Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. TOKYO OLYMPICS: What you need to know right now World number one Novak Djokovic's dream of a Golden Slam was dashed in Tokyo https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tennis-djokovic-downed-by-zverev-mens-semi-final-upset-2021-07-30 on Friday when Germany's Alexander Zverev came from a set down to beat the Serbian top seed.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

TOKYO OLYMPICS: What you need to know right now

World number one Novak Djokovic's dream of a Golden Slam was dashed in Tokyo https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tennis-djokovic-downed-by-zverev-mens-semi-final-upset-2021-07-30 on Friday when Germany's Alexander Zverev came from a set down to beat the Serbian top seed. Here's what you need to know about the Tokyo Games:

Olympics-Athletics-U.S. 4x400 mixed relay team reinstated to final

The United States' mixed 4x400 metre relay team has been reinstated into Saturday's final due to an official's error, a World Athletics spokesperson said, after they were disqualified on Friday for exchanging the baton outside the changeover zone. The American team, comprising Elija Godwin, Lynna Irby, Taylor Manson and Bryce Deadmon, were reinstated by jury decision, Tokyo 2020 organisers said on Saturday.

Olympics-Djokovic's golden dream ends on day of upsets marred by doping slur

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic had his dreams of tennis gold dashed https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/tennis-djokovic-downed-by-zverev-mens-semi-final-upset-2021-07-30 on Friday while Ethiopia's Selemon Barega felled the reigning world 10,000 metres Olympic champion, on a day of upsets that saw doping allegations surface at the swimming pool. Serbia's Djokovic was aiming to become the first man to complete the Golden Slam - Olympic gold and all four majors in the same year - but was undone by fifth-ranked German Alexander Zverev who fought back after losing the first set.

Baseball-Dodgers acquire Scherzer and Turner, Giants nab Bryant

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired three-time Cy Young best pitcher winner Max Scherzer and 2021 All-Star infielder Trea Turner while division rivals the San Francisco Giants nabbed slugger Kris Bryant ahead of MLB's trade deadline on Friday. Hard-throwing right hander Scherzer is 8-4 with a 2.76 earned run average (ERA) in 19 games this season while Turner is hitting .322 with 18 home runs and 49 runs batted in (RBIs).

Olympics-Baseball-'Best ball in the world' gets mud bath, gloved treatment

They hail from Sri Lanka, enjoy 30-second rubs in U.S. mud, get top-notch service in Japan because of the pandemic and are called the best in the world by Joe Ryan, an Olympian who played the game of his life on Friday. They are the Olympic baseballs, 144 of them freshly unwrapped before each of the 16 games at Tokyo 2020. Made by Japan sporting goods company SSK Corp in Sri Lanka, the roughly 145g white spheres with red laces and black-ink logos are gaining attention at the Olympics for several reasons.

Olympics-Tennis-Djokovic inconsolable after Golden Slam dream ends

Novak Djokovic was inconsolable following his surprise loss to Germany's Alexander Zverev at the Tokyo Games on Friday, saying he was finding it hard to stay positive after his bid to become the first man to complete the Golden Slam came to an end.

The Serbian was unexpectedly beaten 1-6 6-3 6-1 by fifth-ranked Zverev, quashing his hopes of winning an Olympic singles gold medal, the only major honour missing from his long list of accolades.

Olympics-Athletics-Two Trinidad and Tobago competitors, coach test positive for COVID-19

Trinidad and Tobago long jumper Andwuelle Wright and 400 metres hurdler Sparkle Ann McKnight have been withdrawn from the Tokyo Games after they tested positive for COVID-19, the country's Olympic committee said on Friday. The duo, along with athletics coach Wendell Williams who also tested positive for the coronavirus, have been moved into a quarantine facility, the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee said in a statement.

Olympics-Baseball-U.S. thrash Israel 8-1, Dominican Republic down Mexico

Japanese league players and different generations of Major League Baseball (MLB) talent secured wins for the United States and the Dominican Republic on Friday, leaving Israel with two chances to win a game and Mexico facing a big match on Saturday. The U.S. in their first game at Tokyo 2020 thrashed Olympic newcomers Israel 8-1. Joe Ryan, 25, a top prospect who learned in the Olympic village dining hall last week that he had been traded to the Minnesota Twins from the Tampa Bay Rays, allowed a solo home run and struck out five over the first six innings.

Olympics-Table Tennis-China's Ma retains men's singles crown

Olympic and world champion Ma Long celebrated exuberantly as he retained his men's table tennis singles title at the Tokyo Games on Friday, beating compatriot Fan Zhendong 4-2. The 32-year-old clinched his fourth gold medal at his third Olympics by winning 11-4 10-12 11-8 11-9 3-11 11-7.

Soccer-U.S. men's team backs women in equal pay lawsuit appeal

Players for the U.S. men's national team said in an amicus brief filed on Friday that their counterparts on the women's squad not only deserve equal pay but are entitled to more compensation than the men due to their unprecedented success on the field. This is not the first time the men have voiced their support for the women's gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, which seeks $66 million in damages under the Equal Pay Act.