Thursday, September 22, 2016

Paralympian Perales has Phelps' record haul in her sights

(Reuters) - Spanish swimmer Teresa Perales is determined to eclipse Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, by surpassing the American great's haul of 28 medals as she sets her sight on competing in the Tokyo Paralympics at the age of 44.

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MLB in talks to play regular season games in London

(Reuters) - London may soon host Major League Baseball's (MLB) first game in Europe, after discussions were held between the organization's commissioner Rob Manfred and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

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Westwood questions Tiger's role in U.S. Ryder Cup team

(Reuters) - Europe's Lee Westwood believes Tiger Woods could have an adverse effect on America's Ryder Cup chances after the 14-time major winner was named as a vice-captain on the U.S. team.

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Neutral venue for Davis Cup finals unappealing to Murray

(Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Andy Murray is not overly enthusiastic about the possibility of a neutral venue hosting the Davis Cup finals, but backed proposals to shorten matches in the competition.

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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Top seed Johnson chases double delight at Tour Championship

(Reuters) - Top seed Dustin Johnson heads five players who control their own destiny as they chase the FedExCup and a $10 million bonus at the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta starting on Thursday.

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Do not pair me with Mickelson at Ryder Cup, pleads Johnson

(Reuters) - Dustin Johnson says he does not want to partner United States team mate Phil Mickelson at next week's Ryder Cup in Minnesota.

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Formula E to race in Brooklyn

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Formula E electric series will have lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop next July after Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood was announced on Wednesday as the venue for two season-ending races.

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Reasons for Johnson's improvement clear as day, says Jason

(Reuters) - As world number two Dustin Johnson snaps at the metaphorical heels of top dog Jason Day of Australia, the game's leading player has identified the reasons for the American's elevation to the cusp of the global pecking order.

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New mayor kills off Rome's bid for 2024 Olympics

ROME (Reuters) - Rome's new mayor, Virginia Raggi, pulled the plug on the city's bid to host the 2024 Olympics, saying staging the summer games would bury the Italian capital under mountains of debt and tonnes of cement.

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Rome's new mayor set to pull plug on 2024 Olympics bid

ROME (Reuters) - Rome's new mayor, Virginia Raggi, has decided to oppose its bid to host the Olympics, a city hall official said on Wednesday, a new blow to the 2024 Games after the withdrawal of Boston and Hamburg.

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ITF clears Lepchenko following meldonium explanation

(Reuters) - American Varvara Lepchenko is clear to play again after she was found to shoulder "no fault or negligence" for an anti-doping rule violation, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said on Tuesday.

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Gay looks to set pace on ice at bobsled championships

(Reuters) - Former world 100 meters champion Tyson Gay has traded the track for ice this week after he entered to compete in the U.S. Bobsled National Push Championships in Calgary.

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Tennis chiefs plan revamp of Davis, Fed Cup finals

LONDON (Reuters) - Tennis chiefs plan to adopt the NFL's Super Bowl model, by selecting fixed-venue cities in advance for their showcase Davis and Fed Cup finals.

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Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Canada grabs semi-final spot with win over U.S.

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada ended U.S. hopes of escaping the preliminary round of the World Cup of Hockey by thrashing their North American rivals 4-2 on Tuesday, clinching a semi-final berth for the hosts and Team Europe.

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Spieth prizes Ryder Cup glory over Tour Championship win

(Reuters) - As much as Jordan Spieth would love to complete a successful title defense at the Tour Championship this week, team victory at the Ryder Cup next week is an even bigger goal for the American.

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49ers' Kaepernick claims he has received death threats

(The Sports Xchange) - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said on Tuesday that he has received death threats regarding his actions during the playing of the U.S. national anthem.

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PGA Tour boss rues lack of expansion outside U.S

(Reuters) - Tim Finchem says he regrets that the PGA Tour has not expanded more globally during his long tenure as commissioner, while at the same time he is confident that golf has cemented its place in the Olympic Games.

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Rookies not a concern for European Ryder Cup team: McGinley

(Reuters) - Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley expects the six rookies in this year's team to draw on their international experience to thrive under pressure in next week's match against the United States.

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Eagles players latest to join anthem protest

(Reuters) - Philadelphia Eagles defensive players Malcolm Jenkins, Ron Brooks and Steven Means stood together with raised fists during the U.S. national anthem before their game against the Chicago Bears on Monday.

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Matthews rushes for two touchdowns as Eagles beat Bears

(The Sports Xchange) - The Philadelphia Eagles scored touchdowns on three consecutive second-half possessions, two of them short runs by Ryan Matthews and two following Chicago turnovers to beat the Bears 29-14 on Monday.

