Reuters Sports News Summary

In a letter seen by Reuters, figure skater Anna Khnychenkova, chair of the Ukrainian federation's athletes commission, said Russians' participation "in any status or form" in events sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) was unacceptable. NBA-'No one's safe': Sixers cut Rivers after repeat playoffs disappointment Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers was fired on Tuesday after a humiliating Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics, as the team bounced out in the second round of the NBA playoffs for a third straight year.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Golf-PGA Championship qualifying criteria in spotlight after Casey invitation

While golfers have distanced themselves from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf feud, PGA Championship officials were left to defend their qualifying criteria on Tuesday after extending an invitation to Paul Casey. Casey, an LIV member who is ranked outside the top 100, has never won a major and meets none of the selection standards, will tee it up at the year's second major at Oak Hill Country Club after being extended a special exemption.

Tennis-Flawless Djokovic crushes Norrie to reach Rome quarter-finals

Holder Novak Djokovic powered past Briton Cameron Norrie 6-3 6-4 in a tense match to reach the Italian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday and remain on track for a seventh title in Rome. Djokovic made slow starts to his opening two matches but the fired-up world number one quickly opened up a 3-0 lead and let slip two opportunities to break Rio champion Norrie a second time before taking the first set on serve.

Golf-Nothing like a good beating to provide major motivation for Scheffler

A couple of good beatings from Jon Rahm will provide Scottie Scheffler with some added motivation this week at a PGA Championship that could herald the start of a new major rivalry.

Golf, like every sport, is quick to latch onto any intriguing rivalry and a Rahm/Scheffler one may still be in the nascent phase but possesses all the necessary ingredients.

Qatar's Sheikh Jassim makes improved final offer for Manchester United - The Times

Qatar's Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani made an improved final offer for Manchester United in an attempt to see off his main rival British petrochemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, The Times reported on Tuesday. Sheikh Jassim is offering to buy 100% of the club now for a price nearer to 5 billion pounds ($6.31 billion), the report said.

Golf-Rahm, Smith and Fitzpatrick form PGA Championship major attraction

Spaniard Jon Rahm, Australian Cameron Smith and Briton Matt Fitzpatrick were put together on Tuesday in a star-studded group of major champions for the first two rounds of the PGA Championship. World number one Rahm, winner of last month's Masters, joins U.S. Open champion Fitzpatrick, and Smith, who won last year's British Open before jumping to the LIV Golf, in a marquee threesome that will be among the early starters at Oak Hill on Thursday going off the 10th tee at 8:33 AM ET (1233 GMT).

Tennis-Kyrgios pulls out of French Open to delay comeback

Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the French Open starting later this month, further delaying his return to competitive action following knee surgery at the start of the year, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) said. The 28-year-old Australian had a brilliant second half of 2022, winning a title in Washington in August and reaching the U.S. Open quarter-finals the following month having contested his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon earlier in the year.

Basketball-Aces lose 2025 first-round pick, Hammon suspended for WNBA rule violations

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) stripped defending champions Las Vegas Aces of their 2025 first-round draft pick and suspended head coach Becky Hammon for two games without pay for violating league rules on Tuesday. The league found the Aces made promises of "impermissible benefits" in negotiations for a contract extension with two-time All-Star Dearica Hamby, who went to the Los Angeles Sparks in January.

MLB roundup: Cardinals blitz Brewers 18-1

Nolan Gorman and Nolan Arenado hit three-run homers and combined for nine RBIs to power the St. Louis Cardinals past the visiting Milwaukee Brewers 18-1 on Monday. Gorman finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs while Arenado went 2-for-3 with four RBIs. St. Louis' Tommy Edman had four hits and four RBIs, Lars Nootbaar also scored four times and Paul Goldschmidt added two hits and two RBIs.

Figure skating-Ukraine asks ISU for full Russian ban until end of war

The athletes commission of the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation has called on the sport's international governing body to back a full ban against Russian figure skaters and officials until the end of the Ukraine invasion. In a letter seen by Reuters, figure skater Anna Khnychenkova, chair of the Ukrainian federation's athletes commission, said Russians' participation "in any status or form" in events sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) was unacceptable.

NBA-'No one's safe': Sixers cut Rivers after repeat playoffs disappointment

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers was fired on Tuesday after a humiliating Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics, as the team bounced out in the second round of the NBA playoffs for a third straight year. Rivers is one of the most successful coaches in the NBA and had amassed a record of 154 wins and 82 losses in Philadelphia, coaching center Joel Embiid to his first Most Valuable Player honors this season.