alex fletcher, bbc news. like his italian open first round encounter, can help prepare him for the challenge of the upcoming french open. nadal, in what is expected to be his final year on the tour, made it through to the second round of the tournament after a three set victory over zizou bergs. coming from a set down to win — the spaniard is a ten time champion at the italian open and will face hubert hurkacz next. it was not my best match. i was practising better than how i played today, without a doubt, but i find a way to win. that's so important at the beginning of the tournament for me. as i said, my game is more unpredictable than before now. i didn't play much tennis for the last two years, so, yeah, some ups and downs, on and off, but i think i can do it much better than what i did today and i hope to do it in the next round. it has been emotional to play here. these kind of events are the most important events in my tennis career, so, honestly, the crowd have been always amazing with me, supporting

alex fletcher, bbc news.enes at st mary's as the club held a promotion party at the stadium honouring their immediate return to england's top division. the party was actually held in the car park with the stadium preparing to host take that in concert later this week. and with the saints' return to the premier league at the first time of asking, they'll be hoping they're "back for good". well, russell martin has defied expectations of southampton fans in a remarkable first season at the club. after being relegated from the premier league last season, southampton got off to a slow start, causing some early unrest amongst the fans. but martin led southampton to a 25—match unbeaten run before sealing victory at wembley yesterday. southampton podcaster martin sanders admits their manager has proven them wrong. an underwhelming appointment. he said it was not a sexy implement when he was brought in his manager. he was dominant mk dons did not achieve a great deal and he was at swansea with a couple of middle finis

alex fletcher, bbc news.mier league, with two games left to play, and improved their already—strong goal difference today. amy gallacher, murphy agnew and mengyu shen with the goals, in their 3—0 win over partick thistle. in their 3—0 win over partick thistle, to keep them in driving seat as the season comes to an exciting finale with two games left to play. and despite their advantage they're not taking matters for granted. our mentality is that nothing is going to be handed to us. we try our very best to bring positive energy to the camp because it's been a long, hard season, and the heat plays a massive part in it. focus at getting the job done but what's really important is the because we are tired, everybody knows we are tired but we have to keep going. glasgow city's chances of defending their title are over though, with rangers keeping pressure on celtic thanks to a 1—0 win. this from rachel maclauchlan was enough to seal a 1—0 win for the visitors. with just two games remaining and 76 points apiece, c

alex fletcher was watching the match.l arteta's arsenal have found theirs. three wins in a row before this one, kai havertz asking questions early on. and just before the break, referee david coote was the one answering them. down he goes, penalty. var seeing no need to intervene. bukayo saka showing no need to panic, much to the delight of his manager. bournemouth belief did grow in the second half — dominic solanke going close. the crowd responded and so did his team—mates, leandro trossard's iith league goal of the season well worth celebrating. bournemouth did have the the ball in the net, but this contact enough for the referee to give a foul and get areola on his feet. the home side still had more to give, declan rice adding his name to the scoresheet — arsenal signalling their intent in this title race. alex fletcher, bbc news. the race for the title as tight as ever. here's what the managers said after the match, starting with arsenal boss mikel arteta. very happy. from the beginning, the quality, the composure, t

alex fletcher puts the top flight managerial merry—go—round under the microscope.d time for change in the premier league. pochettino's departure kick—started movements. the man who could replace him has faced him. after he achieved promotion back to the top flight, the club and talks with the italian, who remains a front runner. leaving behind a legacy on the south coast, roberto de zerbi led brighton to european football for the first time in their history, and following the footsteps of his predecessor, he has been linked to stamford bridge. bbc sport understands him and brentford boss thomas frank are both being monitored. it's notjust of the bridge where things could change. few expected to see red ribbons on the fa cup over the weekend, but erik ten hag got the best of manchester city at wembley. it has raised doubts over his future. united finished eighth the season — their lowest position in premier league history. but despite a review, a message for the manager is one of defiance. —— the arrival of new ownership has raised doubts. the team is progressing an

alex fletcher was watching.must win for philippe clement's side. but every title race requires some luck. james tavernier�*s had all but run out early on. kilmarnock taking a surprise lead. a quick chance for redemption asjoe wright's hand—ball saw him dismissed and had the rangers captain stepping up to the spot. it's a brilliant save from will dennis! nerves now visible all around ibrox. silva did his best. a vital goal on the stroke of half—time. belief from the bench then brought change. substitute ben davies the quickest to react as rangers turned the game around. if that wasn't a bad introduction, tom lawrence went one better, the sweetest of strikes to secure all three points. the home side had one more goal in them. john souttar added a fourth in stoppage time. the best type of preparation for next week's old firm derby. let's update you on the women's super league now. two goals from arsenal's stenis blackstenius stalled manchester city in their race for the league title. the leaders lost 2—1 at home an

alex fletcher, bbc news. a really interesting weekend ahead.sionally suspended for doping. nikola bartunkova, from the czech republic, was the runner—up in the 2023 wimbledon girls' singles final. she twice returned a positive test for trimetazidine — a drug used to treat heart—related conditions. and plans for a £61.8 million redevelopment of two stands at lord's have been approved. the work will increase the grounds capacity by over 1,000 seats. construction is due to begin at the end of the current season in september, and be completed by 2027. spain's pelayo sanchez won stage six of cyclings giro d'italia. he outsprinted two other breakaway riders in a dramatic uphill climax. race leader tadej pogacar finished safely in the peloton to retain the leader's pinkjersey ahead of tomorrow's time trial. england and saracens number eight billy vunipola has been issued with a formal warning by the rugby football union following his arrest in majorca last month. the bbc understands that vunipola was tasered by spanish police and later charged with "r

alex fletcher was watching. six points off celtic, this one a must win.. james tavernier had all but run out early on. kilmarnock taking a surprise lead. a quick chance for redemption asjoe wright's had both saw him dismissed and had the rangers captain stepping up and had the rangers captain stepping up to the spot. it is and had the rangers captain stepping up to the spot-— up to the spot. it is a brilliant save from _ up to the spot. it is a brilliant save from will _ up to the spot. it is a brilliant save from will dennis! - up to the spot. it is a brilliant| save from will dennis! nerves up to the spot. it is a brilliant - save from will dennis! nerves now visible all around _ save from will dennis! nerves now visible all around ibrox. _ save from will dennis! nerves now visible all around ibrox. a - save from will dennis! nerves now visible all around ibrox. a vital - visible all around ibrox. a vital goal on the stroke of half—time. belief from the bench then brought change. ben davies the quickest to react as rangers turned the game around. if tha

alex fletcher, bbc news. with arsenal boss mikel arteta. very happy. from the beginning, the quality, the composure, the energy that we played with, it seems like it's not affecting the team and i was really impressed, especially the way we played the first time, it should have been three, four, five. we didn't convert too many chances, and credit to bournemouth. it is we didn't convert too many chances, and credit to bournemouth.- and credit to bournemouth. it is cat and credit to bournemouth. it is cat and mouse. — and credit to bournemouth. it is cat and mouse. you _ and credit to bournemouth. it is cat and mouse. you go _ and credit to bournemouth. it is cat and mouse, you go first _ and credit to bournemouth. it is cat and mouse, you go first and - and credit to bournemouth. it is cat and mouse, you go first and they i and mouse, you go first and they have to catch up.— have to catch up. yes, it is quite emotional— have to catch up. yes, it is quite emotional because _ have to catch up. yes, it is quite