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Monday, September 19, 2016

Team Europe on top of World after win over Czechs

TORONTO (Reuters) - Germany's Leon Draisaitl potted the overtime winner as Team Europe edged Czech Republic 3-2 on Monday to close in on a spot in the World Cup of Hockey semi-finals.

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Gruden endorses under-pressure Cousins as starter

(Reuters) - Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden has expressed confidence in quarterback Kirk Cousins despite his shaky start to the season.

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Cyber hackers publish medical data for Farah, Nadal and Rose

LONDON (Reuters) - Olympic champions Mo Farah, Rafael Nadal and Justin Rose were among athletes targeted on Monday in the latest leak of confidential medical documents that the world anti-doping agency (WADA) says were hacked by a Russian cyber espionage group.

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Plea talks in FIFA bribery case, U.S. trial date set

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Several defendants in a wide-ranging corruption case involving soccer's global governing body FIFA are in talks on possible guilty pleas, a U.S. prosecutor said on Monday.

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NASCAR accused of racial discrimination in lawsuit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - NASCAR was hit with a $500 million lawsuit accusing the auto racing body of racial discrimination for preventing black-owned teams and drivers from competing, including in the Sprint Cup Series.

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Alonso says motivation is key to contract extension

MADRID (Reuters) - Fernando Alonso says he is only thinking as far ahead as next season and any extension of his McLaren Formula One contract beyond 2017 will depend on how he feels about the sport.

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Exhausted Murray desperate for a break

(Reuters) - Andy Murray is itching for a break after an exhausting few months, the world number two said, after defending champions Britain were knocked out by Argentina 3-2 in the Davis Cup semi-final.

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Peterson suffers knee injury in Vikings' win

(Reuters) - Running back Adrian Peterson suffered a knee injury late in the third quarter of the Minnesota Vikings' 17-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

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Nostalgia rules as Rams make winning return to Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nostalgia was the dominant feeling for excited Rams fans on Sunday as they watched their team play its first National Football League game at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 37 years.

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Sunday, September 18, 2016

More kneeling players, raised fists, in anthem protests

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn raised his fist and San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick was among several players who knelt during performances of the U.S. national anthem on Sunday.

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Rosberg celebrates 200th race with Singapore win

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Nico Rosberg led from pole to flag to win the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday and celebrate his 200th Formula One race by retaking the championship lead from Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton.

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Argentina dump champions Britain out of Davis Cup

(Reuters) - Argentina substitute Leonardo Mayer ended Britain's reign as Davis Cup champions with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over Dan Evans to secure an enthralling 3-2 triumph in the fifth rubber of their semi-final on Sunday.

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Saints cornerback Williams carted off with neck injury

(The Sports Xchange) - The New Orleans Saints, already thin at cornerback, may have lost another member of their secondary when cornerback P.J. Williams suffered a neck injury in Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

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Chun wins Evian Championship with record score

PARIS (Reuters) - South Korea's Chun In-gee won the Evian Championship on Sunday and set a record for the lowest winning score in a major with her four-round total of 21 under par.

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Ice hockey: Canada rout Czechs, Europe stun U.S. in World Cup

TORONTO (Reuters) - A dominant Sidney Crosby led Canada to a 6-0 win over the Czech Republic at the World Cup of Hockey on Saturday following Team Europe's shock victory over the United States in the tournament opener.

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NFL: Rams hope to get back on track against Seahawks

(Reuters) - The Los Angeles Rams have returned to Southern California after 21 seasons in St. Louis, but their offense failed to make the trip in a dreadful season opener they hope to put behind them in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

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Saturday, September 17, 2016

Yankees hit by double injury blow

(Reuters) - The New York Yankees suffered a double-blow on Saturday when second baseman Starlin Castro and center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury were injured against the Boston Red Sox.

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Mets pitcher DeGrom in line for elbow surgery

(Reuters) - New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom is expected to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, the team said on Saturday.

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Nico Rosberg storms to pole in Singapore

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg took pole position for his 200th Formula One race after a stunning qualifying lap around Singapore's Marina Bay street circuit on Saturday.

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Iranian cyclist dies after crash

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Iranian cyclist Sarafraz Bahman Golbarnezhad has died after crashing at the Paralympics on Saturday.

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IOC gives information to Brazil authorities in Hickey case

BERLIN (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee has met Brazilian judicial authorities investigating a case of alleged ticket scalping during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and provided information, an IOC official said on Saturday.

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Seattle high school football team kneels for national anthem

(Reuters) - A Seattle high school football team knelt during the playing of the national anthem before a game on Friday night, embracing a silent protest for social justice initiated last month by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

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World Cup does not spell end of Olympics for NHL: Bettman

TORONTO (Reuters) - The success or failure of the World Cup of Hockey will not determine whether the National Hockey League continues its Olympic participation, said league commissioner Gary Bettman on Friday.

