Top-seeded Sabalenka beats Paolini to set up Porsche Grand Prix final against unseeded Ostapenko

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka won 7-5, 6-4 against Jasmine Paolini of Italy on Sunday to set up a clay-court Porsche Grand Prix final against unseeded Jelena Ostapenko.

The No.1-ranked Sabalenka has conserved some energy in the tournament. The 26-year-old Belarussian got a bye through the first round and a walkover in the second.

Sabalenka looked sharp against the fifth-seeded Paolini, last year's French Open runner-up, breaking her serve six times.

Sabalenka owns three Grand Slam titles and will aim for her 20th career title overall but her first at the Porsche Grand Prix, where she lost her three previous finals at the Stuttgart tournament.

The 27-year-old Ostapenko, who is Latvian, earlier won 6-4, 6-4 against Ekaterina Alexandrova and is bidding for her ninth career title.

Ostapenko won the French Open in 2017 with a high-risk brand of big-hitting tennis and improbable winners.

It is her only major title so far. She reached a career-best ranking of fifth the following year and is now ranked 24th.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jasmine Paolini of Italy in action against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia in action against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia during their women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia celebrates after the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, right, and Jasmine Paolini of Italy shake hands after the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia celebrates after the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour against Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after the women's singles semi-final tennis match of the WTA tour against Jasmine Paolini of Italy, in Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP)

The New York Rangers have hired Mike Sullivan as coach, days after he and the Pittsburgh Penguins agreed to part ways.

General manager Chris Drury announced the move Friday, bringing in the organization's top candidate who was out of work for less than a full business week.

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Drury said. “Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench. ... As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team.”

Sullivan replaces Peter Laviolette, who was fired after the Rangers missed the playoffs following a trip to the Eastern Conference final last year. Sullivan, who coached Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup back to back in 2016 and ’17, is tasked with trying to turn the Rangers back into an immediate contender.

Drury made the move to get Sullivan not long after receiving a multiyear contract extension of his own.

“Mike’s track record and success in the NHL and internationally speaks for itself, and I look forward to seeing him behind the Rangers bench," owner James Dolan said. "I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization.”

Sullivan, 57, spent four seasons as a Rangers assistant under then-coach and still close friend and confidant John Tortorella from 2009-13. He coached Drury during that time, and the two have worked together professionally through USA Hockey, most recently at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, and are part of the U.S. contingent for the 2026 Milan Olympics.

Tortorella — who was fired as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in late March — could be a candidate to join Sullivan on his staff, as he did at the 4 Nations, but no assistant hires were confirmed Friday and the organization is expected to discuss those openings in the coming days.

Sullivan had been with the Penguins since getting hired midseason in December 2015 when Mike Johnston was fired months into his lackluster tenure. This is his third head-coaching job in the NHL after a short stint with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04 and '05-06 sandwiched around the lockout that wiped out an entire season.

New York getting Sullivan leaves seven teams around the league with vacancies: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Anaheim, Seattle and Vancouver. Multiple teams that initially reached out to Sullivan will now have to pivot to other experienced options, including Rick Tocchet, Joel Quenneville and Laviolette, as well as a couple of college coaches with recent national championships: Denver's David Carle and Western Michigan's Pat Ferschweiler.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

FILE - Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan raises the Stanley Cup after Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals against the San Jose Sharks in San Jose, Calif, June 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

FILE - Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan hoists the Stanley Cup as Bryan Rust (17) watches after defeating the Nashville Predators 2-0 in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Sunday, June 11, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, file)