say in that article, when you love something it’s okay to criticize it because you’re not doing it because you hate it, you’re doing that because you love it and want to make it better."

While some people in Morris' life who work behind the scenes of country music "understand" her point of view, she said, "I also know that’s kind of a part of my life that’s not a part of it anymore," citing radio and "country categories at the Grammys."

"But I do love country music because it’s about storytelling, and my heroes were truth tellers even when it was unpopular. Because country music should be for everybody," she continued. "But the two sides of the coin with country music particularly is like, this is not just music, it is a way of life. Which is a beautiful thing about it, but it is also like, if you criticize any part of it, people will take offense because they’re like, ‘You’re not just criticizing music I like, you’re criticizing me.’"

Morris noted, "I just want to clarify here, I was never talking about country music, I was talking really about the machine of the music industry, which as any artist will tell you, is more business than music at times."

The "Bones" artist explained she still lives and creates music with friends in Nashville and doesn't plan to stop doing so. Ultimately, she urged fans against "jumping to a conclusion because you have a bias already."

"I do think when you love something, and I love country music, I do think you should have a say in how to make it better and it’s not in a way that’s shitting all over it," said Morris. "I really, from the jump, and I think evenThe Chicksfrom the jump were really trying to make this safer for everyone, and sometimes that can be absolutely misconstrued. But yeah, it is what it is."

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

May 13, 2026

Maren Morris Maintains She Was 'Never Talking About' Leaving Country Music but Rather the Genre's 'Business Machine'

In a new TikTok video, Maren Morris clarified she loves country music and her past comments about leaving elements of the genre were ab...

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