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Friday, September 16, 2016

Twitter grabs average 243,000 viewers in NFL livestream debut

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Twitter Inc attracted an average of 243,000 viewers to Thursday's National Football League livestream of the New York Jets triumph over the Buffalo Bills, the first time the social media platform has broadcast an NFL game.

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Del Potro sinks Murray in five-hour epic to give Argentina 1-0 lead

GLASGOW (Reuters) - Juan Martin del Potro delivered a huge blow to Britain's hopes of retaining the Davis Cup when he beat Andy Murray 6-4 5-7 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 in a five-hour thriller to give Argentina a 1-0 lead in their world group semi-final on Friday.

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Doping: McLaren says his final report still several months away

ZURICH (Reuters) - The final version of a report which has already revealed a system of state-sponsored doping in Russia is still several months away, its author Richard McLaren said on Friday.

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Russia's Putin: WADA leaks raise a lot of questions - TASS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) records leaked by hackers raised a lot of questions, TASS news agency reported.

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Rapinoe kneels during anthem again, this time as member of U.S. team

(Reuters) - Soccer star Megan Rapinoe on Thursday again protested social inequality by kneeling during the U.S. national anthem, this time as a member of the United States women's national team.

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Thursday, September 15, 2016

Forte's three TDs lead Jets over Bills

(The Sports Xchange) - Matt Forte rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns to help the New York Jets secure their first victory of the season, 37-31, over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night at New Era Field.

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Twitter abuzz as live-video test of Thursday Night Football nears

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Social media users were buzzing on Thursday as Twitter Inc prepared for its first broadcast of a National Football League game, a match up between the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills, which tests Twitter's strategy of putting big games on small screens.

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Suspended USC football player charged with rape in Utah

(Reuters) - A University of Southern California football player was charged in Utah on Thursday with raping a 19-year-old woman in July, according to court documents.

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Return of World Cup puts Olympics in spotlight

TORONTO (Reuters) - With the return this week of the World Cup of Hockey, the National Hockey League could be set to wave goodbye to the Winter Olympics and end a tumultuous relationship that for a decade seemed on the brink of divorce.

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South Africa to appeal Pistorius murder sentence again

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African state prosecutors will approach the Supreme Court of Appeal for leave to challenge Oscar Pistorius' six-year murder sentence after failing with a similar bid at a lower court, the National Prosecuting Authority said on Thursday.

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WADA says hackers released another batch of athlete data

(Reuters) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Wednesday that another batch of athlete data has been leaked by the same Russian cyber espionage group that published confidential medical data earlier this week.

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Murray plans 'one more big push' as Britain eye final

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray is ready for "one more big push" this week as he tries to steer defending champions Britain into the Davis Cup final.

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Froome has 'no issue' with certificates leak in WADA hack

LONDON (Reuters) - Triple Tour de France champion Chris Froome says he has "no issue" with his private medical records being leaked in a cyber attack by Russian hackers on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

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Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Cowboys extend reign as league's most valuable team: Forbes

(Reuters) - The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable National Football League team for a 10th consecutive year, nearly double the league average, according to an annual survey by business magazine Forbes on Wednesday.

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League fines Broncos' Stewart, Marshall for Newton hits

(The Sports Xchange) - Denver Broncos safety Darian Stewart and linebacker Brandon Marshall were fined by the National Football League (NFL) on Wednesday for hits on Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

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Comcast's NBCU books $250 million in profit from Rio Olympics coverage

(Reuters) - NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp, said the company booked more than $250 million in profit from the Rio Olympics coverage, helped by strong advertising sales.

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Most Americans disagree with Kaepernick, but respect his right to protest: Reuters/Ipsos poll

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Most Americans think San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the national anthem is unpatriotic but support his right to free speech, while nearly half do not think the National Football League should penalize him, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday.

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Atlantic Coast Conference moves college championships from North Carolina

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters) - The Atlantic Coast Conference on Wednesday said it would move 10 college sports championships from North Carolina because of a state law that restricts rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

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French number one Monfils out of Davis Cup semi-final

(Reuters) - World number eight Gael Monfils has been ruled out of France's Davis Cup semi-final against Croatia in Zadar because of a knee injury, the French tennis federation said on Wednesday.

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Button could race in Japan next year

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - McLaren's Jenson Button could race in Rallycross or in Japan's Super GT series when he takes a break from Formula One next year.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Bolt leaves door open to 2017 sprint double at worlds

KINGSTON (Reuters) - Usain Bolt has left the door open to running in both the 100 and 200 meters at next year's world championships where he said he will be more focused on protecting his legacy than topping his world records.

