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Date: 16 September 2020 Tournament: Italian Open 2020 Round: Second Round (Round of 32) Venue: Rome, Italy Category: WTA Premier 5 Surface: Red clay Prize money: €1,771,082 Match timing: 12:30 pm CEST, 4 pm IST Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel / ESPN Simona Halep vs Jasmine Paolini preview Having opted out of the Palermo Open and the US Open, World No. 2 Simona Halep makes a much-awaited return to the tour on the claycourts of the Italian Open on Wednesday....

“This is our position: It is irresponsible to say yes to this candidature,” she told a packed media conference on Wednesday. “We are effectively asking the people of Rome and of Italy to shoulder the debts (accrued by hosting the Games). We just don’t support it.” She produced figures on the debts that previous Olympic host cities have incurred. “In light of the data we have, these Olympics are not sustainable....

Those tipping Chelsea’s rivals to claim the Premier League title do so on the basis that the Blues are lacking in the striker department and remain short of a world-class centre forward. A well publicized move for Wayne Rooney was unsuccessful, leaving the Blues with the option of playing Demba Ba, Fernando Torres and Lukaku in the ‘number 9? role. Samuel Eto’o was also recruited from Anzhi Makhachkala but the Cameroonian’s best days at Barcelona and Inter Milan appear to be behind him at the age of 32....

The Belgium international sunk rivals Chelsea in what was his finest performance in a United shirt to date, scoring and assisting in a Premier League game for the first time since September last year. His standout showing earned him a whopping 90/100 on the Goal Pressure Index, presented by Sure and powered by Opta data, to lead the Pressure Index Team of the Week. And he was joined by one of the outstanding players of the season so far, as Liverpool’s Mo Salah also scored one and made one assist in his side’s 4-1 demolition of West Ham....

Along with other GOP governors, DeSantis has championed the treatment that lessens the severity of COVID symptoms, which he sees as a key pandemic-fighting policy, along with promoting vaccines. However, DeSantis faces criticism for his opposition to mask mandates and has joined other GOP governors in threatening legal action to prevent the order announced by President Joe Biden to mandate vaccinations for workers at some companies. But on September 20, DeSantis pointed to results he said had been achieved since August, when sites providing the treatment were opened in the Sunshine State....

Rogan has been under fire for spreading COVID-19 misinformation on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, and is also facing backlash for using the N-word repeatedly in the past, which was displayed in a viral compilation video. Though Rogan has apologized for his racially insensitive comments, conservatives, including Trump and DeSantis, have stepped up to defend him. In a statement released Monday, Trump said that Rogan has “got to stop apologizing to the Fake News and Radical Left maniacs and lunatics,” amid the controversy....

Hearing Ron Popeil monomaniacally extol the life-changing virtues of a vegetable-shredding geegaw—for a full half-hour, no less—was a slightly higher-tech variant on the hysterical, vaudeville-era carnival barker, with juicers and food dehydrators taking the place of bearded women and vitalizing, cocaine-spiked tonics. Ron learned the fast-talking, tricky trade at his O.G. father Sam’s knee—it was the visionary gadget-Galileo Popeil the Elder who made and marketed the hot-selling mechanical siblings, Veg-o-Matic and Chop-o-Matic....

The 33-year-old joined from Real Madrid in a club-record €112million deal last month and is in line to make his first appearance in Italy’s top flight on Saturday, when the champions visit Chievo. Ronaldo’s arrival came as part of a substantial overhaul of the first team, with Joao Cancelo, Emre Can and Mattia Perin also joining, while Leonardo Bonucci returned from AC Milan and Douglas Costa secured a permanent move from Bayern Munich....

The Bianconeri beat Sampdoria 2-1 on Saturday, with Ronaldo scoring both goals at the Allianz Stadium. The result means that Juve have won 17 and drawn two of their 19 games thus far in 2018-19. And Juventus have subsequently set a record, becoming the first team to collect 53 points from 19 games during the era of a 20-team Serie A. The result also means Juve have taken a total of 101 points in 2018, matching the Serie A record set by Torino in 1948....

