Russian crew banned from Rio, New Zealand get their place

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Russia's men's quadruple sculls crew have been banned from the Rio Olympics after one of their members failed a doping test in May, the world governing body FISA said on Friday.

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Bolt staves off false starts to move into 100m semi-finals

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Usain Bolt negotiated a series of delays and a false start in his own race before easily winning his quarter-final of the 100m in 10.15 seconds at Jamaica's national championships on Friday.

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Rio will be safest place in world for athletes: USOC

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Even as gun battles rage in Rio de Janeiro slums, mutilated bodies wash up on beaches and police and fireman protest, the USOC on Thursday declared the 2016 Olympics will be the safest place in the world for athletes once the Games begin.

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Regal Murray hurries into round three

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray produced the kind of imperious form that has propelled him into two grand slam finals this year as he beat Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun 6-3 6-2 6-1 in the Wimbledon second round on Thursday.

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Muguruza stunned by qualifier, draw opens up for Serena

LONDON (Reuters) - Second seed Garbine Muguruza, gunning to add the Wimbledon crown to her French Open title, was sensationally beaten in the second round on Thursday by a Slovakian qualifier, removing one of the biggest obstacles to Serena Williams defending her title.

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Tennis: Bouchard shows glimpses of best to oust Konta

LONDON (Reuters) - Eugenie Bouchard reminded a Centre Court crowd why not long ago she was being billed as tennis's new golden girl when she crushed the Wimbledon hopes of Britain's 16th seed Johanna Konta on Thursday.

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Phelps and rival Lochte on 200 IM collision course

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte cruised into the semi-finals of the 200 meters medley at the U.S. Olympic trials on Thursday to set up a potential mouth-watering showdown between the two rivals.

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Hamilton sees grid penalties coming his way

SPIELBERG, Austria (Reuters) - Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton fears he may have to start two of the Formula One season's remaining 13 races from the back of the grid, handing Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg a significant advantage in the title battle.

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Venus keeps her wits about her to down Greek upstart

LONDON (Reuters) - A time violation warning, a few spots of rain and the thunderous groundstrokes of her rival could not throw Venus Williams off her long-limbed stride as she reached the Wimbledon third round with a 7-5 4-6 6-3 win over Greek qualifier Maria Sakkari on Thursday.

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British players are pretty good, says new hero Evans

LONDON (Reuters) - British men's tennis is blessed with better players than many fans realize, the sport's latest homegrown hero Dan Evans told a Wimbledon audience on Thursday after dismantling 30th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov to reach the third round.

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American Keys survives blip against Flipkens to reach third round

LONDON (Reuters) - Madison Keys, the woman tipped as the most likely American successor to the Williams sisters, powered to a 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory against Kirsten Flipkens in the second round of Wimbledon on Thursday.

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Golfers dream of green jackets, not Olympic gold: McIlroy

(Reuters) - An Olympic gold medal was not the pinnacle of the sport for golfers according to world number four Rory McIlroy, and he had no concerns about his decision to withdraw from the Rio de Janeiro Games.

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Warriors extend qualifying offers to Barnes, Ezeli

(Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors extended qualifying offers to forward Harrison Barnes and center Festus Ezeli on Wednesday, making them restricted free agents.

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Pained Felix still out to punch double ticket for Rio

EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - Already America's most decorated female sprinter, Allyson Felix launches the most difficult challenge of her career this week.

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Federer plays cameo role to end Willis fairytale

LONDON (Reuters) - Few players have reduced the great Roger Federer to a role as secondary attraction on Wimbledon's Centre Court but for one hour and 25 minutes on Wednesday he had just a walk-on part in the Marcus Willis fairytale.

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Olympics will come and go but Zika is here to stay, scientists say

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Battered by a presidential impeachment and the worst recession since the Great Depression, Brazil is getting a rare bit of relief as Rio de Janeiro prepares to host the Olympics: declining numbers of Zika infections.

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Day and Spieth set for Firestone, McIlroy in France

(Reuters) - World number one Jason Day, U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and second-ranked Jordan Spieth command the spotlight at this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio where Rory McIlroy is a conspicuous absentee.

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Pace becomes first women's golfer to opt out of Rio

(Reuters) - South African Lee-Anne Pace, citing Zika concerns, became the first women's golfer to withdraw from the 2016 Rio Olympics on Wednesday, joining a growing exodus on the men's side that includes the world's top-ranked player.

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Tennis: Former champion Kvitova in a hurry to reach round two

LONDON (Reuters) - Twice champion Petra Kvitova needed just 15 minutes to bulldoze through the first set against Romania's Sorana Cirstea at Wimbledon on Wednesday, taking the match 6-0 6-4.

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Phelps takes morning off ahead of big night at trials

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Michael Phelps decided to skip the 100 meters freestyle heats at the U.S. Olympic trials but will be back in the spotlight later on Wednesday with a chance to clinch a spot at the Rio Olympics.

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Phelps pulls out of 100m freestyle at U.S. trials

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Michael Phelps continued to trim his program at the U.S. Olympic swim trials, scratching from the preliminaries of the 100 meters freestyle on Wednesday.

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Champion Djokovic sweeps past Mannarino

LONDON (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic brushed past France's Adrian Mannarino 6-4 6-3 7-6(5) on Wednesday to book his place in the third round of Wimbledon.

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Golfer Spieth unsure about taking part in Rio

(Reuters) - Twice major winner Jordan Spieth is still undecided about whether to participate in August's Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games or opt out because of the Zika virus like several of his fellow professionals.

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Rosberg aiming for Austrian hat-trick

SPIELBERG, Austria (Reuters) - Nico Rosberg is the only current Formula One driver to have won in Austria and Mercedes' championship leader intends to keep it that way on Sunday by completing his hat-trick in Red Bull's backyard.

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Newcomers take spotlight at U.S. Olympic trials

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Newcomers Townley Haas, Olivia Smoliga and Lilly King all punched their tickets to the Rio Games upstaging some of the biggest names in U.S. swimming on Tuesday, as a wave of fresh faces washed over the U.S. Olympic trials.

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Young guns have attention of Phelps at U.S. trials

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - The unheralded enjoyed the spotlight at the U.S. Olympic swim trials on Tuesday but it is back to the shadows as Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky prepare to take center stage at the U.S. Olympic swim trials.

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Serena toils to scrappy opening victory

LONDON (Reuters) - Defending champion Serena Williams stuttered to a low-key and error-strewn 6-2 6-4 first-round victory over Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic on Tuesday.

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Broken mirrors to X-ray plates: Olympic gold not what it seems

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Ask athletes what goes into Olympic gold medals, and they will likely say sweat and years of training. For Brazil's National Mint the answer is simpler: recycled silver.