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Love expected to look beyond 'Bubba' factor

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Team chemistry or an elite player? That is the question facing United States Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III as he considers the merits of twice Masters champion Bubba Watson for his final wildcard pick.

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Monday Night Football shines spotlight on national anthem protests

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick brought his protest against racial inequality to a nationally televised Monday Night Football audience, kneeling on the field rather than standing as the national anthem played.

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Thunder forward McGary suspended for 15 games

(The Sports Xchange) - Oklahoma City Thunder forward Mitch McGary had his suspension for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy increased by 10 games on Tuesday, and he will now miss the first 15 games of the 2016-17 season, the NBA said.

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IOC sanctions Russian Olympians including silver medalist Abakumova

ZURICH (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday sanctioned four Russian Olympians who competed at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London games for failing drug tests, including silver medalist Maria Abakumova.

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'No-brainer' to move championship games from North Carolina: NCAA

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters) - The decision to move seven college championship sporting events out of North Carolina due to a state law deemed discriminatory to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people was a "proverbial no-brainer," the president of the governing body for U.S. college athletics said on Tuesday.

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Monday, September 12, 2016

49ers shut out Rams in Kelly's debut

(The Sports Xchange) - Carlos Hyde ran for two scores, Blaine Gabbert threw a touchdown pass, and the 49ers rolled to a 28-0 win against the Los Angeles Rams, giving new San Francisco coach Chip Kelly a victory in his debut Monday night at Levi's Stadium.

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Two men rush Lochte during 'Dancing with the Stars': media

(Reuters) - Two men rushed the "Dancing with the Stars" stage in protest against embattled U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte as he fielded comments from judges after his performance on the ABC dance competition show on Monday, according to media reports.

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Olympian known for raised fist calls NFL protests 'shock treatment'

GILROY, Calif. (Reuters) - John Carlos, whose bronze medal at the 1968 Olympics was overshadowed by his raised-fist protest on the medal podium, said the recent demonstrations by National Football League players are "shock treatment" for the American people.

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Fowler, Holmes, Kuchar named U.S. Ryder Cup picks

(Reuters) - United States captain Davis Love III focused on "what fits best for our team" in naming Rickie Fowler, JB Holmes and Matt Kuchar on Monday as three of his four wildcard picks for this month's Ryder Cup against Europe.

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Platini allowed to address UEFA Congress as 'gesture of humanity'

ATHENS (Reuters) - UEFA's disgraced former president Michel Platini will be allowed to address its Congress on Wednesday as a "gesture of humanity" despite his ban from the sport, FIFA's ethics committee said on Monday.

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Farah's golds should not be devalued by Salazar accusations: Coe

(Reuters) - Mo Farah should be respected for winning two golds at the Rio Olympics despite his coach Alberto Salazar being under investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), IAAF President Sebastian Coe said.

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Short-handed Patriots hang on to defeat Cardinals

(Reuters) - Even without their stars and other starters as well, the New England Patriots proved they are no pushovers when playing short-handed.

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Hickey to fight 'each and every' charge

LONDON (Reuters) - Former head of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey will fight "each and every one" of charges that he took part in a ring to sell tickets illegally for the Rio Games, the Irishman said on Monday.

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Sunday, September 11, 2016

History does not repeat itself as Giants edge Cowboys 20-19

(The Sports Xchange) - Eli Manning remembered all too well what happened a year ago in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

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U.S. Open pauses to remember 9/11 under heavy security

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U. S. Open reached an emotional climax on Sunday as the year's final grand slam paused amid heavy security before the start of the men's singles to remember those who died in the 9/11 attacks 15 years ago.

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Kansas City player raises fist during anthem of NFL opener

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters raised his fist on Sunday during a performance of the U.S. national anthem, apparently in solidarity with other National Football League players trying to draw attention to racial inequality.

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Mattek-Sands and Safarova win U.S. Open doubles

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S. and Czech Lucie Safarova fought back from the brink of defeat to steal the U.S. Open women's doubles title, 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4 over the French top seed partnership of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic on Sunday.

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Saturday, September 10, 2016

Djokovic/Wawrinka big-game talents in U.S. Open final

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic has enjoyed a whirlwind trip to Sunday's U.S. Open final, but the top-seeded Serb expects hard work ahead when he meets Stan Wawrinka at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

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Johnson breaks clear for three-shot lead at BMW Championship

(Reuters) - U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson birdied four of the final five holes to open up a three-shot lead over Paul Casey after the third round at the BMW Championship in Indiana on Saturday.

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Golovkin overpowers Brook to retain middleweight titles

LONDON (Reuters) - Gennady Golovkin retained his WBC and IBF middleweight belts with a fifth-round stoppage of Britain's Kell Brook on Saturday.

