Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Medvedev hopes for more chances to end Grand Slam drought

Daniil Medvedev had the enviable record of defeating Novak Djokovic in three out of their last four matches before the Australian Open final, but after Sunday's thrashing the Russian was left wondering if his best would have made any difference. Medvedev walked on to the floodlit Rod Laver Arena for his second major final, having won the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals and the team-based ATP Cup in a 20-match winning streak that included 12 straight wins over top-10 opponents. Top 25 roundup: Kentucky pummels No. 19 Tennessee

An early run gave Kentucky a big lead and the visitors rolled to a 70-55 victory over No. 19 Tennessee on Saturday afternoon at Knoxville, Tenn. The Wildcats got their third straight win and first win over a Top 25 opponent this season after five previous losses. A 15-0 run by Kentucky, highlighted by a Jacob Toppin dunk off an inbound pass, gave the Wildcats a 23-10 lead with 10:14 to play in the opening half. Djokovic continues love affair with Rod Laver Arena

Novak Djokovic thanked the blue court at the Rod Laver Arena after picking up a record-extending ninth Australian Open title on Sunday with a 7-5 6-2 6-2 win over Russian Daniil Medvedev. With Sunday's win, the world number one took his Grand Slam tally to 18, just two shy of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal's men's record of 20. Djokovic on cloud nine in Australia after Medvedev mauling

A very different Australian Open came to a familiar close on Sunday, with Novak Djokovic crowned champion for a record-extending ninth time and Serbian fans hailing a one-sided win over another would-be challenger in Daniil Medvedev. The world number one's 7-5 6-2 6-2 win on his favourite court secured his 18th Grand Slam title, bringing him within tantalising reach of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal's all-time men's record of 20. Osaka plots French Open, Wimbledon success after bossing hardcourts

Having already stamped her authority on hardcourts by winning both the Australian and U.S. Opens multiple times, Japan's Naomi Osaka feels she is now better equipped to succeed on other surfaces. The 23-year-old outplayed American Jennifer Brady 6-4 6-3 in Saturday's Australian Open final at the Rod Laver Arena to join Roger Federer and Monica Seles as players to win all four of their first Grand Slam finals. NBA roundup: Heat slip past Lakers in Finals rematch

Kendrick Nunn scored 27 points and Jimmy Butler had 24 points and eight rebounds, leading the Miami Heat to a 96-94 victory over the host Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals. Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Duncan Robinson chipped in 11 points with 10 rebounds for the Heat, who have won six of nine. Rockies' Desmond first MLB player to opt out of 2021 season publicly

Two-time All-Star Ian Desmond of the Colorado Rockies has opted out of the upcoming 2021 season, the outfielder said on Sunday, citing current playing circumstances. Desmond is the first player Major League Baseball (MLB) is aware of to opt out of the 2021 season, a league spokesman said, as America's pastime moves towards another year playing under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. Dodig, Polasek win Australian Open men's doubles title

Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek won their first Grand Slam title together on Sunday, taking down defending Australian Open men's doubles champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 6-3 6-4 in the final. It was the first Grand Slam triumph for Polasek, 35, who came out of retirement in 2018, while Croatia's Dodig won his second men's doubles title after winning the 2015 French Open with Marcelo Melo. NHL roundup: Auston Matthews powers Leafs to win over Habs

Auston Matthews scored two goals and tallied two assists to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs past the host Montreal Canadiens 5-3 Saturday. It was Matthews' third two-goal game in his last four contests that extended a 16-game point streak. He also logged a career best for most points in a single period, grabbing all of his points in a second-period binge. Spanish long jumper loses chance of win after officials' mistake

A long jumper was reduced to tears when officials mistakenly erased her mark after a leap that could have brought her a gold medal at the Spanish athletics championships on Sunday. Maria Vicente, 19, appeared to have recorded a distance above 6.50 metres with her first leap but the mark was rubbed out by two officials in the pit, who believed she had fouled.

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