Sports News Roundup: WTA roundup: Mayar Sherif rallies to reach Monterrey quarters; Ice hockey-Decorated American forward Decker announces retirement and more

A service break in the fifth game of the final set was all Sherif needed, though it took her four match points to close out the win. Ice hockey-Decorated American forward Decker announces retirement American forward Brianna Decker announced her retirement on Thursday after a highly-decorated career during which the three-time Olympian established herself as one of the game's best female players.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

WTA roundup: Mayar Sherif rallies to reach Monterrey quarters

Seventh-seeded Mayar Sherif of Egypt saved two match points while rallying for a 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 win over China's Xinyu Wang on Thursday in the second round of the Abierto GNP Seguros in Monterrey, Mexico. Wang served for the match at 6-5 of the second set, but Sherif broke to force a tiebreaker. Wang then jumped ahead 6-4 before Sherif took the final four points of the tiebreaker to extend the match. A service break in the fifth game of the final set was all Sherif needed, though it took her four match points to close out the win.

Ice hockey-Decorated American forward Decker announces retirement

American forward Brianna Decker announced her retirement on Thursday after a highly-decorated career during which the three-time Olympian established herself as one of the game's best female players. The 31-year-old Wisconsin native, an Olympic gold medallist and six-time world champion, was a steady presence with the U.S. team and earned a reputation as a tenacious forward and reliable playmaker.

NFL-Panthers founder, former owner Richardson dies at 86

Jerry Richardson, the founder and former owner of the Carolina Panthers, died on Wednesday at the age of 86, the National Football League (NFL) team said. After a brief playing career during which he won the 1959 NFL Championship Game alongside Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas, Richardson emerged as one of the most influential owners in the league after the Panthers' 1995 inaugural season.

Spring training roundup: Yanks' Wandy Peralta tosses 20-second K

Wandy Peralta struck out Tucupita Marcano on three pitches and roughly 20 seconds as the New York Yankees cruised to a 9-1 triumph over the host Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training game on Thursday in Bradenton, Fla. A Yankees reliever, Peralta struck out the side in the second inning, concluding with a slider, sinker and changeup to Marcano in quick succession. Marcano only swung at the second pitch.

Tennis-Raducanu and Thiem get Miami Open wild cards

Former-U.S. Open champions Emma Raducanu and Dominic Thiem have been handed wild card entries into the Miami Open, the tournament said on Thursday. Raducanu, winner at Flushing Meadows in 2021, also required a wild card to get into next week's event in Indian Wells after an injury plagued start to the season.

Soccer-'Messi, we're waiting for you,' - threat left after attack on family business

Two people on motorcycles shot at a supermarket belonging to the family of Antonela Roccuzzo, wife of Lionel Messi, in Rosario, in Argentina's Santa Fe province early on Thursday morning, local media and the city's mayor reported. A threatening hand-written message for 35-year-old Messi, Argentina's captain and seven-times World Player of the Year, was also left on the shop door.

Tennis-Flawless Djokovic downs Hurkacz to reach Dubai semi-finals

Novak Djokovic stayed on course for his third title of 2023 by powering into the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships with a 6-3 7-5 win over Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday. The 35-year-old Serbian won in Adelaide before sealing his 22nd Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open while managing a hamstring injury and has hit top form after a slow start in Dubai on his return to the tour.

Cycling-Czech Olympian Nash cleared of doping after dog medicine defence

Veteran Czech cyclist Katerina Nash has avoided a four-year ban after a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation determined the five-time Olympian's positive test had been a result of administering medicine to her pet dog. Nash, 45, tested positive for the appetite stimulant capromorelin after providing an out-of-competition urine sample on Oct. 24 2022, USADA said.

Cricket-England's Brook swaps 'Bazball' for baseball

Harry Brook has made an electric start to his test career but the England batsman will look to swap sixes for home runs this weekend when he joins up with Major League Baseball (MLB) team St Louis Cardinals at spring training. Brook has notched four centuries and amassed 809 runs in only six tests, flourishing in England's aggressive approach to the game, which has been dubbed 'Bazball' in a nod to coach Brendon McCullum.

Soccer-Canada women's team reach interim agreement over funding

Canada Soccer and its women's national team players have reached an interim funding agreement for 2022, the sport's governing body said on Thursday. The terms of the deal reflect that of the men's national team, Canada Soccer said, with per-game incentives and results-based compensation. A final collective bargaining agreement is still under negotiation.