Petra Kvitová made a successful return to the WTA Tour by winning her first match since giving birth to her son. She defeated Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 7-5, 6-1 in the opening round of the Italian Open in Rome. This win ended a four-match losing streak and came after a 15-month break from the sport.

The match took place on the clay courts of the Foro Italico. It was Kvitová’s first victory since stepping away from tennis following her appearance at the Beijing Open in 2023. She had taken time off to recover from physical and mental fatigue and to focus on starting a family. Her son, Petr, was born in July 2024.

Before her return, Kvitová had not played any competitive tennis for over a year. She rejoined the tour in February 2025. Since then, she has suffered first-round losses in four tournaments. She lost to Jodie Burrage in Austin, Varvara Gracheva in Indian Wells, Sofia Kenin in Miami, and Katie Volynets in Madrid.

In Rome, she started slow but finished strong. She was broken once in the first set while serving at 5-4, but recovered quickly. From that point on, she dominated, winning eight of the last nine games. Her shots were clean, and her movement showed she could still compete at a high level.

Kvitová Adjusts to Life as a Mother and Player

After her break, Kvitová’s life changed in many ways. For example, she is now balancing tennis with motherhood. During her pregnancy, she could not train, but once she was cleared to return to light activity, she picked up her racket again. She said that when she started hitting tennis balls, she realized she still had good timing and control.

This comeback is different from earlier stages in her career. Now, she is not playing for rankings or titles. Instead, she is playing because she enjoys it. She is also managing her time carefully, especially with a young child.

Travel has become more complicated. Since her son Petr is now crawling and sleeping less, she and her husband-coach, Jiri Vanek, prefer to stay in rented apartments rather than hotels. This gives their son space to play and keeps their living situation more comfortable during tournaments.

Kvitová is not setting any long-term goals. She is focused only on playing well and staying healthy. Despite the challenges, she has returned with a clear mindset: to play without pressure and to enjoy the sport again.

Following her win over Begu, Kvitová will face Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the second round. Jabeur, ranked 36th in the world and seeded 27th at the Italian Open, is a three-time Grand Slam finalist. Kvitová leads their head-to-head record 4-2. However, this will be their first meeting on clay.

Other Results from the Italian Open

Elsewhere in the Italian Open, British and Australian players experienced different results.

In the women’s draw, Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal came back from a set down to beat Australia’s Kimberly Birrell. Kartal won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and ten minutes. Kartal, who was outside the world’s top 250 last year, is now ranked 56. She will play the Czech 30th seed, Linda Noskova, next.

On the men’s side, Cameron Norrie lost to Dusan Lajovic of Serbia in qualifying. Lajovic won 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Even though he lost, Norrie made it into the main draw as a lucky loser after three players—Zizou Bergs, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Benjamin Bonzi—withdrew due to injury. Norrie now faces Christopher O’Connell of Australia in the first round.

Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović defeated compatriot Olivia Gadecki in the final qualifying round. Tomljanović will now face Varvara Gracheva of France. Another Australian, Maya Joint, also reached the main draw and is set to face 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Daria Kasatkina, who recently switched from Russia to represent Australia, is seeded 14th and received a bye into the second round.

As the New York Rangers closed out the 2024-25 NHL season, the conversation shifted from games and goals to injuries and surgeries. During break-up day, players opened up about the physical toll of the season, revealing long-term injuries, new recoveries, and what the team might look like next season. Braden Schneider, Adam Edstrom, Matt Rempe, Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad were all part of this latest update.

Braden Schneider Had Shoulder Surgery

The most serious update came from defenseman Braden Schneider. On break-up day, the 23-year-old walked in with his right arm in a sling. He explained that he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. He had played with the injury for two full seasons, as doctors told him he could keep playing with it, but it could cause more problems later in life. So, Schneider chose to have the operation after the Rangers were eliminated from playoff contention.

“It’s something they said I could go the rest of my playing career playing with,” Schneider said. “But it puts me at risk for other things down the road.”

Though he was able to play through the pain, Schneider said the injury affected his ability to play physically, which is one of the most important parts of his game.

“There were times where I’d aggravate it and there’d be a string of games where I wasn’t as physical as I wanted to be,” he explained. “Puck-handling and shooting, I felt fine. But it was something I was thinking about, and it needed to get done.”

Even with the injury, Schneider had his best season yet. He played 80 of 82 games, scored 6 goals, added 15 assists, and totaled 21 points—career highs in all categories. He also finished strong, with 3 goals and 7 points in his final 17 games. One of those goals was a dramatic overtime winner against the Minnesota Wild on March 13.