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Golf's gender divide over Rio, and Zika

(Reuters) - When it comes to golfers and their interest in competing at this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, a curious gender divide is emerging which, at first glance, is counter-intuitive.

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Federer warned to expect the unexpected from Willis

LONDON (Reuters) - Seven-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has been warned - take 772nd-ranked British qualifier Marcus Willis lightly at your peril.

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Kenyan giants sweating on Rio Olympics chances

ELDORET, Kenya, Jun 28 (Reuters) - Some of Kenya's most celebrated athletes' reputations will be on the line when they compete in the country's Olympic trials on Thursday and Friday, just weeks before the start of the Rio Games.

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Olympics: World No.1 golfer Day withdraws over Zika fears

(Reuters) - The world's top-ranked golfer Jason Day on Tuesday withdrew from August's Rio de Janeiro Olympics, citing fears over the Zika virus.

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Legendary U.S. women's basketball coach Pat Summitt dies at 64

(Reuters) - Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in U.S. Division I college basketball history, died on Tuesday at the age of 64, the University of Tennessee said.

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Iceland stuns England as Euro dream continues

NICE, France (Reuters) - Iceland pulled off one of the biggest shocks in European Championship history when they stunned abject England 2-1 on Monday, leading Roy Hodgson to quit and sending the tiny nation into a quarter-final against hosts France.

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Swimming-Ledecky delivers win but no world record

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Katie Ledecky delivered everything but the world record everyone had expected, storming to victory in the women's 400 meters freestyle at the U.S. Olympic swim trials on Monday and securing her ticket to the Rio Games.

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Italy break jinx to end Spain's long European reign

PARIS (Reuters) - Italy broke a 22-year hoodoo to end Spain's bid for a record third successive European title with a deserved 2-0 win over familiar foes in an absorbing last 16 clash between the two heavyweights at Euro 2016 on Monday.

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Fit-again Federer gets into his stride

LONDON (Reuters) - For the Roger Federer fans on Centre Court and the legions watching on televisions around the world it was a reassuring sight as the Swiss swept past Argentina's Guido Pella into the second round of Wimbledon on Monday.

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Phelps happy to let 'little brother' take down old foe

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Michael Phelps had no appetite for a rematch with Ryan Lochte in the 400 meters medley so left it to the swimmer he calls his little brother to beat up on an old foe at the U.S. Olympic swim trials on Sunday.

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Chile retain Copa with shootout win over Argentina

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Reuters) - Chile upset favorites Argentina with a penalty shootout victory in the Copa America final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday to retain their title in the world's oldest continental soccer competition.

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Woods not ready to return to action, will 'do it right'

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods on Sunday gave the strongest indication yet that he might not return to competition this year, saying that he needed to be patient during his recovery from back surgeries.

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Kalisz claims first Rio ticket as Lochte fades

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Newcomer Chase Kalisz outduelled Olympic champion Ryan Lochte in the men's 400 meters individual medley final at the U.S. Olympic swim trials on Sunday, clinching the first ticket to the Rio Games.

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Ko coasts in Arkansas to third LPGA win of the year

(Reuters) - Teenager Lydia Ko cruised into the winner's circle for a third time this season to claim her 13th career title on the LPGA Tour with a three-shot victory at the Arkansas Championship on Sunday.

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'Pressure? What pressure?,' asks Williams at Wimbledon

LONDON (Reuters) - Serena Williams gave little away on Sunday as she assessed her chances of retaining her Wimbledon title -- and dismissed suggestions that she is under any pressure.

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Hurley lands first PGA Tour win at Congressional

(Reuters) - Local favorite Billy Hurley III, helped by a stunning chip-in on 15 and a monster putt at the 16th, clinched his first PGA Tour victory by three shots on Sunday at the Quicken Loans National in Bethesda, Maryland.

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Rio mayor delivers last major Olympic Park installation

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Rio de Janeiro's mayor handed a still not entirely finished cycling arena to organizers on Sunday, inaugurating the last major installation in the Olympic Park just over a month before the summer games begin.

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Lochte and Kalisz line up for first showdown of U.S. trials

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Newcomer Chase Kalisz edged Olympic champion Ryan Lochte to register the top qualifying time in the men's 400 meters individual medley on Sunday and set up the first showdown of the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials.

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Emotional Orozco named on U.S. men's gymnastics team

(Reuters) - An emotional John Orozco was named on the United States Olympic men's gymnastics team on Saturday after a difficult 17-month period in which he experienced the unexpected death of his mother and suffered a torn Achilles tendon.

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Djokovic focused on Wimbledon defense but sees bigger picture

LONDON (Reuters) - On court Novak Djokovic is taking tennis to extraordinary new levels with his single-minded obsession with winning; off it the Serbian is more than happy to share power.

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Phelps ready for his final races in the U.S.

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - After the cut-throat competition of the U.S. Olympic Trials, the Rio Games will be a swim in the park, Michael Phelps said on Saturday as the most decorated Olympian of all time prepared for his final races in the United States.

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Bacca goal guides Colombia to third place in Copa America

(Reuters) - Carlos Bacca's first-half goal was enough to give Colombia a 1-0 victory over the United States in the third-place playoff at the Centenary Copa America in Arizona on Saturday.

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Joshua floors Breazeale to retain IBF heavyweight title

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Anthony Joshua retained his IBF heavyweight crown by knocking out American Dominic Breazeale in the seventh round at London's O2 Arena on Saturday.

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Johnson wins in Nottingham for first ATP title

(Reuters) - American Steve Johnson sealed a first career ATP title by defeating Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 7-6(5) 7-5 to win the Nottingham Open grasscourt title on Saturday.

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Franklin looking to slam dunk U.S. trials

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Missy Franklin was selected this week in the Harlem Globetrotters' 10th annual celebrity player draft, yet she comes into the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials that begin on Sunday as anything but a slam dunk for Rio Games gold.

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2016 Greenbrier Classic canceled due to flooding

(Reuters) - The PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic, scheduled to be played next month in West Virginia, has been canceled due to the devastating flooding caused by record rainfall in the state, organizers announced on Saturday.

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Murray plans harsh new initiation ceremony for Broady

(Reuters) - Andy Murray once tried to make his international team mate Liam Broady's life a misery by ensuring his first speech at a Davis Cup welcome dinner was a disaster.

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Cibulkova wins first grass title at Eastbourne

LONDON (Reuters) - Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova warmed up for Wimbledon with her first grasscourt title, beating in-form Czech Karolina Pliskova 7-5 6-3 at the Aegon International in Eastbourne on Saturday.

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Kyrgios takes on Wimbledon's old man and mate

LONDON (Reuters) - Nick Kyrgios described his first-round clash with the oldest man at Wimbledon -- wily Czech Radek Stepanek -- as "pretty crazy" on Saturday, saying the 37-year-old had been offering to help coach him.

