Sports News Roundup: Duchene signs with Predators on $56M deal; Angels pitcher Skaggs dies at age 27 and more

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Colombian soccer player threatened after missed Copa penalty

Colombia national soccer team player William Tesillo told local media that he has been threatened via social media after his missed penalty kick in a Copa American shoot-out with Chile last week cost Colombia the chance to remain in the tournament. Tesillo's wife Daniela Mejia over the weekend published a screenshot on her Instagram of a message wishing her husband the same fate as Andres Escobar, a Colombian player shot to death after he made an own-goal in a match during the 1994 World Cup.

Gauff eclipses Venus to steal day one limelight

American 15-year-old Cori Gauff stole the show on the opening day of Wimbledon with a debut victory over five-time champion and her inspiration Venus Williams. Gauff, the youngest woman ever to survive the qualifying tournament, played like a seasoned performer as she clinically beat the 39-year-old great 6-4 6-4 to earn a standing ovation from an enchanted Court One crowd.

Angels pitcher Skaggs dies at age 27

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs has died at the age of 27 while traveling with the team in Texas, the Angels said on Monday. "It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas," the team said in a statement, which did not reveal the cause of death.

'Flagbearer' Messi working hard despite lack of sparkle, says Scaloni

Lionel Messi has agreed to sacrifice his usual buccaneering style of play for the greater good of his team, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said ahead of Tuesday's crunch Copa America semi-final against Brazil. Messi has not been able to conjure up the same attacking flair at the Copa America that he regularly produces for Barcelona, scoring only one goal in four games and struggling to create chances for his fellow attackers.

'Miss' missing as Wimbledon shakes up tradition

A familiar sound was absent from Wimbledon's courts when the tournament started on Monday as umpires were no longer using a woman's marital status at the end of each game and match. The use of prefixes such as 'Miss' and 'Mrs' has, for the most part, been scrapped by the organizers, ending a long-held tradition and bringing parity with the men's game.

Duchene signs with Predators on $56 million deal

Center Matt Duchene, one of the top free agents on the market, signed a seven-year, $56 million contract with the Nashville Predators on Monday. Duchene, 28, matched his career best of 70 points (career-high 31 goals, 39 assists) in 73 games last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators, who traded him in February. He had 10 points in 10 playoff games, helping Columbus to an unlikely sweep of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.

U.S. women's soccer jersey sets sales record amid World Cup fervour

The U.S. women's national soccer team added wattage to its World Cup star power on Monday as sports apparel-maker Nike said the team's home jersey is a record-breaking seller on its retail site. "The USA Women's Home jersey is now the No. 1 soccer jersey, men's or women's, ever sold on Nike.com in one season," said Mark Parker, Nike's president and CEO, during the company's earnings call on Thursday.

Fans can help Brazil at home of 7-1 embarrassment, says coach

Brazilian fans will be vital to lifting the team when they return to the site of their worst defeat in this week's Copa America semi-final against Argentina, coach Tite said on Monday. The match on Tuesday is at Belo Horizonte's Mineirao stadium, the same ground where Brazil lost 7-1 to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.

Galvis slugs two HRs as Blue Jays rout Royals

Freddy Galvis homered twice, Cavan Biggio and Randal Grichuk each had four RBIs, and left-hander Clayton Richard won for the first time in more than a year as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Kansas City Royals 11-4 on Monday afternoon. Richard (1-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings on Canada Day to earn his first win since June 22, 2018 when he was with the San Diego Padres. He was 0-9 with a 7.10 ERA in 18 starts between wins.

Late bloomer Gatto-Monticone faces Serena in dream Wimbledon debut

As Italian Giulia Gatto-Monticone prepares for her Wimbledon debut at the age of 31 after 17 years on the women's tour, she need look no further than her first-round opponent Serena Williams for inspiration. The World number 161, who at this year's Roland Garros became the oldest Grand Slam debutant since 43-year-old Renee Richards at the 1977 U.S. Open, meets a player six years her senior and pushing for a record-equalling 24th major title.