Sports News Roundup: Soccer-Messi to start for PSG after in-house suspension; Tennis-Djokovic beats Etcheverry in Rome opener, Swiatek surges through and more

Few in the NHL world expected much from a Florida team that only clinched a playoff berth with two days left in the regular season. Tennis-Djokovic beats Etcheverry in Rome opener, Swiatek surges through Holder Novak Djokovic began his hunt for a seventh Italian Open title by battling past the unseeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(5) 6-2 on Friday while women's champion Iga Swiatek delivered a masterclass to reach the third round.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

NFL-Commanders reach agreement to sell franchise to Harris-led group

The Washington Commanders have reached an agreement to sell the storied National Football League (NFL) franchise to a group led by the co-owner of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and NHL's New Jersey Devils, Josh Harris, the two sides said on Friday. Financial terms of the deal, which is subject to league approval, were not disclosed though reports in April said the agreement was for an NFL-record price of $6.05 billion.

Soccer-Messi to start for PSG after in-house suspension

Lionel Messi will start Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 home game against AC Ajaccio on Saturday after returning to training following a club-imposed suspension, coach Christophe Galtier said on Friday. "I spoke with him on Tuesday to see what his mindset was and I found him very determined to play... He will start tomorrow," Galtier told a press conference.

Cycling-Bais wins stage seven of Giro after gruelling climb

Davide Bais of Eolo-Kometa won a gruelling stage seven of the Giro d'Italia on Friday after leading a three-man breakaway, beating Karel Vacek and Simone Petilli to the finish line for the first professional victory of his career. The seventh stage was one for the climbers on a 218-km ride from Capua to Gran Sasso d'Italia which involved flat roads at the start before the final climb of approximately 45km and a total altitude gain of 3,900 metres.

NHL-Panthers move on while Leafs Stanley Cup drought continues

Nick Cousins scored the overtime winner as the Florida Panthers unlikely Stanley Cup run continued with a 3-2 victory that brought the Toronto Maple Leafs season to a predictable end on Friday. Few in the NHL world expected much from a Florida team that only clinched a playoff berth with two days left in the regular season.

Tennis-Djokovic beats Etcheverry in Rome opener, Swiatek surges through

Holder Novak Djokovic began his hunt for a seventh Italian Open title by battling past the unseeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(5) 6-2 on Friday while women's champion Iga Swiatek delivered a masterclass to reach the third round. Djokovic got off to a shaky start by dropping his serve in the opening game of the second-round match. The Serbian, who pulled out of the Madrid Open last month, wore a compression sleeve on his right arm, sparking concerns about a niggling elbow issue.

Tennis-Swiatek does not want Nadal to suffer in French Open comeback bid

Iga Swiatek said that as a big fan of Rafa Nadal, she would love to see the 14-times champion compete at the French Open, but the world number one did not want the injury-plagued Spaniard to suffer and make himself available for the tournament. Nadal has not played since sustaining a hip injury at the Australian Open in January, and there are doubts about the 36-year-old's participation in Paris after the 22-time major champion pulled out of the ongoing Italian Open.

Tennis-Alcaraz hopes to re-ignite Djokovic rivalry with Rome final meet

Carlos Alcaraz said he hoped to re-ignite his rivalry with world number one Novak Djokovic at the Italian Open, where the pair can meet for the first time this year, if they both reach the final. They have been kept apart by injuries to both and the absence of 22-times Grand Slam champion Djokovic from the U.S. hardcourt swing earlier in the season due to being unvaccinated for COVID-19.

NBA-Heat become first eighth seed to reach Conference Finals in 24 years

The Miami Heat became the first eighth seed in nearly a quarter century to reach the conference finals on Friday, downing the New York Knicks 96-92 in Game 6 of their series to advance. Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler put up 24 points with eight rebounds and four assists to steer the Heat past a Knicks team that was desperate to stay alive in front of a raucous Miami crowd.

Financiers say they sense new Agnelli openness over Italy's Juventus

Financiers who normally find it almost impossible to get the ear of the Agnelli family on the future of Italian soccer club Juventus say they now sense more of a willingness to listen. The "Old Lady", as Italy's most successful soccer club is known, is in the midst of tackling off-pitch issues and spiralling costs as it attempts to regain its magic.

Rallying-Rovanpera leads in Portugal as WRC leader Evans crashes out

Toyota's world championship leader Elfyn Evans crashed out of the Rally of Portugal on Friday, with teammate Kalle Rovanpera top of the timesheets after the opening leg. Level on points with France's Sebastien Ogier after four rounds, Evans was running in sixth place when the Welsh driver went off the dusty, rock-strewn road on the day's penultimate Mortagua stage seven.