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Federer ready to put 'one stupid move' behind him

LONDON (Reuters) - All it took was "one stupid move" for Roger Federer's season to fall into an abyss.

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Kerber eyes German Wimbledon-Euros double

LONDON (Reuters) - Angelique Kerber is looking forward to a potential German sporting double over the next fortnight, aiming to win Wimbledon as one of the favorites while also cheering on her national soccer team at Euro 2016.

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All England grass a tonic for Tomic

(Reuters) - Australia's Bernard Tomic thinks he is playing some of the best grasscourt tennis of his career and is in a good place off the court as he heads into the Wimbledon championships main draw for the seventh time.

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Golf: Rahm, Hurley share Quicken Loans lead

(Reuters) - Spain's Jon Rahm kept up his impressive professional debut by posting a four-under-par 67 to share a three-shot, second-round lead with local favorite Billy Hurley III at the Quicken Loans National on Friday.

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Russian doping shadow hangs over U.S. trials

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - Swimmers at the U.S. Olympic Trials insist they are squeaky clean when it comes to doping but do not share the same confidence over the competition they could face in just over five weeks at the Rio Games.

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NHL: Toronto select American Matthews with first overall pick

(Reuters) - The long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs selected American centre Auston Matthews with the first overall pick in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft in Buffalo on Friday.

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Global doping agency suspends Rio lab weeks before Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has suspended the credentials of a testing laboratory in Rio de Janeiro for failing to comply with international standards, just over a month before the city hosts the Olympic Games.

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Brexit makes no difference to F1, says Ecclestone

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone welcomed Britain's vote to leave the European Union on Friday and said it made no difference to a global sport dominated by British-based teams.

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Copa America's 100th anniversary marks start of new era

(Reuters) - South America, by turning its flagship Copa America into a joint effort with the northern half of the continent, has definitively taken its showpiece tournament into the 21st century.

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Injured Fury postpones rematch with Klitschko

(Reuters) - World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has announced the postponement of his much-anticipated re-match with Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko after the British boxer suffered an ankle sprain on a run.

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Djokovic to face wildcard Ward in Wimbledon first round

LONDON (Reuters) - Defending men's champion Novak Djokovic will play British wildcard James Ward in the first round of the Wimbledon championships on Monday as he continues his bid for a calendar year grand slam.

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Drug cheats deserve lifetime bans, says Joshua

(Reuters) - Boxers who fail doping tests should be banned for life, according to Britain's IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

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Mikulak on top at U.S. gymnastics trials for Rio

(Reuters) - Four-time national champion Sam Mikulak overcame a bad start to lead the standings after Thursday's Olympic trials for the U.S. men's gymnastics team in St. Louis, virtually securing his spot for the Rio Games.

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Lebron withdraws from Rio consideration: report

(Reuters) - LeBron James has decided to withdraw from U.S. Olympic basketball team consideration for the Rio Games in order to get some rest, the cleveland.com website reported on Thursday.

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Sixers take Australian Simmons with first pick of NBA Draft

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Philadelphia 76ers selected Australian Ben Simmons from Louisiana State University with the first overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft on Thursday.

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Serena concerned over Zika, but puts faith in Olympic support team

LONDON (Reuters) - Tennis star Serena Williams says she is concerned about the Zika outbreak ahead of August's Rio Olympics, but has faith in the support team dealing with worries about the mosquito-carried virus.

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Spurs' Leonard latest U.S. player to pass on Rio Games

(Reuters) - San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard said on Thursday he will not participate in the Rio Games, making him the latest NBA player to opt out of consideration for the U.S. Olympic basketball team.

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Simmons, Ingram expected to go 1-2 in NBA Draft

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram are the consensus cream of the crop in Thursday's NBA Draft, making the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers the likely winners of the night that can shape league futures.

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Stuck on 21, Serena aims to finish the job

LONDON (Reuters) - The peak remains tantalizingly close for Serena Williams but negotiating the final incline to a record-equaling 22nd grand slam singles title is proving the trickiest of all.

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Joshua has a lot of weaknesses, says title opponent Breazeale

(Reuters) - British boxer Anthony Joshua's weaknesses will be exposed when he defends his IBF world heavyweight title, his opponent Dominic Breazeale has said as the American returns to London for the first time since his 2012 Olympics nightmare.

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Kane beats Crosby to Hart Trophy

(Reuters) - Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane became the first American-born player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player on Wednesday.

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Las Vegas lands expansion franchise as NHL adds 31st team

(Reuters) - The National Hockey League decided on Wednesday to roll the dice on expanding to Las Vegas, making the league the first to put a major professional sports team in the resort city known primarily for gambling.

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Quebec City vows to continue fight for NHL team

(Reuters) - Quebec City's dreams of landing a National Hockey League team were crushed on Wednesday but the company behind the bid vowed to keep working on bringing the Nordiques back to Canada.

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Russia faces another Rio ban over dope tests

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia's weightlifters face being banned from the Rio Olympics, subject to confirmation by the International Olympic Committee, in another collective doping punishment to hit the country.

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Golfer McIlroy pulls out of Rio over Zika fears

LONDON (Reuters) - Northern Ireland's four-times major winner Rory McIlroy has decided to pull out of the historic golf tournament at the Rio Olympic Games in August because of health fears over the Zika virus.

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Ronaldo throws reporter's microphone in lake

LYON, France (Reuters) - - Video footage has emerged of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo bringing an impromptu interview to a sudden halt -- by throwing the reporter's microphone into a nearby lake on Wednesday.

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Formula E to hold Las Vegas virtual race

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula E, the world's first fully electric car racing series, is planning a virtual race in Las Vegas next January with a likely $1 million jackpot for the winner.

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Amazon jaguar shot dead at Olympic torch ceremony

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - A jaguar featured at an Olympic torch ceremony was shot dead by a soldier shortly after the event in the Brazilian Amazon city of Manaus as the animal escaped from its handlers, an army statement said.

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Germany beat Northern Ireland to advance as group winners

PARIS (Reuters) - Germany showed more of their usual class when Mario Gomez's first-half strike secured a 1-0 win over a stubborn Northern Ireland side and a place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 as Group C winners on Tuesday.

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Blaszczykowski strike sends Poland into last 16

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - Jakub Blaszczykowski's goal gave Poland a 1-0 win over Ukraine in their final Euro 2016 Group C match on Tuesday and sent them into the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time.

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Russians, Kenyans to face evaluation for Rio Games spots

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Any competitor from Russia or Kenya wishing to take part in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics will need to be individually evaluated against doping and declared eligible by their sport's international federation, Olympic chief Thomas Bach said on Tuesday.