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Murray and Soares sweep to U.S. Open doubles title

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Britain's Jamie Murray and Brazil's Bruno Soares swept the Spanish duo of Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-3 to win the U.S. Open doubles on Saturday for their second grand slam title of the year.

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Kerber beats Pliskova to win U.S. Open title

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Germany's second seeded Angelique Kerber beat Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3 4-6 6-4 to win the U.S. Open final on Saturday, and collect her second grand slam title of the year.

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Yao takes friendly shot at Shaq at Hall of Fame induction

(Reuters) - Yao Ming, who inspired a generation of NBA fans in his native China, wistfully acknowledged a career that "ended too soon" as he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

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Friday, September 9, 2016

Wawrinka tops Nishikori to reach final versus Djokovic

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stan Wawrinka outslugged Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2 in energy-sapping humidity at Flushing Meadows on Friday to set up a U.S. Open final against world number one Novak Djokovic.

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Djokovic solves Monfils puzzle to reach U.S. Open final

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic scrapped his way into the U.S. Open final for a seventh time on Friday with a confounding 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2 win over enigmatic Frenchman Gael Monfils.

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Oklahoma judge OKs McClendon land sale, freeing Thunder stake

OKLAHOMA CITY/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The judge overseeing Aubrey McClendon's estate approved a land deal on Friday that will pay off one of the late energy magnate's major creditors, paving the way for the sale of his stake in professional basketball team the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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NFL's Sept. 11 plans may collide with anthem protests

(Reuters) - The NFL said on Friday it will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States during games on Sunday, the same day when some players plan to protest during the U.S. national anthem.

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Castro one ahead going into second round at BMW

(Reuters) - Roberto Castro's overnight lead of one shot held up when the rain-delayed first round of the BMW Championship was completed on Friday in Carmel, Indiana.

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NBA star Tim Duncan's former financial adviser charged with fraud

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - A former financial adviser for ex-NBA star Tim Duncan, whom the San Antonio Spurs legend has accused of bilking him out of millions of dollars, has been indicted on federal fraud charges, court papers unsealed on Friday showed.

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Blatter and two others facing FIFA investigation over salaries

ZURICH (Reuters) - Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-secretary general Jerome Valcke, already banned from soccer for ethics violations, are facing a fresh investigation over the salaries and bonuses they received in office.

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Kerber celebrates number one by reaching U.S. Open final

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Reaching top of the world seems to agree with Angelique Kerber, who celebrated her ascension to the number one ranking with a 6-4 6-3 win over Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday to advance to Saturday's U.S. Open final.

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Thursday, September 8, 2016

Serena stunned by Pliskova in U.S. Open semis

NEW YORK (Reuters) - For the second straight year Serena Williams saw her bid for a seventh U.S. Open title halted in the semi-finals with a 6-2 7-6(5) loss to Karolina Pliskova on Thursday that also ended her long reign as world number one.

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Broncos survive late FG miss to beat Panthers

(The Sports Xchange) - The Denver Broncos began the new season the same way they ended last season, by beating the Carolina Panthers.

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Rested Djokovic big favorite against Monfils

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic, the only member of the so-called "Big Four" to reach Friday's semi-finals of the U.S. Open, also has the distinction of being the least tested of the last four at Flushing Meadows.

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Clijsters, Roddick headline Hall of Fame nominations

(Reuters) - Former world number one players Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick headlined the list of nominees up for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

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Rio police seek charges against 10 in ticket scalping ring

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian police recommended on Thursday that 10 people be charged in a ticket-touting ring uncovered at the Rio Games, including the man who until recently was Europe's top Olympic official.

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Liberty takeover offers a longer-term vision for F1

LONDON (Reuters) - Liberty Media's takeover of Formula One promises a long-term strategy for the cash-rich sport with a sharper focus on new media markets and another attempt to expand in North America.

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Ex-NFL player Tebow to be signed by New York Mets: reports

(Reuters) - Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow is expected to sign on with the with New York Mets in a minor league deal, ESPN and other media outlets reported on Thursday.

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Paralympics: Belarus delegate carries Russian flag during Rio opening ceremony

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Belarus team carried Russia's flag as well as their own at the Paralympic Games opening ceremony, in a show of support for their near-neighbors, who were banned from the competition in Rio de Janeiro. 

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Soccer team plays U.S. national anthem early to prevent player protest

(Reuters) - The Washington Spirit women's soccer team on Wednesday played the U.S. national anthem while players were still in their locker rooms, preventing visiting star Megan Rapinoe from continuing her protest for social equality.

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Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Williams wary of another semi-final slip-up

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Serena Williams will be wary of another semi-final slip-up when she takes to the Arthur Ashe Stadium court on Thursday to face 10th seed Karolina Pliskova for a spot in the U.S. Open final.

