Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Serena Williams withdraws from Indian Wells, Miami with injury
Serena Williams has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open due to a left knee injury and as a result will relinquish the world number one tennis ranking to German Angelique Kerber. Williams, a two-times champion at the showpiece event at the California desert resort, had returned to the women's top ranking in January after claiming a record 23rd grand slam singles title in the professional era at the Australian Open.
Nowitzki passes 30,000 point mark to join elite club
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki joined an elite club by surpassing the 30,000 point mark in Tuesday's match against the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to reach the milestone. The German sharpshooter earned his 30,000th point on a step back jumper early in the second quarter, then went past the mark on a three-pointer that sent the Dallas American Airlines Center crowd into a frenzy with 9:54 left in the first half. Nowitzki had entered the night 20 points shy of the feat and exploded early to treat the fans who had cheered him during a video tribute.
Frank Warren wants to see Fury back in ring as soon as possible
Boxing promoter Frank Warren says he would be happy to link up with Tyson Fury again if the troubled former heavyweight world champion manages to put his demons behind him and secures a license. Fury, who is still facing an anti-doping hearing and is provisionally suspended, said on Twitter on Monday that he aimed to make a comeback against an unnamed opponent on May 13.
Soccer: Bayern run riot again to crush dispirited Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate
For an hour Arsenal were at least salvaging some pride against Bayern Munich, then the ceiling came crashing down as they exited the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday with a matching pair of 5-1 defeats against the merciless Bundesliga giants. A second-half capitulation after captain Laurent Koscielny was sent off resulted in Arsenal conceding five goals for the first time at their Emirates Stadium as they suffered their worst home defeat for 19 years.
Pacquiao vs. Khan bout shelved as talks break down: Arum
Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao's proposed fight against Britain's former world light-welterweight champion Amir Khan has been postponed, according to the Filipino's promoter, Bob Arum. The 38-year-old Pacquiao and Khan, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, tentatively agreed to an April fight in the United Arab Emirates before negotiating a change of date to May 20.
Soccer: Ramos rescue act ends brave Napoli's comeback bid
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos performed another rescue act to wreck Napoli's brave comeback attempt and take the Champions League title-holders into the quarter-finals on Tuesday after they had taken a first-half battering. Napoli, trailing 3-1 from the first leg of the round of 16 tie, looked more than capable of overturning the deficit as they dominated the first half and took the lead through Dries Mertens.
Monza to host sub two-hour marathon bid
Italian Formula One race track Monza will host an audacious attempt to run the first ever sub-two-hour marathon, organizers announced on Tuesday. Kenyan Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, Ethiopia's Leslisa Desisa and Eritrea's Zersenay Tadese will spearhead the bid to shave almost three minutes off the current world record.
Mayweather says McGregor is all bark and no bite
Floyd Mayweather sent a message to mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor on Tuesday to stop 'barking' and find some 'bite' after months of talk about a crossover fight between the two. Speaking after announcing an IBF world super-featherweight title bout in London on May 20 between his defending protege Gervonta Davis and Britain's Liam Walsh, Mayweather suggested McGregor was all talk.
Soccer: Ibrahimovic handed three-match ban for violent conduct
Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic was handed a three-match ban with immediate effect on Tuesday after admitting a charge of violent conduct and accepting the standard penalty, the FA said. The charge followed an incident just before halftime in Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Massa fastest as testing resumes in Barcelona
Brazilian Felipe Massa completed two and a half race distances and put his Williams team on top of the timesheets as Formula One's final pre-season test got underway in Barcelona on Tuesday. Massa, brought back in January after his former team mate Valtteri Bottas moved to Mercedes as replacement for retired world champion Nico Rosberg, completed 168 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya.