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Weightlifting: Russia gains and loses in Olympic doping chaos

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia could gain three weightlifting gold medals stripped from other nations' competitors because of doping positives reaching back as far as two Olympics, but could also lose quota places at the Rio Games because of its own team's transgressions.

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IOC discusses more crackdowns on drugs cheats before Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Leading sports powerbrokers gathered at the International Olympic Committee's headquarters on Tuesday morning to discuss further crackdowns on drug cheats before the Rio Games.

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U.S. face Argentina in bid to extend unlikely Copa run

(Reuters) - Prior to the start of the Copa America, United States coach Juergen Klinsmann had set the semi-finals as a target but will now need a new goal as the hosts prepare to take on top-ranked Argentina for spot in the final.

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Sharapova owed apology from WADA, her lawyer says

(Reuters) - Maria Sharapova's lawyer has blasted WADA chief Craig Reedie for making remarks about the five-times grand slam champion at a conference in London on Monday and said the Russian tennis player was owed an apology.

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WADA to demand 'serious' action if new report shows widespread Russian doping

LONDON (Reuters) - World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chiefs said on Monday that they would call for “serious” action against Russia before the Rio Olympics in August if a new investigation next month shows evidence of widespread state-sponsored doping.

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LeBron delivers on promise, leads Cavs to NBA title

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - LeBron James powered the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 93-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday in an electrifying Game Seven to complete an improbable comeback unlike any seen before and capture their first NBA championship.

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Historic season ends in epic Finals collapse for Warriors

OAKLAND (Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors closed out a record-smashing season with an even more epic playoff collapse on Sunday, falling 93-89 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Seven of the NBA Finals.

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Cavaliers' James named Most Valuable Player of NBA Finals

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals following his team's 93-89 championship-clinching win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

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Johnson wins first major title amid rules controversy

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Long-hitting American Dustin Johnson, seeking major redemption after several near-misses in recent years, won the 116th U.S. Open on Sunday amid high drama and initial uncertainty over his victory margin.

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Albania beat Romania to earn chance of last 16 place

LYON, France (Reuters) - A goal from striker Armando Sadiku helped Albania to a 1-0 victory over Romania at Euro 2016 on Sunday to earn their first three points and a chance of advancing to the knockout stages.

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Switzerland follow France through to last 16 with 0-0 draw

LILLE, France (Reuters) - Switzerland followed France through to the last 16 of Euro 2016 by holding the host nation to a 0-0 draw in their final Group A match on Sunday after the unlucky French hit the woodwork three times on Sunday.

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Romania make five changes for Albania game

LYON, France (Reuters) - Romania made five changes to their team for the Euro 2016 Group A clash with Albania on Sunday, with Denis Alibec becoming the third different striker used by coach Anghel Iordanescu in the tournament.

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Switzerland bring in teenage striker, France change five

LILLE, France (Reuters) - Switzerland named 19-year-old striker Breel Embolo in their team to play France on Sunday as they seek at least a draw to reach the knockout phase of Euro 2016.

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Rosberg cruises to victory in Azerbaijan

BAKU (Reuters) - Nico Rosberg won the first Formula One race held in Azerbaijan on Sunday to turn the championship tide and stretch his lead over Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton to 24 points.

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Murray downs Raonic to win record fifth Queen's title

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray became the first player to hold aloft the super-sized Queen's Club trophy for a fifth time after he beat big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Aegon Championships on Sunday.

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NBA finals dream: Curry, LeBron in all-or-nothing Game 7

(Reuters) - The two best storylines of the National Basketball Association season will produce only one happy ending in Sunday's all-or-nothing NBA Finals Game Seven between Stephen Curry and the Warriors and LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

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Messi matches record as Argentina win Copa quarter-final

(Reuters) - Lionel Messi became his country's equal all-time leading goalscorer as Argentina romped to a 4-1 win over Venezuela in a Copa America quarter-final in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday.

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Johnson remains one ahead at brutal Oakmont

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Dustin Johnson's overnight lead held up after a see-saw second round at the weather-disrupted U.S. Open was finally completed in dazzling afternoon sunshine at Oakmont Country Club on Saturday.

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Mickelson's grand slam hopes recede with Open missed cut

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson's chances of becoming just the sixth man to complete the modern grand slam receded when he missed the cut by one shot at the weather-hit U.S. Open on Saturday.

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Ronaldo misses penalty as Portugal held by Austria

PARIS (Reuters) - Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, winning a record 128th cap, missed a penalty and had a late headed effort disallowed for offside as they were held 0-0 by Austria at Euro 2016 on Saturday for their second straight draw.

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Lukaku scores twice as Belgium batter Ireland

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - Belgium rediscovered their most blistering form to batter group E rivals Ireland 3-0 thanks to a brace from Romelu Lukaku and an Axel Witsel header on Saturday.

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Late own goal earns Hungary 1-1 draw with Iceland

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters)- - Iceland were within two minutes of a famous victory on their first appearance at a major tournament on Saturday only for Birkir Saevarsson to put through his own net to hand Hungary a 1-1 draw that leaves Euro 2016 Group F wide open.

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IOC backs IAAF decision to uphold Russian athlete ban

LONDON (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) dented any slim hopes that Russian athletes might have had of competing at the Rio Games in August by backing the IAAF's decision to uphold its ban on the country for systematic doping.

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Russia opens criminal case against former anti-doping chief

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian federal investigators said on Saturday they had opened a criminal case against the country's former anti-doping chief on charges of abuse of office, a day after world athletics' governing body upheld a ban on Russia for systematic doping.

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Rays honor Orlando shooting victims during pride night

(Reuters) - The Tampa Bay Rays honored victims of Orlando's mass shooting with a dedicated Pride Night on Friday, which drew their largest regular season crowd in more than 10 years.

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Johnson holds clubhouse lead at weather-hit U.S. Open

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Dustin Johnson ended a marathon Friday at the weather-disrupted U.S. Open with the clubhouse lead, carding one-under-par 69 shortly before second-round play was suspended for the day in fading light.

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Rio declares financial emergency, requests funding for Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro declared a state of financial emergency on Friday, requesting federal funds to help the state fulfill its obligations for public services during the Olympics which start Aug. 5.

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Russia cries foul, rest of world welcomes IAAF's ban

(Reuters) - Russia claimed the IAAF’s decision to continue its ban of Russian athletics on Friday was unfair and threatened legal action, while the rest of the world welcomed the move and urged the IOC not to go against it.

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Cavaliers dump Warriors to force Game Seven to NBA Finals

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - The Cleveland Cavaliers took another step in their historic comeback attempt with a 115-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday to force a once-unthinkable decisive seventh game to the NBA Finals.

