Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Del Potro suffers shock exit in Lyon, Raonic marches on
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro suffered a setback to his French Open preparations after losing 7-6(0) 6-4 to qualifier Gastao Elias in the Lyon Open second round while top seed Milos Raonic moved into the quarter-finals on Wednesday. After losing the opening set tie-breaker without collecting a point, sixth seed Del Potro broke Elias' serve in the first game of the second set but failed to capitalize.
Sharapova handed wild card for Rogers Cup in Toronto
Maria Sharapova's comeback from a doping ban will include an appearance at the Rogers Cup in August after the former world number one was granted a wild card by the organizers of the Toronto tournament on Tuesday. Sharapova returned to the court last month after serving a 15-month suspension when she tested positive for a banned substance at last year's Australian Open and the Russian has so far been handed three wild cards to play WTA events. The Russian reached the semi-finals of her first event back on the tour in Stuttgart but was surprisingly denied a wild card for the French Open with organizers uneasy about fast-tracking her into a tournament she has won twice. Considered one of the biggest names in tennis, Sharapova will attempt to qualify for Wimbledon in July and has been invited to play in the Toronto event that serves as one of the main warm-up tournaments for the U.S. Open.
Venus could rise again in Paris, says Shriver
Veteran Venus Williams could blast through the huge holes in the women's draw and win her first French Open at the age of 36 next month, according to former world number three Pam Shriver. With Williams' pregnant sister and three times French champion Serena absent, Russia's twice winner Maria Sharapova failing to gain a wildcard after returning from a doping ban and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka still not back after becoming a mother, the biggest names in the women's game are missing.
Beckham makes ballot for U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
Former England captain David Beckham, who won two Major League Soccer titles with the Los Angeles Galaxy, was among the first-time candidates named on the ballot for the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The 42-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder played six seasons in MLS, all of them for the Galaxy, and helped his team to win championships in the last two of those seasons, 2011 and 2012.
Tennis: Hall of Fame amends induction polices, adds fan vote
The International Tennis Hall of Fame has made changes to its induction policies, including a fan vote and automatic ballot inclusion for players who met certain criteria during their careers, it announced on Wednesday. Rather than needing approval from a nominating committee, players will appear on the ballot starting with the Class of 2018 if they have won five major singles titles or three major singles titles with at least 13 weeks as world number one.
Tiger has no plans to retire, 'no hurry' to return either
Tiger Woods may be in the midst of yet another lengthy recovery from his fourth back surgery but the former world number one said on Wednesday he now felt better than he had in years and had no plans to retire from competitive golf. The surgery Woods had in April has a typical recovery time of six months and, while he still has very limited mobility, the 41-year-old American was firm in his resolve that he will again compete with the world's best golfers.
McLaren discussing return to IndyCar
Fernando Alonso's Indy 500 adventure could herald McLaren's return to IndyCar racing and kick start talk about bringing Formula One back to the Brickyard, McLaren executive director Zak Brown said on Wednesday. What was widely viewed as a one-off by Spaniard Alonso and his McLaren Formula One team could result in something far more substantial following what has been an upbeat homecoming to IndyCar following a 38-year absence.
I've struggled to stay motivated, says Murray
Britain's Andy Murray, who has suffered a dip in form this year, said on Wednesday it had been hard at times for him to stay motivated since he became world number one last year. Appearing at a promotional event in Paris with French Olympic judo champion Teddy Riner, who has dominated the men's +100kg category in his sport for years, Murray praised Riner's motivation to stay at the top for so long.
Button surprised by Alonso's Indy move
Jenson Button was surprised by Fernando Alonso's decision to race in Sunday's Indianapolis 500 and said on Wednesday he had no desire to emulate his former team mate. The Briton, Formula One world champion with Brawn GP in 2009, is replacing Alonso at McLaren in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix after the Spaniard opted to compete at The Brickyard on the same day.
Indy 500 to beef up security after Manchester attacks
Security around the Indianapolis 500 will be beefed up this weekend following Monday's suicide bomb attack in Manchester, England, speedway officials said on Wednesday. Securing the sprawling 2.5 mile oval for a race that attracts over 300,000 spectators is always a massive challenge but Monday's attack, which killed 22 people, and the potential presence of U.S. vice-president Mike Pence will make protecting Sunday's 101st Indy 500 even more problematic.