Schneider expects to be ready for training camp in the fall. The Rangers believe a fully healthy Schneider could return to the physical, shut-down defenseman they drafted him to be. When the team moved up from the 22nd to the 19th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft to select him, just ahead of the New Jersey Devils, they saw him as a long-term piece on the blue line. Former team president John Davidson even celebrated the trade at the time. Schneider was compared to former captain Jacob Trouba, nicknamed “Baby Trouba” for his style of play.

This season, he recorded 146 hits, down from 167 the year before. With surgery behind him, the Rangers hope he can return to that physical level. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 213 pounds. A healthy version of him might feel like the team is adding a new player without making a trade.

Adam Edstrom Back on the Ice After Surgery, Kreider Played Through Multiple Injuries

Next, Adam Edstrom spoke publicly for the first time since getting injured. The 6-foot-7 forward had surgery after suffering a lower-body injury in a game against the Boston Bruins on February 1. He said he had started skating again and might have returned if the Rangers had made the playoffs.

Before the injury, Edstrom played in the first 51 games of the season. He scored 5 goals and earned 9 points, mainly on the fourth line with Matt Rempe and Sam Carrick. He also played on the penalty kill and showed physical strength. On October 13, he got into his first NHL fight against Arizona’s Jack McBain.

“It’s tough,” Edstrom said. “I really thought we got going there at the end — me, ‘Remps,’ and Carrick — we found something really good.”

Even though he missed the final months, Edstrom said he was proud of making the team and playing consistently until the injury.

Another veteran who played through pain was Chris Kreider. He revealed he injured his left hand on February 22 against the Buffalo Sabres, and there’s a possibility he will need surgery. In addition, Kreider said he dealt with a back issue and vertigo from an illness during the season. Despite all of this, he stayed in the lineup and did not miss games.

Matt Rempe Practicing Again After Upper-Body Injury

Meanwhile, Matt Rempe is also on his way back. The 6-foot-9 forward returned to full practice after missing three games with an upper-body injury. The injury likely occurred during a fight with Kings forward Tanner Jeannot on March 25, though the team has not confirmed that.

At practice, Rempe wore a regular jersey and delivered hard hits during drills. He also skated in line rushes with Chris Kreider, Sam Carrick, and Brett Berard.

Before this injury, Rempe had played in 31 of 32 games after serving an eight-game suspension for boarding Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen. In total, he played 36 games this season, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists while recording 63 penalty minutes.

Compared to last season, when he had 71 penalty minutes in just 17 games, Rempe has improved his discipline. He still plays a physical style but takes fewer unnecessary penalties.

Rempe has a heated history with the Devils. Last season, he earned 47 penalty minutes in three games against them and was suspended for elbowing defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. On April 3, 2024, he was part of a line brawl to start the game. This season, he played in one of the Rangers’ three games against New Jersey—a 3-2 overtime win at Madison Square Garden on January 9, where he logged 7:47 of ice time.

Mika Zibanejad Misses Practice Due to Illness

Lastly, Mika Zibanejad was absent from practice because he was sick. This was unusual, as the 31-year-old had played all 75 games so far this season and missed only two games over the last four years.

His recent performance, however, has slowed. After a productive stretch following the arrival of J.T. Miller from Vancouver on January 31, Zibanejad has only 1 goal and 1 assist in his last 8 games. He is fourth on the team with 51 points and tied for fifth with 16 goals.

With playoff hopes still alive, the team needs Zibanejad to return to form quickly. The Rangers hold a 36-31-7 record and sit ninth in the Eastern Conference. They are two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final wild-card spot. The Rangers are 2-0-1 in their last three games and need their first three-game win streak since November 14–19 to stay in the race.

In Zibanejad’s absence, Juuso Parssinen filled in at center between Will Cuylle and Jonny Brodzinski. On the power play, Brennan Othmann took Zibanejad’s spot on the top unit during practice.

The New York Yankees are off to a good start in the 2025 season. They hold a 19-13 record and sit in first place in the American League East. However, even though the team is winning games, there are still problems they need to fix. One of the biggest issues is the pitching rotation, which has been hit hard by injuries. Another concern is the lack of depth at third base and the need for more right-handed hitting.

At first, many people believed the Yankees were going to make a move for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, on the basis that he’s a strong defender, has been an All-Star eight times, and could add power from the right side. But now, according to a trusted insider, the rumor is false. The Yankees have never tried to trade for him.

Instead, the Yankees are focusing their attention on a more urgent need—starting pitching. Specifically, they have reached out to the Miami Marlins to ask about pitcher Sandy Alcantara. He has had a rough start to the season, but the Yankees believe he might still be worth the risk.

