Browsing: Jean

Tennis

Alizé Cornet named French captain for Billie Jean King Cup

PARIS — Alizé Cornet has been named the French captain of the Billie Jean King Cup team a few months after retiring as a player.

The French tennis federation announced the nomination Sunday, saying Cornet stood out from other candidates because of her “investment in French tennis, her profile, her motivation and her availability.”

She replaces Julien Benneteau, who held the role since 2019.

The 35-year-old Cornet’s roles also include preparing the French Olympic team leading up to the Los Angeles Games in 2028, the monitoring of national team players during competitions and overseeing the youth teams.

“I appreciate the trust the federation has placed in me, and I am determined to do everything I can to help our players reach their full potential,” Cornet said in a statement. “My goal is to build a strong team spirit, based on high standards, solidarity, and a passion for the French jersey.”

Cornet retired from playing after losing in the first round at the French Open in May.

During a 20-year career that saw her touted as a young prodigy, Cornet reached a career-high ranking of No. 11 in 2009 and won six titles as a solid baseline player with a strong backhand.

She held the women’s record for most consecutive Grand Slam tournaments played at 69, a streak that ran from the 2007 Australian Open to this year’s French Open.

A keen writer, Cornet had her first novel, “La Valse des Jours” (Waltz of Days), published in 2022.

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Basketball

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt Dies At Age 106, Spent 31 Years as Loyola Chicago Chaplain

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Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, who became a college basketball fan favorite during Loyola Chicago’s March Madness run to the Final Four in 2018, has passed away at 106 years old. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the news on Thursday.

“Loyola University Chicago is greatly saddened to confirm the death of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM,” Loyola Chicago wrote in a statement. “This is a tremendous loss of someone who touched the lives of so many people. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts & prayers during this difficult time.”

Sister Jean was a Catholic nun, campus minister and official chaplain of Loyola Chicago’s basketball team. She became synonymous in the college basketball world when she was seen on the sidelines cheering on the Ramblers as they made a Cinderella run to the Final Four, marking their first since their national championship in 1963.

Sister Jean took a job at Mundelein College in 1961 and later joined Loyola Chicago when the two schools became affiliated in 1991. She stepped into the academic advisor role with the men’s basketball team in 1994 before becoming the team’s chaplain.

“In many roles at Loyola over the course of more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom and grace for generations of students, faculty, and staff,” Loyola President Mark C. Reed said. “While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy. Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community and her spirit abides in thousands of lives. In her honor, we can aspire to share with others the love and compassion Sister Jean shared with us.”Â

Just last month, Sister Jean retired from her role with the team and stepped away from her duties at the university.

Sister Jean also joined the Ramblers for their two NCAA tournament appearances that followed the Final Four run. In 2020-21, ahead of Loyola’s upset win over No. 1 Illinois, she offered wisdom not only in the players’ lives, but also on the court.

“As we play the Fighting Illini, we ask for special help to overcome this team and get a great win,” she said. “We hope to score early and make our opponents nervous. We have a great opportunity to convert rebounds as this team makes about 50% of layups and 30% of its 3 points. Our defense can take care of that.”

But Sister Jean’s legacy extends far beyond her work with the basketball team.

Sister Jean paired Loyola students with residents of a local assisted living community through a program called SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly) and held weekly prayer groups for students.

She “received recognition from church and world leaders thanking her for her joy and service,” and received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis for her 100th birthday. She received a proclamation from President Joe Biden on her 105th birthday.

The Ramblers will no longer have Sister Jean on their sideline, but they’ll surely be thinking of her the next time they take to the court.

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Tennis

Paolini closes out Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup title vs. U.S.

Sep 21, 2025, 09:46 AM ET

SHENZHEN, China — Jasmine Paolini beat Jessica Pegula on the fourth match point as defending champion Italy won the Billie Jean King Cup with a comprehensive victory over the United States on Sunday.

Italy won both singles ties in straight sets, meaning there was no need for a decisive doubles match. The No. 8-ranked Paolini beat seventh-ranked Pegula 6-4, 6-2 after No. 91 Elisabetta Cocciaretto won 6-4, 6-4 against Emma Navarro, breaking her serve three times at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center Arena in China.

Paolini broke Pegula’s serve with a two-handed backhand down the line to take the first set. But with Paolini serving for the match at 5-1, she wavered a little. Pegula saved three match points, and then two unforced errors from Paolini allowed Pegula to break back to 5-2 down.

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A strong looping forehand gave Paolini — the runner-up at the French Open and Wimbledon last year — a fourth match point, and she took it, clinching victory when Pegula’s two-handed backhand clipped the net and landed wide.

Paolini raised her arms in the air then walked over to hug her teammates. All the staff members joined them on the court as they danced in a circle before celebrating with blue-shirted, flag-waving Italy fans.

Pegula and Navarro each came from a set down to defeat Britain and reach the final.

But not this time.

Italy boasted a doubles pairing of Olympic champions Paolini and Sara Errani, who also won the French Open doubles together this year. They would have faced Pegula and top-ranked doubles player Taylor Townsend in what might have been an exciting trophy decider.

The BJK Cup was formerly known as the Fed Cup. The United States is the most successful team as an 18-time winner but has not held the title since 2017.

Italy was contesting its third straight final and clinched its sixth title. The Americans’ previous final came in 2018.

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Cocciaretto and Paolini help Italy beat United States to retain Billie Jean King Cup | Billie Jean King Cup

An inspired Italy successfully defended their Billie Jean King Cup with a 2-0 victory over record 18-time champions the United States on Sunday, taking their own tally in the premier womenâ€s team competition to six titles.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Jasmine Paolini both won their singles matches to help their country triumph in Shenzhen and prolonged the American wait for another title after their previous success in 2017.

“Itâ€s been a really great week and itâ€s always amazing to play in this competition … I just want to thank everybody, it was unbelievable,†a beaming Paolini said.

“It was so tough, this year we played amazing teams, they are very strong and today against the United States, we didnâ€t expect to win so weâ€re really happy about this win.

“I donâ€t know, itâ€s even more special this year than last year. Itâ€s different, but honestly I didnâ€t expect it.â€

World No 8 Paoliniâ€s 6-4, 6-2 victory was her maiden win in her sixth clash with Jessica Pegula and helped Italy become the first team to capture back-to-back titles since the Czech Republic lifted three straight trophies from 2014-16.

Italyâ€s Elisabetta Cocciaretto on her way to beating Emma Navarro. Photograph: Tingshu Wang/Reuters

The 29-year-old edged a tight first set by firing a backhand rocket that broke the seventh-ranked Pegulaâ€s serve and she came from an early break down in the next set to quell the challenge of her American opponent after a late wobble.

She celebrated her win by raising her arms and joined her team in dancing in the centre of the blue court to roaring applause from largely Italian and Chinese fans.

Earlier, Cocciaretto ensured that Italy shot out of the blocks by swatting aside world number 18 Emma Navarro 6-4 6-4, with the 24-year-old finishing off in style by winning a breathtaking rally on match point.

“It was an unbelievable match for me,†said world number 91 Cocciaretto, who battled from 2-4 down in the second set to get past her opponent in 89 minutes at a packed Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena.

“I knew sheâ€s a really great player and I had to play my best tennis … Iâ€m really happy about the performance and the point I gave to Italy.â€

Italyâ€s sixth Billie Jean King Cup title comes amid a golden spell for the country, with the menâ€s team claiming the previous two Davis Cup trophies and their players enjoying success at the grand slam and Olympic level.

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