Starting off with the goalkeeper, Ronaldo has gone for Juventus and Italy legend, Gianluigi Buffon. The shot-stopper has been playing every since Ronaldo first appeared on the International stage and is still standing tall between the posts for club and country – 6 years after Ronaldo retired. In defence, he’s picked his countrymen and former teammates, Cafu and Roberto Carlos as the full-backs. The duo were two of the best the world has ever seen and it is no surprise that Ronaldo has picked them!...

After a goalless first half at Allianz Stadium, Ronaldo showed great anticipation to beat Sebastian Walukiewicz to Ragnar Klavan’s loose pass and round Robin Olsen for the opener. The 34-year-old added a second from the penalty spot following Marko Rog’s foul on Paulo Dybala. Gonzalo Higuain extended Juve’s lead further in the 81st minute and five seconds after Cagliari restarted the match Ronaldo slotted in his third. The victory sent Maurizio Sarri’s men three points clear of Inter ahead of the Nerazzurri’s trip to Napoli later on Monday....

Rocksteady previously stated that it intends to keep making more Batman games as long as developing the titles remains fun. In a more recent interview, Dax Gin, Marketing Game Manager for Batman: Arkham City, clarifies that the future of the series will depend on how well the current game is received. Early Batman: Arkham City reviews have been extremely positive, and the Arkham City launch trailer has helped fuel anticipation for game – hence the midnight line-ups last night to pick up the title....

“It would be a tragedy if I had to leave," White told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I haven’t spoken to anybody. I haven’t been given clarity about anything.” Throughout the season, White saw a diminished role with the Falcons, making only 43 receptions for 506 yards and one touchdown. While White is 34, he still thinks he has some time left to play. “Do I wish I could be a more significant part of the offense?...

Now that modern-day signal callers like Johnny Manziel are more mobile than ever, it stands to reason that the now-broadcaster has more than a few thoughts on how he would handle the QBs of today. MORE: You literally have to watch Johnny | Browns botch QB ordeal | Week 15 picks Harrison offered up those hot takes during a Friday appearance on the “Dan Patrick Show ,” where he had some critical words for Colin Kaepernick and revealed how he would approach playing against Manziel....

Hood was beginning to dribble upcourt in the first quarter when he collapsed to the floor in pain. He clutched his leg as training personnel came out to examine him. The Blazers later announced the severity of Hood’s injury. Hood, 27, is averaging 11.0 points in 21 games (all starts) for Portland this season, including Friday’s game. He re-signed with the Blazers in the offseason after being a key contributor for them off the bench in last season’s NBA playoffs....

The 28-year-old was on Friday named in Robert Moreno’s 23-man squad for the home game with Malta on November 15 and the visit of Romania three days later. However, he was substituted seven minutes into the second half of Valencia’s LaLiga clash with Granada and will sit out both fixtures. The Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed his withdrawal on Twitter but have yet to announce who will be called up in his place....

The 39-year-old has a decorated grasscourt resume festooned with glittering records. He has the most match wins (188) and titles (19) of any player on grass, with 101 of those victories and eight titles coming at Wimbledon. Despite coming off two knee surgeries and his earliest-ever exit in Halle, Roger Federer is once again expected to make a deep run this year at his favourite tournament on the tennis calendar....

Warne, Kumble and Murali – they all bowled to different set of batsmen. Cricket is a game between bat and ball – different set of people possess different skills, they form teams and teams play against each other. That’s one thing a game like lawn tennis provides – a chance to compare your favourite player with someone you aren’t too fond of. Oh yes, I am talking about singles....

Having turned professional in 1998, the now 38-year-old Federer is the only player apart from Jimmy Connors to win over 100 singles titles (103) and over 1200 singles matches (1243). But he had a decent junior career too, highlighted by several memorable triumphs. Weeks before he turned 15, Roger Federer made his ITF Junior debut in 1996 as a wildcard at the G2 Swiss Indoor Tournament. Federer won his opening two matches on the clay of Davos before losing in the Round of 16 to Nathan Healy of Australia....