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U.S. swimmer Lochte gets 10-month suspension over Rio scandal: media

(Reuters) - American swimmer Ryan Lochte has been suspended for 10 months, U.S. media reported on Wednesday, following a scandal involving the U.S. Olympic athlete and three other swimmers at the Rio Games.

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Williams fights off Halep to reach U.S. Open semi-finals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Simona Halep did something no one else was able to do against Serena Williams at the U.S. Open on Wednesday but still could not stop the world number one from advancing to the semi-finals of the year's final grand slam.

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Rio Olympics ticket scalping ring was eyeing future Games: sources

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - A ticket touting ring uncovered at the Rio Games had operated for around 8 years and was preparing for other Olympic events such as the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games, two Rio de Janeiro police sources said on Wednesday.

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Nishikori upsets Murray to reach US Open semis

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Japan's Kei Nishikori overcame second seed Andy Murray for a gruelling 1-6 6-4 4-6 6-1 7-5 see-saw victory on Wednesday to reach the U.S. Open semi-finals.

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Pliskova earns breakthrough win to reach US Open semis

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Karolina Pliskova, a grand slam underachiever, took a big step toward shedding that unwanted label by sweeping past Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh 6-2 6-2 on Wednesday to roar into the semi-finals of the U.S. Open.

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TIU investigates irregular betting on U.S. Open match

LONDON (Reuters) - The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) is looking into a first-round match at the U.S. Open after irregular betting patterns were detected.

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No clear view ahead for Tiger on PGA Tour return

(Reuters) - As Tiger Woods prepares for what many pundits believe to be the final chapter of his competitive career, it is fair to say that the crystal ball detailing what lies ahead for him is totally opaque at this point.

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Woods hoping to make competitive return next month

(Reuters) - Tiger Woods hopes to make his competitive return to golf next month, beginning with the Safeway Open in Napa, California.

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Fury rematch with Klitschko confirmed for October

LONDON (Reuters) - Tyson Fury's world heavyweight title rematch with Wladimir Klitschko will take place in Manchester on Oct. 29, the British fighter's camp confirmed on Wednesday.

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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Suspended Solo forced our hand with repeated actions: coach

(Reuters) - Hope Solo's repeated actions "forced" U.S. Soccer to hand a six-month suspension to the outspoken goalkeeper, United States women's soccer coach Jill Ellis said on Tuesday.

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Djokovic into semis after another opponent retires

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic's strange U.S. Open took another bizarre turn as he advanced to the semi-finals on Tuesday when Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired at the start of the third set, trailing 6-3 6-2.

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Wozniacki drops wounded Sevastova to reach semi-finals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Open on Tuesday with a ruthless 6-0 6-2 win over wounded Latvian Anastasija Sevastova.

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Monfils routs Pouille to reach US Open semi-finals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Frenchman Gael Monfils overwhelmed worn-out compatriot Lucas Pouille 6-4 6-3 6-3 to become the first man into the semi-finals of the U.S. Open on Tuesday.

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Konjuh announces herself at U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ana Konjuh has opened some eyes at Flushing Meadows as the 18-year-old former world number one junior emerged to reach her first grand slam quarter-final at the U.S. Open.

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Kaepernick jersey becomes NFL best seller after anthem protest

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jerseys bearing the name and number of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick were the top-selling jersey on the National Football League's official online store on Tuesday, after he protested racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.

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Resurgent McIlroy eyes golf's richest prize

(Reuters) - Rory McIlroy's thrilling last-day charge to win at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Sunday gives him a real shot at securing golf's most lucrative prize before leading Europe's Ryder Cup defense later this month.

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LA abuzz for Rams, but how long will honeymoon last?

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - While there is palpable excitement for NFL fans in Los Angeles as they celebrate the return of the Rams to the city after two decades away in St. Louis, there is also a strong sense of "Let's wait and see."

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Djokovic, Kerber aim for semi-finals at U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Men's top seed Novak Djokovic and women's number two Angelique Kerber look to book berths in the last four of the U.S. Open as the quarter-finals of the year's last grand slam get underway on Tuesday.

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Monday, September 5, 2016

Astros' Keuchel to miss at least two starts

(Reuters) - Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel will miss at least two scheduled starts and undergo tests for inflammation inhis left throwing shoulder, the team said on Monday.

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Obama defends Kaepernick's right to protest even if message obscured

HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday that NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick was exercising his constitutional right by refusing to stand for the national anthem, although he added that the nature of the protest could make it hard for some to hear his message.

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McIlroy overhauls Casey to triumph in Boston

(Reuters) - Rory McIlroy ended a 16-month title drought on the PGA Tour with a brilliant last-day charge as he won the Deutsche Bank Championship by two shots on Monday in Norton, Massachusetts.