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IAAF votes to keep Russia banned ahead of Rio games: Sky News sources

VIENNA (Reuters) - Russia's ban from athletics was maintained by the sport's governing body on Friday, Sky News reported, quoting unnamed sources, leaving the country's hopes of competing in the Rio Olympics dependent on the IOC giving special dispensation at a meeting next week.

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U.S. reach Copa America semis with 2-1 win over Ecuador

(Reuters) - The United States survived a late onslaught to beat Ecuador 2-1 and advance to the semi-finals of the Copa America for the first time since 1995 after a pulsating and sometime fractious match in Seattle on Thursday.

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Russia's Rio hopes at stake as IAAF votes

(Reuters) - Hot on the heels of another damning report on Russian doping, the sporting superpower will discover on Friday whether its ban from athletics will be lifted, allowing a return to competition in time to take part in the Rio Olympics.

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Russian fans chief to be deported from France, three others fans jailed

MARSEILLE (Reuters) - The head of a Russian soccer supporters' association, Alexander Shprygin, is among 20 Russian fans who are to be expelled from France in the coming days, a police source said on Thursday.

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Boisterous fun or potential riot - England fans gassed anyway

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - Images of Robocop-style riot police amid clouds of tear gas to a backdrop of sirens and defiant chanting suggested Lille was in meltdown on Wednesday, yet some of those involved have suggested it was more of a cross-cultural misunderstanding.

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Rio athletes' village unveiled in front of IOC chief

(Reuters) - Despite financial and organizational problems that have delayed other construction projects for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the largest athletes' village in the long history of the Games was unveiled in the city on Wednesday.

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UEFA 'regrets' overnight soccer violence ahead of England-Wales match

PARIS (Reuters) - UEFA said on Thursday it regretted the unrest on the streets of Lille overnight on the eve of the Euro 2016 soccer match between England and Wales, but it stopped short of taking any action to punish fan violence.

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Lendl says Murray can end Djokovic's 'golden slam' dream

(Reuters) - Andy Murray has what it takes to ruin Novak Djokovic's dreams of sweeping to a 'golden slam', coach Ivan Lendl has said as the Scot prepares for another tilt at the Wimbledon title.

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Pistorius walks on stumps in court as seeks to avoid jail

PRETORIA (Reuters) - Oscar Pistorius shuffled through a Pretoria court without his prosthetic legs on Wednesday to show how vulnerable he is as the Paralympian seeks to avoid prison for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

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Warriors' Curry not bothered by uneven Finals performance

(Reuters) - Stephen Curry is not lighting up the NBA Finals the way many might expect a two-time reigning Most Valuable Player to do, but the Golden State Warriors guard is not letting that disrupt his run at a second consecutive title.

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Ilyin among four Olympic champions to test positive

(Reuters) - Four Olympic weightlifting champions from Kazakhstan, including the sport's most celebrated figure Ilya Ilyin, are among 10 lifters to have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs at the London 2012 Olympics after their samples were reanalyzed.

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Ilyin among four Olympic champions to test positive

(Reuters) - Four Olympic weightlifting champions from Kazakhstan, including the sport's most celebrated figure Ilya Ilyin, are among 10 lifters to have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs at the London 2012 Olympics after their samples were reanalysed.

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Moscow summons French ambassador over 'anti-Russian' Euro 2016

LILLE/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Soccer rivalry and fan violence spilled into global politics as Moscow summoned the French ambassador over detentions of Russians at Euro 2016 and warned an "anti-Russian" mood could even damage relations between Russia and France.

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Warriors' Bogut to miss rest of NBA Finals with injury

(Reuters) - Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut will miss the remainder of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers after injuring his knee, the team said on Wednesday.

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Slovakia make life difficult for Russia with 2-1 win

LILLE, France (Reuters) - Slovakia deepened Russia's woes with classy first-half goals from Vladimir Weiss and Marek Hamsik in a tense 2-1 victory in Euro 2016 Group B on Wednesday.

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Second Tokyo governor quits over scandal since it won Olympics

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe resigned on Wednesday after coming under fire for misuse of tax money, including spending on family trips and artwork, the latest embarrassment as the Japanese capital prepares to host the 2020 Olympics.

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Hamilton hoping for another first in Baku

BAKU (Reuters) - Formula One takes a step into the unknown this weekend with its first grand prix in Azerbaijan but triple world champion Lewis Hamilton hopes the race will take him back to familiar territory.

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Russians arrested, alcohol banned as France tries to quell Euro fan violence

PARIS/NICE (Reuters) - Police on Tuesday detained 43 Russia fans suspected of taking part in clashes with England supporters in Marseille at the start of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament, and two cities in northern France imposed alcohol bans in a bid to avert more hooliganism.

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NHL chooses Las Vegas for expansion team: AP

(Reuters) - The National Hockey League has settled on Las Vegas as its choice for an expansion team, according to a report by the Associated Press on Tuesday.

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U.S. judge dismisses fans' lawsuit against NFL over 'Deflategate'

BOSTON (Reuters) - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the National Football League by a group of New England Patriots fans angry about the league's handling of the "Deflategate" scandal, saying they lacked legal standing to sue.

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France detains Russian fans as PM Valls vows expulsions

NICE/PARIS (Reuters) - Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Tuesday some football fans will be deported from France after violent clashes marred the start of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament, and a group of Russian fans was detained near Cannes on the French Riviera.

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Russia putting 'comprehensive security' in place for 2018: FIFA

ZURICH (Reuters) - Global soccer body FIFA said that World Cup 2018 host nation Russia was putting in place a "comprehensive security concept" to prevent a repetition of the hooliganism which has marred the European championship in France.

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Pistorius must pay for his crime, victim's father tells court

PRETORIA (Reuters) - Oscar Pistorius must pay for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, her father told a South African court on Tuesday, adding that forgiving the Paralympian runner for his crime was very hard.

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Waikato Chiefs run in six tries to thrash Wales

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A Waikato Chiefs team shorn of eight All Blacks but inspired by World Cup winner Stephen Donald ran in six tries to beat Wales 40-7 in a tour match in Hamilton on Tuesday.

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Cavaliers dump Warriors to stave of NBA Finals elimination

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - LeBron James powered the sharpshooting Cleveland Cavaliers to a season-saving 112-97 win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Monday to climb within 3-2 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.

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Speedy Penguins take fast lane to Stanley Cup title

(Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins started the season as a team without an identity and ended the campaign as Stanley Cup champions after a 4-2 series win over the San Jose Sharks in the NHL's best-of-seven final.

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Berry suspended, stripped of U.S. hammer throw record

(Reuters) - U.S. hammer thrower Gwen Berry has been stripped of her pending American record and suspended for three months for using a prohibited medication, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Monday.

