Reuters Sports News Summary

The Miami Open represents a new opportunity, the Italian said on Wednesday, as he looks to get back to winning ways after a 1-6 6-3 6-2 semi-final loss to his great rival Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells. Soccer-Robinho must serve rape sentence in Brazil, court says Brazilian judges ruled on Wednesday to uphold former AC Milan and Brazil striker Robinho's rape conviction, adding that he must serve his nine-year prison sentence in Brazil.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Soccer-Saudi deal in graft spotlight as Spanish federation and ex boss raided

Police searched the Spanish Soccer Federation's (RFEF) headquarters and an apartment belonging to its former President Luis Rubiales on Wednesday and arrested seven people in a corruption probe over a multimillion-euro deal to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. A Spanish court has been investigating since June 2022 whether Rubiales committed a crime of improper management when the RFEF agreed with former Barcelona player Gerard Pique's Kosmos firm to move the tournament, a judicial source said.

Olympics-France v US to kick off men's soccer tournament

Hosts France will play the United States to kick off the men's soccer tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics after the two teams were drawn together on Wednesday. The game will be played in Marseille on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony in Paris. New Zealand and the winner of a playoff between Guinea and the fourth-placed team in the Asian qualifying competition complete Group A.

Tennis-Sinner looks for fresh start in Miami after first loss

For the first time this season Jannik Sinner comes into a tournament looking for a fresh start. The Miami Open represents a new opportunity, the Italian said on Wednesday, as he looks to get back to winning ways after a 1-6 6-3 6-2 semi-final loss to his great rival Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells.

Soccer-Robinho must serve rape sentence in Brazil, court says

Brazilian judges ruled on Wednesday to uphold former AC Milan and Brazil striker Robinho's rape conviction, adding that he must serve his nine-year prison sentence in Brazil. The trial in Brazil's Superior Court of Justice (STJ), the country's top court for non-constitutional matters, ended with the majority of judges ruling that Italy's decision was valid in Brazil.

Figure skating-Canadian pair lead after short program at world championships

Canadians Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps lead the pairs event after delivering an electrifying performance in front of their home crowd at the World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal on Wednesday. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps recorded a personal best 77.48 points in the short program with reigning world champions Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi of Japan in second place with 73.53.

Caleb Williams greeted by Bears WR Keenan Allen at pro day

Quarterback Caleb Williams had a lot of eyes on him during Southern California's pro day on Wednesday in Los Angeles, including those of new Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen. Allen's attendance is noteworthy considering Williams is the presumptive favorite to be selected by the Bears with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft next month.

Tennis-Sun-shining on Swiatek as world number one chases the 'Double'

Only 11 players have completed the "Sunshine Double", winning Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back, but world number one Iga Swiatek comes to Florida looking to join an even more exclusive club of those that have managed a double-double. Only two men, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, have won the double more than once while Steffi Graf (1994 and 1996) remains the only woman.

Tennis-Birthday girl Stephens rolls into Miami Open second round

Sloane Stephens celebrated her birthday in style as she beat Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-3 on Wednesday in a one-sided battle between former Grand Slam champions to reach the second round of the Miami Open. Stephens, a 31-year-old Florida native and the 2018 Miami Open champion, converted four of her eight break point chances against Kerber and dropped serve once in the 70-minute match.

Motor racing-Susie Wolff takes legal action against FIA

Susie Wolff, one of the top women in motorsport and wife of Mercedes Formula One boss Toto, has taken legal action against the governing FIA for a conflict of interest inquiry last year. Wolff, who runs the all-female F1 Academy support series, announced her move on Wednesday after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was cleared of alleged interference in two races last year.

Soccer-Brazil's Paqueta cooperating in FA betting investigation

Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been cooperating with the investigation into his involvement in an alleged betting scheme, he said on Wednesday. British media reported last year that the English Football Association raised concerns about the West Ham United player for possible breaches of betting rules in connection with yellow cards he received in the Premier League last season.