All about Rafa Nadal's exit from ATP tour, Russia doping vote, British Masters golf

Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette is expected back at practice on Wednesday as the Jaguars hope to have him back for his return to the lineup in Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, according to the Florida Times-Union.

Nadal to skip ATP Asian swing due to a knee injury

World number one Rafa Nadal said on Wednesday he would skip the Asian leg of the ATP tour to recover from the knee injury he picked up at the U.S. Open, a decision that will boost Novak Djokovic's chances of ending the year top of the rankings. Nadal was forced to retire during his semi-final against Argentine Juan Martin del Potro at Flushing Meadows with what he later said was tendinitis in his right knee, and will now also miss next month's tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai.

Fournette back at practice for Jaguars: report

Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette is expected back at practice on Wednesday as the Jaguars hope to have him back for his return to the lineup in Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, according to the Florida Times-Union. Fournette hurt his right hamstring in the season opener against the New York Giants. He was inactive for Sunday's 31-20 win over the New England Patriots.

Eagles WR Matthews returns on a one-year deal

Wide receiver Jordan Matthews rejoined the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday, just over a year after he was traded by the team to the Buffalo Bills. The Eagles placed Mike Wallace on injured reserve and are entering Week 3 without their top wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery, who is recovering from February shoulder surgery.

'The process stinks': doping body facing outrage as Russia vote nears

The World Anti-Doping Agency will vote on Thursday on whether to lift its ban on Russia, in the face of outrage and revolt from athletes and the anti-doping establishment after its advisory committee recommended Moscow be let back in. WADA, which is the main global body tasked with preventing doping in sport, suspended Russia's anti-doping agency RUSADA in November 2015 after a WADA report outlined evidence of state-backed, systematic doping in Russian athletics.

MLB roundup: Yanks prevent Red Sox's celebration

Neil Walker hit a three-run homer with one out in the seventh inning, and the New York Yankees held on for a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox, preventing their rivals from clinching the American League East crown Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees set up their winning rally when Aaron Hicks and Gary Sanchez drew walks off Brandon Workman (6-1). Boston manager Alex Cora lifted Workman for Ryan Brasier, who fell behind Walker and lost the lead when the first baseman lifted a full-count slider into the second deck in right field.

Muniz wins World Surfing Games gold, Olympic hosts Japan claim first medals

Argentina's Santiago Muniz won the men's gold medal at the World Surfing Games on Wednesday, while Kanoa Igarashi and Shun Murakami claimed Japan's first ever medals in the competition. The event, which has been staged in various guises since 1964, was held at Pacific Long Beach in Japan's Aichi Prefecture, 100 km down the coast from where surfing will make its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Italy's Molinari to play British Masters golf

Italy's Francesco Molinari joined the field for this year's British Masters on Wednesday, adding his name to a stellar cast that includes defending champion Paul Dunne, world number one Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick. Molinari won the PGA Championship at Wentworth in May and became the first Italian major champion when he secured a two-stroke victory over Rose to claim the British Open in July.

No regrets for fist-raising Olympic champion sprinter 50 years on

Tommie Smith, the former U.S. sprinter who won Olympic gold 50 years ago, is glad his decision to raise a black-gloved fist on the podium has inspired others even if it cost him his running career, as he sees a groundswell of support for equality. "I knew it would have an impact but I didn't know how far it would go," the 74-year-old Smith told Reuters in an interview ahead of the 50th anniversary of the protest on Oct. 16, 1968.

U.S. Open champ Osaka eases to victory on return to action in Tokyo

Japan's Naomi Osaka cruised to victory in her first match since lifting the U.S. Open title, beating Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 6-1 in the last-16 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Wednesday. Osaka, who stunned Serena Williams to become Japan's first grand slam singles champion earlier this month, produced another display of fearless power-hitting to put away Slovak Cibulkova in just under an hour.

Patriots re-sign CB-PR Jones

Cornerback Cyrus Jones re-signed with the New England Patriots on Wednesday and is likely to be asked to serve as a punt returner this week. New England heavily tinkered with its 53-man roster since it was initially set prior to Week 1 to compensate for injuries and a lack of depth at multiple positions.

(With inputs from Reuters)