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Fanduel in talks to merge with DraftKings: source

(Reuters) - FanDuel Inc has been in talks to merge with DraftKings Inc, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday, in a deal that could combine the two largest U.S. daily fantasy sports companies at time when both face a regulatory crackdown.

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'Blade Runner' Pistorius faces sentencing for murdering girlfriend

PRETORIA (Reuters) - Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius appeared in a South African court on Monday to be sentenced for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

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Tensions rise between Warriors and Cavs after Green suspended

(Reuters) - With the Golden State Warriors a victory away from winning a second straight NBA Championship over the Cleveland Cavaliers, tension between the teams hit fever pitch on Sunday on the eve of Game Five over the Draymond Green suspension for his flagrant fouls.

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Penguins' Crosby wins Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP

(Reuters) - Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs after his team's clinching win over the San Jose Sharks on Sunday.

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Langer wins senior major for third straight year

(Reuters) - Bernhard Langer sank a 12-foot par putt at the final hole to record a one-stroke victory at the Senior Players Championship in Philadelphia on Sunday.

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Golf-Langer wins senior major for third straight year

(Reuters) - Bernhard Langer sank a 12-foot par putt at the final hole to record a one-stroke victory at the Senior Players Championship in Philadelphia on Sunday.

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Russia and England could be expelled from Euro 2016 if violence persists

PARIS/MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - European soccer's governing body warned the English and Russian soccer associations on Sunday their teams could be disqualified from Euro 2016 if there was more of the fan violence that has injured several dozen people.

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Hamilton takes fifth Canadian win

MONTREAL (Reuters) - Lewis Hamilton survived another first corner clash with Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg on Sunday to take a fifth Canadian Grand Prix victory and cut the German's championship lead to nine points.

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Warriors forward Green suspended for Game Five of Finals

(The Sports Xchange) - Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is suspended for Monday night's Game Five of the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers after he was assessed a flagrant foul 1 for his actions against LeBron James in Game Four.

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Bolt prepared to return Olympic relay gold

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Usain Bolt has told Reuters he would have no problem giving back one of his six Olympic gold medals if a Jamaican relay team mate is confirmed to have failed a drugs test.

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Bolt stumbles to victory in 9.88 seconds

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt sounded a strong warning to his rivals for the Rio Games by winning the 100 metres at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston in 9.88 seconds on Saturday after recovering from a stumble.

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Warriors beat Cavs and move to brink of NBA title

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors bounced back from an embarrassing road loss two days ago to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-97 on Friday and move one win away from a second consecutive NBA championship.

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Rio de Janeiro suspends work on Olympics beach volleyball arena

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Local authorities have suspended work on the arena hosting beach volleyball events at the Olympics in August due to a missing permit, Rio de Janeiro city officials said on Saturday.

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Gordie Howe's family opens visitation, funeral to public

TORONTO (Reuters) - The family of deceased hockey legend Gordie Howe has opened the hockey legend's visitation and funeral in Detroit to the public, according to his former team and local media.

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Warriors answer the bell with statement win over Cavaliers

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors answered the bell on Friday with a statement victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers that put them in position to cap their record-setting season with a second consecutive NBA title.

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Splash Brothers generate wave of momentum in win over Cavs

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson generated a wave of momentum that will carry the Golden State Warriors home one win from another NBA title after a crucial victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

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Exclusive: Studies find 'super bacteria' in Rio's Olympic venues, top beaches

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Scientists have found dangerous drug-resistant "super bacteria" off beaches in Rio de Janeiro that will host Olympic swimming events and in a lagoon where rowing and canoe athletes will compete when the Games start on Aug. 5.

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French police teargas brawling England fans ahead of Euro 2016

PARIS/MARSEILLE (Reuters) - French police fired tear gas to break up clashes between England soccer fans and local people in the Mediterranean city of Marseille on Thursday night on the eve of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament.

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World leaders, celebrities to pay final tribute to Muhammad Ali

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Reuters) - World leaders, celebrities, boxing fans and people who admired Muhammad Ali as a man will gather on Friday in his Kentucky hometown for one last goodbye to a towering global figure who died a week ago at age 74.

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Sharks stun Pens, keep series alive as Jones shines

PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - The San Jose Sharks used a first period scoring frenzy to claim a 4-2 win and keep the Pittsburgh Penguins from clinching the Stanley Cup on Thursday to send the series back to the West Coast for Game Six.

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Cavs sticking with 'do-or-die' approach to NBA Finals

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - LeBron James called Game Three of the NBA finals "do-or-die" for his Cleveland Cavaliers and after winning that one in stunning fashion, is sticking with the same mantra.

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No panic for 'embarrassed' Warriors after Game Three rout

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors were left red in the face after a stunning Game Three blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers but insist their confidence has not been shaken and promise to be better when the NBA Finals resume.

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Cavs use Love's absence as motivation in NBA Finals

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - Kevin Love missed Game Three of the NBA Finals with a concussion but he still had a major impact in the Cleveland Cavaliers' critical victory as his team mates used his injury as a source of inspiration.

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Federer beats Fritz on return from injury

(Reuters) - Roger Federer survived a stern examination by American teenager Taylor Fritz in Stuttgart on Thursday to win his first match since withdrawing from the French Open with a back injury.

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Muslim funeral in Muhammad Ali's hometown draws thousands

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Reuters) - A Muslim funeral for Muhammad Ali on Thursday drew thousands of admirers to the boxer's hometown, where mourners prayed over the body of a man who battled in the ring and sought peace outside it.

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Nadal out of Wimbledon with wrist injury

LONDON (Reuters) - Twice former champion Rafael Nadal will not play at this year's Wimbledon due to the wrist injury that forced the Spaniard out of the French Open, he said on Thursday.

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Ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez signs new lawyers for double-murder trial

BOSTON (Reuters) - Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez, who was found guilty last year of killing an acquaintance, has hired new lawyers, including the man who successfully defended a Florida woman accused of murdering her daughter, to represent him in his upcoming double-murder trial.

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Cavs crush Warriors to cut Finals deficit to 2-1

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers stormed back into the NBA Finals with a dominant 120-90 victory over the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Wednesday that cut the series deficit to 2-1.

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Russian sports minister denies doping cover up: TASS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Thursday he denied accusations of covering up a positive doping test from a top-flight Russian footballer, TASS news agency reported.

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Sharapova banned for two years by ITF

LONDON (Reuters) - The career of Russian former world number one Maria Sharapova was in tatters on Wednesday after she was given a two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) following her positive test for the banned drug meldonium.

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Jamaican sprinter Carter's 'B' sample tests positive

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Jamaican Olympic relay gold medalist Nesta Carter's "B" sample for the use of a banned stimulant at the 2008 Beijing Games has returned positive, two sources familiar with the case told Reuters on Wednesday.

