No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka ends Swiatek’s reign, meets No. 2 Coco Gauff at French Open final

PARIS >> Flecks of rust-colored clay dotted Aryna Sabalenka’s back and caked her white shoes as she ripped big shot after big shot against Iga Swiatek on Thursday, the thud of racket-on-string reverberating off the closed roof at the main stadium at Roland Garros.

So used to hearing — and believing — she was a fast-court specialist who couldn’t succeed on the slower red clay used at Roland-Garros, the No. 1-ranked Sabalenka showed just how good she can be on the surface by ending Swiatek’s 26-match unbeaten streak at the French Open and bid for a record fourth consecutive trophy with a 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0 win in Thursday’s semifinals.

Now Sabalenka will try to win her fourth Grand Slam title — and first not on a hard court — when she takes on No. 2 Coco Gauff in Saturday’s final. It will be the first title match in Paris between the Nos. 1 and 2 women since 2013 and just the second in the past 30 years.

“It’s going to mean everything to me and my team, because I have to say that almost (my) whole life, I’ve been told (clay) is not my thing, and then I didn’t have any confidence,” Sabalenka said.

Gauff, a 21-year-old American who was the runner-up in 2022 to Swiatek, reached her second French Open final by beating 361st-ranked French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson 6-1, 6-2 in a far-less-interesting, far-less-competitive semifinal.

Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman join Australia SailGP team as co-owners

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman became co-owners of the Australia SailGP team on Thursday.

The “Deadpool & Wolverine” stars joined driver and CEO Tom Slingsby in leading the team’s rebrand after several successful seasons, winning three championships in its four seasons. The team will be called the BONDS Flying Roos, with the Australian underwear company BONDS as its title partner.

“We’re incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure,” Reynolds and Jackman said in a joint statement released through SailGP. “Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country, as well as being an avid fan of sailing. He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia. No comment on whether we’re writing this in our BONDS. No further questions.”

It’s the latest sports venture for Reynolds, who along with fellow Hollywood actor Rob McElhenney is a co-owner of Wrexham, one of the world’s oldest soccer clubs. Reynolds and McElhenney were also among a group of investors in the Alpine Formula One team in 2023 and were part of an investment group that acquired Colombian club La Equidad earlier this year.

Whitecaps report illness following CONCACAF Champions Cup final

The Vancouver Whitecaps said a “significant number” of players who traveled to Mexico for last weekend’s CONCACAF Champions Cup final have become ill.

The Whitecaps canceled practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported gastrointestinal symptoms.

“The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority. Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery,” the team said in a statement.

The Whitecaps are scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match at BC Place on Sunday.

— The Associated Press

The Whitecaps lost 5-0 to Cruz Azul on Sunday in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico City.

Last year in the tournament final, players for the Columbus Crew also became ill. The Crew lost to Pachuca 3-0 in Mexico.