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Del Potro into U.S. Open quarters after Thiem retires

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Juan Martin del Potro's summer renaissance continued on Monday as the unseeded Argentine advanced into the U.S. Open quarter-finals when Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem quit their match with an injury.

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Halep tops rival Suarez Navarro to reach U.S. Open quarters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fifth-seeded Simona Halep beat 11th-seeded Spanish rival Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2 7-5 on Monday to reach the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open on Monday.

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Djokovic shakes off rust, shrugs off Edmund at U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top seed Novak Djokovic has been starved of competitive action at the U.S. Open but on Sunday the world number one feasted on unseeded Briton Kyle Edmund in a 6-2 6-1 6-4 romp that put him into the quarter-finals.

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Motor racing: Stroll emerges as a Williams contender

MONZA, Italy (Reuters) - Canadian teenager Lance Stroll has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Felipe Massa at the Williams Formula One team next season after the Brazilian announced his retirement last week.

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Sunday, September 4, 2016

Williams sisters on collision course at U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Serena and Venus Williams, the sisters with 29 grand slams and a stack of records between them, will try to maintain a collision course at the U.S. Open on Monday when they play their fourth-round matches.

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Kerber reaches U.S. Open quarters, closes in on number one

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Angelique Kerber won a battle of grand slam champions when the second seed powered her way into the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open on Sunday with a 6-3 7-5 win over Petra Kvitova.

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Young Frenchman Pouille upsets Nadal to reach quarters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Young Frenchman Lucas Pouille scored a stunning five-set upset over 14-times grand slam singles winner Rafa Nadal, winning a climactic tiebreaker 8-6 to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

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Keys locked out of U.S. Open quarters by Wozniacki

NEW YORK (Reuters) - There was no great escape this time for Madison Keys as a resurgent Caroline Wozniacki locked the eighth seeded American out of the U.S. Open quarter-finals with a tidy 6-3 6-4 win on Sunday.

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Closing eagle gives Casey three-shot lead at Deutsche Bank event

(Reuters) - Paul Casey eagled the final hole to jump into a three-stroke lead after the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship in Massachusetts on Sunday.

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Roberta Vinci first through to U.S. Open quarter-finals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Italian seventh seed Roberta Vinci was first through to the U.S. Open quarter-finals, taming Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko 7-6(5) 6-2 on Sunday.

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Venus takes next step to possible sisters showdown at Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Venus Williams moved within two wins of a possible sisterly showdown with Serena in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open by beating German 26th seed Laura Siegemund to reach the fourth round on Saturday.

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Latvia's Sevastova beats Konta to reach U.S. Open last eight

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anastasija Sevastova, who quit tennis because of injury in 2013, became the first Latvian woman to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals since 1994 when she beat Britain's 13th seed Johanna Konta 6-4 7-5 on Sunday.

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Cycling: Froome struggles to stay in contention after dismal stage

(Reuters) - Chris Froome's hopes of becoming the first rider in 38 years to win the Tour de France and Tour of Spain in the same year were hit by a terrible display in stage 15 on Sunday when he finished two minutes 40 seconds adrift of winner Gianluca Brambilla.

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Motor racing: Rosberg wins in Italy to cut Hamilton's lead

MONZA, Italy (Reuters) - Germany's Nico Rosberg won the Italian Grand Prix for dominant Mercedes on Sunday to cut team mate Lewis Hamilton's Formula One world championship lead to two points with seven races remaining.

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Saturday, September 3, 2016

Wawrinka saves match point to beat unseeded Evans

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Third seed Stan Wawrinka saved a match point at the U.S. Open on Saturday before squeezing past unheralded Briton Dan Evans in five sets to reach the fourth round. The Swiss faced match point at 5-6 in the fourth-set tiebreak but won it 10-8 and then raced through the final set to clinch a 4-6 6-3 6-7(6) 7-6(8) 6-2 victory. "It was an unbelievable fight," Wawrinka said. "I'm for sure lucky to get through that match, saving match point. He played really great, he's real

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Wawrinka saves match point to beat unseeded Evans

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Third seed Stan Wawrinka saved a match point at the U.S. Open on Saturday before squeezing past unheralded Briton Dan Evans in five sets to reach the fourth round.

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Djokovic and Nadal closing in on semi-final showdown

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal can take a step closer to a 50th career showdown when they play their fourth-round matches at the U.S. Open on Sunday.

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Frustrated Murray finds way past pesky Lorenzi

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Flummoxed and frustrated by wily veteran Paolo Lorenzi for two sets, second seed Andy Murray changed tactics and beat the 34-year-old Italian at his own game to advance to the U.S. Open fourth round on Saturday.

