Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Kyrgios beats Djokovic again, to face Federer
Nick Kyrgios ended Novak Djokovic's 19-match winning run at Indian Wells by beating the Serb 6-4 7-6(3) to reach the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, while Roger Federer also advanced with a straight sets win over Rafa Nadal. Australian Kyrgios had beaten Djokovic in the quarter-finals in Acapulco almost two weeks ago in their first career meeting, and repeated the feat on Wednesday to reach the last eight, where he will face Federer.
Pliskova battles past Muguruza to reach Indian Wells semis
World number three Karolina Pliskova overcame a stern test to reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday after edging French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 7-6(2)7-6(5) at Indian Wells. Pliskova let a 5-2 lead slip away in the second set before recovering to earn the victory after a two-hour battle.
Baseball: Japan, the Netherlands blast way into WBC final four
Japan and the Netherlands crushed their opponents in second round play at the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday, earning a trip to Los Angeles for the semi-finals. In late action, the United States got off to a strong second round start with a 4-2 victory over Venezuela.
Silva hoping to rewrite Hull's woeful record at Everton
Manager Marco Silva wants Hull City to ignore history as they bid to register their first away win against Everton since 1952 when they meet in the Premier League on Saturday. "Sometimes it's good to know what has happened in the past but tomorrow is a new story," Silva told reporters on Thursday.
Motor racing: McLaren 'considering options' with Honda
McLaren say they are "considering options" with engine suppliers Honda amid media reports that the Formula One team have sounded out former engine partners Mercedes over a possible future supply following problems in testing. The BBC reported on Thursday that the Mercedes board and motorsport director Toto Wolff, who also runs the Mercedes F1 team, were said to be open-minded about the possibility of supplying their former partner.
U.S. judge upholds NHL defenseman's shortened ban, in defeat for Bettman
A U.S. judge on Wednesday rejected National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman's bid to restore Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman's 20-game suspension for hitting a linesman, and instead upheld an arbitrator's decision to shorten the ban to 10 games. U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan said the NHL failed to show that the arbitrator, Georgetown University law professor James Oldham, exceeded his authority under the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) in halving the suspension.
Miami baseball star Fernandez responsible for deadly boat crash: report
Miami baseball star Jose Fernandez was to blame for a boat crash that killed him and two passengers last year, Florida officials said on Thursday, finding that his reckless and impaired driving led the vessel to slam into a rock jetty. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigators said Fernandez, a dominant pro baseball pitcher with the Marlins, was steering at full-throttle at the time of the early morning accident in September 2016.
Soccer: Defoe back for England at age of 34
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe returned to the England squad at the age of 34 on Thursday ahead of next week's friendly against world champions Germany and a World Cup qualifier at home to Lithuania. Defoe has been in lethal form for his relegation-threatened club, scoring 14 of the Black Cats' 24 league goals this season but last appeared for England in November 2013 when he won his 55th cap.
Long-shot Jacobs not intimidated by Golovkin
Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin has something of a Mike Tyson aura about him, acknowledged Daniel "Miracle Man" Jacobs, but don't expect the challenger to feel intimidated in their title clash on Saturday. The unbeaten Golovkin, nicknamed Triple G, has knocked out 33 of 36 opponents including the last 23, but Jacobs has survived a far more dangerous threat -- bone cancer. And coming through that ordeal six years ago has given him strength.
Soccer: Ahmad ousts veteran Hayatou as CAF president
Winds of change gusted through African soccer on Thursday as Ahmad of Madagascar was voted in as the new Confederation of African Football president, ending the 29-year reign of Issa Hayatou in an election in the Ethiopian capital. The 34-20 vote was a decisive rejection of the 70-year-old incumbent from Cameroon, who had been seeking an eighth term to take his leadership of the African game into a fourth decade.
