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Diamars 18 mei 2021

Italy coach Mancini gets contract extension through 2026

(AP) — Italy coach Ro- 10 wins in qualifying for the win -- while realizing that it
berto Mancini was giv- Euros. He was appointed in won't be easy and that it will
en a contract extension 2018 after the Azzurri failed also require some luck."
through 2026 on Monday, to qualify for that year's
allowing him to stay in World Cup under Gian Piero Italy will also host the Na-
charge of the Azzurri for Ventura. tions League final four in
the next two World Cups. October. The Azzurri face
"It gives me a lot of satis- Spain in one semifinal, with
The announcement by the faction that people like the France playing Belgium in
Italian soccer federation came squad we've put together and the other semifinal.
three weeks before Italy plays I'm optimistic for the future,"
Turkey in Rome to open the Mancini said. "Over the next Mancini's previous contract
European Championship. year we'll have the Euros, the was due to expire after the
Nations League finals and 2022 World Cup.
Mancini led Italy to a perfect the World Cup. The goal is to

Serena Williams posts 1st victory in more than 3 months

(AP) — Serena Williams aces. "I think it was because round of last year's tourna-
earned her first victory in of the long hiatus I've had ment in Paris.
more than three months (from) the clay."
by beating 17-year-old It was the first WTA tour
qualifier Lisa Pigato 6-3, Williams hadn't won since match for Pigato and the
6-2 Monday in the first beating Simona Halep in the 1,001st for Williams, a 23-
round of the Emilia-Ro- Australian Open quarter- time Grand Slam champion.
magna Open. finals in February. She was
eliminated from the year's Pigato asked Williams to pose
Williams, who accepted a first Grand Slam tournament for a photo with her on court
wild-card invitation for the by Naomi Osaka in the semi- immediately after the match
Parma tournament after los- finals. ended.
ing her opening match at
the Italian Open last week, After some time off, Williams "It was really cool and gutsy,"
dominated after dropping her then lost in straight sets in Williams said. "She's going to
serve in the opening game. Rome to Nadia Podoroska, a look back (in) years and be
French Open semifinalist last like, 'Well, this was my first year's French Open with El-
"I'm just starting to feel more year. match.' I wish I had done that eonora Alvisi. Also, former U.S. Open
comfortable. I've always felt with my first match, it would champion Sloane Stephens
super comfortable on the clay Williams is preparing for have been really cool." Williams will next face 68th- beat Catherine McNally 7-6
and this year has been a little Roland Garros, which starts ranked Katerina Siniakova, (4), 6-4 and Anna Karolina
more difficult than normal," in two weeks. Her previous Ranked No. 572, Pigato won who eliminated Danish teen- Schmiedlova rallied past Ve-
said Williams, who served six win on clay came in the first the girls' doubles title at last ager Clara Tauson 6-1, 6-3. nus Williams 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Los Angeles Dodgers sign Albert Pujols to major league deal

(AP) — Albert Pujols has ing home run hitter in major while he plays on with their year while playing in 24 of
signed a major league league history likely will be in dominant local rivals. the Angels' 29 games, and he Pujols has made only 41 ca-
deal with the Los Ange- uniform during the Dodgers' The Angels said they broke is in a 7-for-43 slump since reer plate appearances as a
les Dodgers, moving 30 home series with Arizona, up with Pujols because he April 20. pinch-hitter, but the Dodgers
miles north to extend his which begins Monday night. wanted to play every day, but must be hoping he will pro-
remarkable career after they have two players at his The Dodgers are a perennial vide a threat in spot situations
leaving the Los Angeles Pujols was unceremoniously positions — first baseman powerhouse, but they began as well. And the right-hand-
Angels. cut by the Angels earlier this Jared Walsh and designated Monday with a whopping ed-hitting Pujols conceivably
month in an abrupt end to his hitter Shohei Ohtani — with 13 players on their injured could help the Dodgers to hit
The 41-year-old Pujols for- largely unsuccessful 10-year, far superior offensive num- list after losing World Series left-handed pitching, an area
malized his one-year deal $240 million tenure with the bers. MVP shortstop Corey Seager in which their lineup is be-
Monday with the defending Orange County club. The over the weekend to a broken low the major league average.
World Series champions after struggling Halos will pay all Yet Pujols is joining the hand. Their recent lineups The Dodgers have been suc-
agreeing to make the move but about $420,000 of Pujols' Dodgers as a clear backup have featured more prospects cessful in recent seasons in
last weekend. The fifth-lead- $30 million salary this season and situational player, sug- and borderline major league getting contributions from
gesting that playing on — and players than the stars expect- several major league elder
playing for a title contender ed to lead one of the majors' statesmen near the close
again after nine mostly dis- most successful teams. of their careers, includ-
mal seasons in Anaheim — ing Chase Utley and David
were more important to the With former NL MVP Cody Freese. Pujols' leadership and
10-time All-Star and two- Bellinger still sidelined by a example have been praised
time World Series champion. hairline leg fracture, Pujols by Mike Trout and other key
could play first base to fill in Angels, even while his overall
Pujols, who began his career for Max Muncy, who occa- offensive numbers dipped to
with 11 prolific seasons in St. sionally moves to third base below-average levels.
Louis, has 667 career homers, to give a day off to Justin
and he is 13th in big league Turner. Muncy can even play Right-hander Tony Gonsolin
history with 3,253 hits. The second base, which will be was transferred to the 60-day
most prolific hitter of his fluid for at least four weeks injured list to make room on
generation batted .198 with with Gavin Lux moving to the 40-man roster for Pujols.
five homers and 12 RBIs this shortstop while Seager heals.