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Chappell heads Walker, Casey by one at Boston TPC

(Reuters) - Kevin Chappell, a three times runner-up this season, has another chance to earn his maiden PGA Tour win after moving into a one-shot lead over Jimmy Walker and Paul Casey after two rounds of the Deutsche Bank Championship in Massachusetts on Saturday.

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Del Potro surprising himself with last-16 run

NEW YORK (Reuters) - When former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro began his latest comeback in March he said he was playing for fun after three operations on his wrist.

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Radwanska rolls into fourth round, hungry for more

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Agnieszka Radwanska registered an unusually comfortable third-round win over France's Caroline Garcia at the U.S. Open on Saturday, but the Polish fourth seed hungers for more at Flushing Meadows.

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Halep gets Hungarian fright before reaching last 16

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fifth seed Simona Halep narrowly avoided a third-round upset with a 6-1 2-6 6-4 win over Hungary's Timea Babos on Saturday to keep her U.S. Open title hopes alive.

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Friday, September 2, 2016

Serena eyes next step on path to history

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Serena Williams will try to take a step closer to history on Saturday when she plays her third-round match at the U.S. Open.

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Nadal fist-pumps way into U.S. Open last 16

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fourth seed Rafa Nadal showed he is healthy and ready to challenge for a third U.S. Open title as he rolled into the last 16 at Flushing Meadows on Friday with a fist-pumping 6-1 6-4 6-2 win over Russian Andrey Kuznetsov.

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Well rested Djokovic gets another slide at U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top seed Novak Djokovic cannot seem able to get a match in at the U.S. Open, as the world number one was given another rapid advance when Russian Mikhail Youzhny retired due to a leg injury when trailing 4-2 on Friday.

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Sock knocks Cilic out of Open in third-round upset

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Jack Sock knocked former champion Marin Cilic out of the U.S. Open on Friday in a power-packed 6-4 6-3 6-3 third-round victory at Flushing Meadows.

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Kaepernick protest stirs online storm but some NFL players supportive

NEW YORK (Reuters) - NFL fans turned out in force on Twitter on Friday to heap scorn on Colin Kaepernick and two other players who refused to stand during the playing of the U.S. national anthem in a second week of pre-game protests, but some fellow players offered support.

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Hamilton fastest in Monza practice

MONZA, Italy (Reuters) - Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton, his sights set on a 50th grand prix win, denied Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg the top spot in Italian Grand Prix practice on Friday.

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Resurgent Wozniacki downs Niculescu to reach last 16

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki continued her resurgence at the U.S. Open with a commanding 6-3 6-1 win over Romania's Monica Niculescu on Friday to reach the fourth round.

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Ex-Stanford swimmer released after three months in jail for sex assault

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Reuters) - A former Stanford University swimmer was released from jail on Friday after serving just half of a six-month sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, a sentence widely criticized as too lenient.

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More than a million people apply for London 2017 tickets

LONDON (Reuters) - More than a million people have applied for tickets for next year's world athletics championships in London where greats Usain Bolt and Mo Farah will compete for the final time on the track.

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Thursday, September 1, 2016

Wawrinka rolls into third round at U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Twice grand slam winner Stan Wawrinka rallied from 5-2 down in the second set to clinch victory over Italian Alessandro Giannessi on Thursday and reach the third round of the U.S. Open.

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NFL's Kaepernick kneels during performance of National Anthem, continuing protest

(Reuters) - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt with his arms folded during the performance of the U.S. national anthem during a pre-season game in San Diego on Thursday, continuing his protest against racial injustice and police brutality.

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Improving Nadal eyes place in the last 16 in New York

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal, with his troublesome left wrist improving every day, will be eyeing more progress at the U.S. Open on Friday when he bids for a place in the last 16.

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Venus rises to occasion with straight sets win

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sixth-seeded Venus Williams stayed on track for a possible semi-finals clash with sister Serena by sprinting past German Julia Goerges to reach the third round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.

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Murray shuts out noise, Granollers to reach third round

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Andy Murray shut out the New York noise and the game of Marcel Granollers of Spain with a 6-4 6-1 6-4 win on Thursday to reach the third round of the U.S. Open.

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Halep wins under roof to reach third round at U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Romanian fifth seed Simona Halep advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open with a 6-3 6-4 win over Lucie Safarova on Thursday in the first full match played under a closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

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Verstappen takes the Ibrahimovic approach

MONZA, Italy (Reuters) - Max Verstappen compared himself to Manchester United's mercurial Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Thursday when Formula One rivals questioned the teenager's aggressive driving at last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

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Eyes to be on NFL's Kaepernick in San Diego amid anthem protest

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - All eyes will be on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick during the performance of the U.S. national anthem at a Thursday night football game to see if he continues to sit in protest of racial injustice in the United States.

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