Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Murray to play in Winston-Salem, skip U.S. Open
Scotsman Andy Murray accepted a wild-card invitation to next week's Winston-Salem Open to continue his singles comeback, but he has decided to skip the U.S. Open. He told BBC Sport that he won't play doubles at the season's final Grand Slam event, which begins Aug. 26 in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
Tennis: Barty regroups to win, but Osaka retires with injury
Top seed Ash Barty rallied from a set down to make the Cincinnati Masters semi-finals but world number one Naomi Osaka withdrew from her quarter-final with an apparent knee injury on Friday. Osaka was trailing American Sofia Kenin in the third set when the Japanese player sought treatment on her left knee.
MLB roundup: Harper's slam caps Phils' stunning rally over Cubs
Bryce Harper hit a walk-off grand slam into the second deck in right field off Derek Holland in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally the host Philadelphia Phillies past the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Thursday. The Phillies entered the ninth trailing 5-1 before exploding for six runs to secure the three-game series sweep. Brad Miller hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth to close within 5-2. Roman Quinn followed with an RBI single, and Rhys Hoskins was hit by a pitch before Harper's bomb.
Golf: Course record 63 lifts Matsuyama to halfway lead at BMW
Hideki Matsuyama had one of the best putting days of his career to take the halfway lead with a course-record nine-under 63 in the second round at the BMW Championship in suburban Chicago on Friday. The putter, so often the weak link in the Japanese player's game, did not let Matsuyama down as he cranked out nine birdies at Medinah, five times holing out from outside 15 feet.
Tennis: Gasquet sets up Cincy semi-final with Goffin
Frenchman Richard Gasquet continued his comeback from groin surgery by defeating 11th seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(2) 3-6 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters on Friday. Gasquet, who defeated Andy Murray in the opening round, set up a semi-final clash on Saturday with Belgian 16th seed David Goffin.
Tiger's charge fizzles in second 71 at BMW
Tiger Woods was unable to keep a mid-round charge going Friday and will have to rally over the weekend at the BMW Championship in order to qualify for next week's Tour Championship. Woods traded a pair of birdies and bogeys over his first nine holes at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago to make the turn in even par for the second round. He then reeled off three birdies over the next six holes and was in prime position in the fairway on the par-4 16th hole.
Triathlon: Mislawchuk wins 'battle of nutrition' at Tokyo 2020 test event
Canada's Tyler Mislawchuk prevailed in a 'battle of nutrition' in sticky, humid conditions on Friday to win Tokyo’s International Triathlon Union (ITU) Olympic qualifying race, which also doubled as a Tokyo 2020 test event. A day after the women's race had to be shortened over heat concerns, the men's event went ahead at the venue for next year's Olympics in slightly cooler conditions, aided by gray skies.
Cycling: Italian great Gimondi dies of heart attack
Italian Felice Gimondi, one of only seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours, has died at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack while swimming in Sicily on Friday. "A great champion who made our sport more human has left us, a great man," the Italian cycling federation said in a statement.
U.S. safety agencies investigate plane crash involving racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr
Two U.S. safety agencies are investigating the crash of a small plane in Tennessee on Thursday that was carrying retired racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife and daughter, officials said. Earnhardt's sister Kelley said on Twitter the two pilots of the Cessna Citation and three family members were safe and being taken to a hospital for observation. There were no serious injuries, according to officials in Tennessee cited by media.
Tennis-Osaka retires at Cincinnati with knee injury
World number one Naomi Osaka retired from the Cincinnati Masters with an apparent knee injury on Friday, less than two weeks before the start of her U.S. Open title defence. Osaka was trailing American Sofia Kenin in the third set of their quarter-final in Cincinnati when she sought treatment on her left knee.