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San Jose coach DeBoer keeps faith in captain Pavelski

(Reuters) - San Jose coach Peter DeBoer has backed captain Joe Pavelski to shrug off a scoring drought ahead of Thursday's Game Five of the Stanley Cup finals against Pittsburgh as the Sharks seek to stave off a quick elimination in the series.

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NHL sues players union to restore Calgary defenseman's 20-game ban

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Hockey League on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against its players union, seeking to restore a 20-game suspension against Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman that a "neutral" arbitrator later cut in half.

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China cool on another badminton sweep at Rio

SYDNEY (Reuters) - China shrugged off badminton's biggest Olympic scandal to sweep all five titles at London four years ago but the Asian super-power is trying to keep a lid on expectations of another bumper gold medal haul at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

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U.S. hammer Costa Rica to keep Copa America hopes alive

(Reuters) - The United States kept their Copa America hopes alive by thrashing Costa Rica 4-0 in Chicago on Tuesday.

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Sharks try to put Penguins' Stanley Cup party plans on ice

(Reuters) - The San Jose Sharks have been the NHL's ultimate road warrior this season and will need to pack their A-game when they travel to Pittsburgh to the face the Penguins on Thursday in what could be the Stanley Cup decider.

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LeBron's Cavs hope return home reverses fortunes

(Reuters) - With their NBA title hopes hanging by a thread, LeBron James and the overmatched Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping a return to their home court will help them breathe new life into what has so far been a one-sided championship series.

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F1 plans to add biometric driver data to safety mix

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One is planning to add more cockpit cameras and gather biometric data from drivers, possibly as early as this season, to provide a better understanding of accidents and improve safety.

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NFL's Twitter account hacked, commissioner is fine: NFL

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The National Football League's Twitter account was hacked on Tuesday and a false tweet was sent that Commissioner Roger Goodell had died, an NFL spokesman said on his Twitter account.

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Donald grabs U.S. Open berth in Ohio playoff

(Reuters) - Former world number one Luke Donald earned a berth in next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont following a playoff at a qualifying event in Powell, Ohio, on Tuesday.

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Pechstein's doping ban damages suit dropped by German court

BERLIN (Reuters) - Olympic skating champion Claudia Pechstein's damages claim against the International Skating Union over a doping ban was ruled as inadmissible by a German court on Tuesday, dealing her years-long efforts for compensation a crushing blow.

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Obama lauds Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning for Super Bowl win

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama welcomed the Denver Broncos to the White House on Monday to congratulate the Super Bowl champions for their victory over the Carolina Panthers and send off retiring quarterback Peyton Manning with words of praise.

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Love returns to Cleveland, uncertain for Game Three

(The Sports Xchange) - Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love was cleared to fly home with the team on Monday, but his availability for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland remains in question.

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Goodell says no compromise on 'Deflategate'

(The Sports Xchange) - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear on Monday there will be no settlement in his Deflategate battle with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

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Serena passes suspended Sharapova as top woman earner

(Reuters) - Serena Williams may have been second best at the French Open on Saturday but the American has moved ahead of fellow tennis player Maria Sharapova to top the women's earnings list in sports, according to Forbes Magazine.

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Cavaliers desperate to make stand at home in Cleveland

(Reuters) - The old adage that a playoff series does not begin until a home team loses does not apply to the Cavaliers, who know a defeat in Game Three could all but finish their NBA Finals chances against the Golden State Warriors.

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NBA MVP Curry to skip Rio Games to rest knee

(Reuters) - Stephen Curry has withdrawn from consideration for the U.S. basketball team for the Olympic Games in Rio to allow a knee injury time to heal, the league MVP announced on Monday.

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Russia prepares education campaign to tackle doping in sport

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will roll out an educational campaign to promote fair play in sport as it cleans up after a series of doping scandals, the sports ministry said on Monday.

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Inspirational Poulter named as Ryder Cup vice captain

LONDON (Reuters) - Ian Poulter has been named as one of Europe's vice captains for this year's Ryder Cup after the Englishman wrote off his chances of making the team as a player.

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Djokovic eyes Golden Slam, turns rivals green with envy

PARIS (Reuters) - He is the tennis version of the Incredible Hulk and on Sunday Novak Djokovic made his closest rivals turn green with envy as he finally achieved something no man had accomplished for nearly half a century.

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Denver's Talib expected to make 'full recovery' after shooting

(Reuters) - Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib is expected to make a full recovery after being taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg on Sunday morning, the Super Bowl champions said in a statement.

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Strong Memorial finish gives McIlroy a U.S. Open fillip

(Reuters) - World number three Rory McIlroy gave himself a timely boost for this month's U.S. Open by ending a week of superb putting and accurate driving with a four-under 68 in the final round of the Memorial tournament on Sunday.

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Russia's Denisov injured in Serbia draw, set to miss Euros

(Reuters) - Russia holding midfielder Igor Denisov suffered a hamstring injury as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia on Sunday and is likely to miss Euro 2016, said coach Leonid Slutskiy.

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Fitzpatrick boosts Ryder Cup hopes with Nordea Masters win

(Reuters) - England's Matthew Fitzpatrick boosted his Ryder Cup qualifying hopes with a three-shot victory at the Nordea Masters in Stockholm on Sunday.

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Muhammad Ali, 'the greatest', remembered as boxer who transcended sports

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Reuters) - The death of Muhammad Ali, the former heavyweight champion known as much for his political activism as his boxing brilliance, triggered a worldwide outpouring of affection and admiration for one of the best-known figures of the 20th century.

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Murray takes first set in French Open final

PARIS (Reuters) - Andy Murray won the first set of his French Open final against world number one Novak Djokovic 6-3 on Sunday after being broken to love in the opening game.

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Numbers game keeps slam-chasing Serena on edge

PARIS (Reuters) - As a serial winner Serena Williams has broken records without a backward glance throughout her career, but since September there is one milestone that has loomed ever larger in halting her progress toward the game's pantheon.

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Sharks strike late to claw back into Stanley Cup series

(Reuters) - The San Jose Sharks flipped the script on the Pittsburgh Penguins with a game-winning overtime goal that gave them a 3-2 win on Saturday and pulled them back into the Stanley Cup Final series.

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Late bogey costs Kuchar outright Memorial lead

(Reuters) - Former champion Matt Kuchar surrendered the outright lead with a bogey on the tricky par-four 18th to conclude the third round of the weather-hit Memorial tournament on Saturday, setting up the prospect of a Sunday shootout.