Arenado Trade Rumors Were Never True

For several months, fans and reporters linked Nolan Arenado to the Yankees. Reports during the offseason said the Cardinals might be open to trading him. Because of that, many people expected the Yankees to go after him. The Yankees’ third base situation hasn’t been solid, with Oswaldo Cabrera, Pablo Reyes, and Oswald Peraza all sharing time at the position.

However, Andy Martino, a reporter from SNY who covers the Yankees closely, made it clear that the team was never interested in Arenado. He answered a fan’s question and wrote, “As for Arenado, the next time that the Yankees are interested will be the first time.”

Martino also explained that the Yankees’ actual trade goal since spring training has been to add a right-handed hitter, not necessarily a third baseman. The idea was to give manager Aaron Boone better matchups against left-handed pitchers late in games.

To help with that need, the Yankees recently claimed Bryan De La Cruz off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. They sent him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but added him to the 40-man roster after Giancarlo Stanton was moved to the 60-day injured list. De La Cruz could become a useful option later in the season.

As for Arenado’s current performance, it’s been average. He has a .245 batting average, a .336 on-base percentage, and a .409 slugging percentage. He has hit 3 home runs and driven in 13 runs this season. He also has a full no-trade clause, and during the offseason, he gave the Cardinals a list of teams he would agree to be traded to. The list included the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Mets, Red Sox, and Phillies. The Yankees were not on it.

So, even though the idea of Arenado in New York sounded interesting, it was never a real possibility.

Yankees Reach Out About Sandy Alcantara

Now, turning to the real news, the Yankees are working on a possible trade for a starting pitcher. The team has reached out to the Miami Marlins to ask about Sandy Alcantara. This report comes from Pinstripes Nation, and they say a senior advisor and a vice president from the Yankees front office are handling talks with the Marlins.

This move makes sense, especially when you look at the state of the Yankees’ rotation. Gerrit Cole is still injured. Clarke Schmidt was supposed to start against the Rays recently, but had to be scratched after a scan showed a problem. Luis Gil also started the year on the injured list. Right now, Max Fried has been the best pitcher in the rotation. He has a 1.01 ERA and has looked like an ace. Carlos Rodon has been solid, but the rest of the group is either hurt or underperforming.

This brings us to Alcantara. The 29-year-old won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022. That year, he had a 2.28 ERA and pitched over 220 innings. He showed great command, power, and durability. But since then, things have changed. He missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. Now, in 2025, he has made six starts, and the numbers are not good. He has a 2-3 record and an 8.31 ERA. In 26 innings, he has walked 17 batters and struck out only 19. In his last outing, he gave up 7 runs in just 2.2 innings.

Despite this, his contract is still attractive. He is signed through 2026, with a team option for 2027 at $21 million. If he can return to form, that deal becomes very team-friendly.

Trade Could Be Costly for Yankees

The big question is how much it would cost to trade for Alcantara. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Marlins are unlikely to trade him until later in July, and only if he starts pitching better. If that happens, the asking price will be high.

Nightengale compared it to the deal the Yankees made in 2023 for Juan Soto. In that trade, New York sent Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, top-100 prospect Drew Thorpe, and veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka to the Padres. In return, they got Soto and Trent Grisham.

A deal for Alcantara might require just as much—or more. The Yankees’ farm system is not very strong right now. Outside of players like Spencer Jones, Chase Hampton, George Lombard Jr., and Roderick Arias, they don’t have many top-tier prospects. To beat out teams like the Cubs, Mets, or Padres, who all have deeper farm systems, the Yankees might have to include one or more of their best young players. Some names being mentioned are Jones, Will Warren, and even Jasson Domínguez.

According to Tim Kelly from Bleacher Report, the Yankees are one of the top teams interested in Alcantara. The Cubs are also showing strong interest and may be even more aggressive. They are having a strong season in the NL Central and badly need a top starting pitcher. Because of their deeper farm system, they may have an advantage.

Yankees Need to Decide Soon

The Yankees are trying to win now. They are not rebuilding. They already have big names like Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, and rising young players like Ben Rice and Jasson Domínguez. On the pitching side, Fried and Rodon have been reliable, but the rest of the rotation has too many questions.

The team’s overall ERA ranks 11th in Major League Baseball. That’s good, but it may not be good enough to survive a deep playoff run, especially when going up against teams like the Dodgers or Braves. That’s why the front office is looking at trade options now instead of waiting too long.

If Alcantara starts to show improvement in June or early July, his value will go up fast. He could become the best available starting pitcher before the trade deadline. But the Yankees will need to act quickly and be willing to give up key prospects if they want to land him.

As Bob Nightengale said, “Someone is gonna have to give up a ton.” The Yankees may be ready to do that, but only if they believe Alcantara can return to being one of the best pitchers in baseball.