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Muguruza overpowers Serena to win French Open title

PARIS (Reuters) - Garbine Muguruza achieved the rare feat of overpowering world Serena Williams to claim her maiden grand slam title with a 7-5 6-4 win over the world number one and defending champion in the French Open final on Saturday.

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Muhammad Ali: 'Greatest' boxer, showman, ambassador

(Reuters) - More than 60 years ago, a bicycle thief in Louisville, Kentucky, unknowingly set in motion one of the most amazing sports careers in history.

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Copa America California style retains a flavor of South America

SANTA CLARA, California (Reuters) - The United States might having been hosting Copa America for the first time but a legion of Colombia fans brought a distinct flavor of South America to a sweltering Levi's Stadium for the tournament opener on Friday.

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Sharks aim to bite into Penguins' lead on home ice

(Reuters) - The Sharks will be banking on home comforts and incrementally improving form to help them take a bite out of the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2-0 lead when the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Finals resume in San Jose on Saturday.

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Cavaliers regrouping after opening loss to Warriors

(Reuters) - LeBron James kept rolling the numbers over in his mind, dumbfounded over how he and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers squandered a shot at stealing Game One of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

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Messi should be acquitted for tax evasion in Spain: prosecutor

BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Soccer's five-times World Player of the Year Lionel Messi should be acquitted on tax evasion charges against him, Spain's public prosecutors' office said on Friday as the trial drew to a close.

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Murray downs Wawrinka to reach first French Open final

PARIS (Reuters) - Britain's Andy Murray knocked out defending French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-2 4-6 6-2 in the semi-finals on Friday to reach his first Roland Garros final where he will face world number one Novak Djokovic.

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Djokovic extinguishes Thiem to reach French Open final

PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic was in unplayable mode as he cantered into the French Open final by crushing flat Austrian tyro Dominic Thiem 6-2 6-1 6-4 on Friday, moving closer to the only grand slam title missing from his collection.

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FIFA says three top officials enriched themselves with salary increases

ZURICH (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and two other leading officials were involved in a "coordinated attempt" to enrich themselves through annual salary increases and World Cup bonuses, world soccer's governing body said on Friday.

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Serena beats Bertens to reach French Open final

PARIS (Reuters) - Serena Williams overcome the gritty challenge of unseeded Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens 7-6(7) 6-4 on Friday to reach the French Open final, putting the world number one just one match away from a record-equalling 22nd grand slam singles title.

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Muguruza downs Stosur in Paris to reach second major final

PARIS (Reuters) - Spanish fourth seed Garbine Muguruza reached her second grand slam final when she beat Australian Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-4 in the semi-finals of the French Open on Friday.

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Bench lift Warriors to first blood in Finals series

(Reuters) - The Golden State Warriors needed a big lift from their bench to down the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89 in the NBA Finals opener in Oakland on Thursday.

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San Jose hope to get untracked back home in Shark Tank

(Reuters) - In dire need of a Stanley Cup revival back at home in the Shark Tank, San Jose prepare to host the Pittsburgh Penguins when the National Hockey League Finals resume on Saturday.

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U.S. cyclist Van Garderen opts out of Rio Games over Zika

(Reuters) - Cyclist Tejay Van Garderen has withdrawn from consideration for the U.S. team for the Rio Olympics over concerns that the Zika virus outbreak could present risks for his pregnant wife, USA Cycling said on Thursday.

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Johnson powers into early lead at the Memorial

(Reuters) - While former world number ones Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy made erratic starts, long-hitting American Dustin Johnson charged into an early two-shot lead at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, on Thursday.

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Muhammad Ali in hospital with 'respiratory' issue

(Reuters) - Boxing great Muhammad Ali is in hospital with a respiratory issue, a family spokesman said on Thursday.

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All four 2024 bid cities through to next stage: IOC

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - All four cities trying to host the 2024 Games have advanced to the next stage of campaigning with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) finding no major flaws in their bids, it said on Thursday.

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Serena struggles past Putintseva to reach Paris semi-finals

PARIS (Reuters) - Defending champion Serena Williams survived a fright as she labored into the semi-finals of the French Open with a 5-7 6-4 6-1 victory against Kazakh Yulia Putintseva on Thursday.

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Lousy conditions perfect for brand new grand slam champion

PARIS (Reuters) - If there is a new member of the grand slam champions' club this weekend, nobody should be surprised -- the conditions at this year's sodden, chilly French Open suit the underdog.

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Sheary on target as Pens tame Sharks in overtime

(Reuters) - Conor Sheary scored early in overtime as the star-studded Pittsburgh Penguins received another key contribution from one of their younger players to seize control of the Stanley Cup Finals with a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday.

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McIlroy plays down Zika impact on Rio decision

(Reuters) - Rory McIlroy has played down concerns that the Zika virus outbreak could threaten his participation at the 2016 Rio Olympics in golf's return to the Games after a 112-year absence.

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2017 Pro Bowl to be played in Orlando

(Reuters) - The National Football League's annual exhibition of all-stars, the Pro Bowl, will move from its long-time home in Hawaii to Orlando for next year, the league announced on Wednesday.

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Cavaliers underdogs again as Warriors go for repeat

(Reuters) - LeBron James and Cleveland get a chance for revenge against the Stephen Curry-led Golden State in the NBA Finals starting on Thursday, but the underdog Cavaliers have the misfortune to face a Warriors team seemingly peaking again at the right time.

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Indians Byrd hit with 162 game drug suspension

(Reuters) - Cleveland Indians outfielder Marlon Byrd was suspended for 162 games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday after he tested positive for a banned substance a second time.

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Baseball, surfing among five sports recommended for Tokyo 2020

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Five sports, including baseball, skateboarding and surfing, are on track to feature at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after the IOC on Wednesday recommended their inclusion to attract a younger audience, said a source close to the discussions.

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Serena stifles contest to reach Roland Garros quarters

PARIS (Reuters) - It would be unfair to blame Elina Svitolina, for so few have what it takes to bring the best out of Serena Williams.

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Brazil, after Europe attacks, raises guard against Olympic terror

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil is raising its guard and tightening security ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels and a threat by an alleged Islamic State militant.

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Djokovic enters $100 million dollar club, Serena plays catch-up

PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic had 100 million reasons to celebrate reaching the French Open quarter-finals on Wednesday -- albeit two days later than expected -- as players made a mad dash to clear the fourth-round backlog created by the fickle Parisian weather.

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Djokovic labors into French Open quarter-finals

PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic recovered from a mediocre start to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open on Wednesday with a 3-6 6-4 6-1 7-5 rain-delayed victory against plucky Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

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Cavs, LeBron find same title hope obstacle in Golden State

(Reuters) - LeBron James and the Cavaliers rested up and waited through a tumultuous Western Conference finals before finding themselves right back where they were last year, going against the Warriors for the NBA title.

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