Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

National champion Clemson heading to White House

Clemson's national championship football team will continue its victory tour on Monday, when it visits President Donald Trump in the White House. Trump made the announcement via Twitter on Friday.

Kenin overpowers Schmiedlova in Hobart for maiden title

Big-hitting American Sofia Kenin thrived in blustery conditions at the Hobart International to beat Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3 6-0 and claim her first WTA title on Saturday. Kenin, 20, had breezed through the tournament without dropping a set, but was put under early pressure by Schmiedlova yet still saved eight of the nine break point opportunities she offered up.

Tennis: Sandgren downs Norrie in Auckland to claim first ATP title

American Tennys Sandgren brushed aside Britain's Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-2 to win his first ATP title at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Saturday. Sandgren, the world number 63, took one hour and 18 minutes to see off his opponent, who is ranked 30 places below him, converting his second championship point when Norrie went long with a forehand off his second serve.

Coach-less Halep admits behind curve at Melbourne Park

World number one Simona Halep, flying solo after parting ways with coach Darren Cahill, feels refreshed after a long lay-off to recover from a back injury but also concedes she has risked her Australian Open campaign with scant preparations. French Open champion Halep warmed up for her run to the final at Melbourne Park last year by winning the Shenzhen Open in southern China but has played only one match since September, a 6-4 6-4 defeat to Australia's Ashleigh Barty at the Sydney International on Wednesday.

Kuchar a one-shot halfway leader at Sony Open as Spieth heads home

Matt Kuchar, in some of the best form of his career at age 40, vaulted to the lead after the second round at the Sony Open in Hawaii on Friday. Kuchar birdied his first three holes on his way to a second straight seven-under-par 63 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.

France investigates Japan's Olympics chief on suspicion of corruption

The president of Japan's Olympic Committee, Tsunekazu Takeda, is under formal investigation in France for suspected corruption related to Japan's successful bid for the 2020 Olympic Games, a French judicial source said on Friday. French financial prosecutors investigating a multi-million dollar payment made by Japan's bidding committee to a Singaporean consultancy questioned Takeda in Paris and he was placed under formal investigation on Dec. 10, the source told Reuters.

Roundup: Betts, deGrom head busy day of signings

A look at players who avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to contract terms on Friday: Arizona Diamondbacks: LHPs Robbie Ray ($6.05 million) and Andrew Chafin ($1.945 million), RHP Taijuan Walker ($5.025 million), 3B Jake Lamb ($4.825 million) and OF Steven Souza Jr. ($4.125 million) agreed to one-year deals. Ray, 27, made $3.95 million last season when he went 6-2 with a 3.93 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 24 starts; the 28-year-old Chafin received an $800,000 raise after going 1-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 77 games; the 26-year-old Walker pitched in just three games before undergoing Tommy John surgery; Lamb, 28, batted .222 with six homers and 31 RBIs in 56 games; and 29-year-old Souza hit .220 with five homers and 29 RBIs in 72 games.

Leaner, mature Osaka stays grounded in Melbourne

Naomi Osaka is no longer a shy, introvert youngster and the newest Grand Slam winner in women's tennis says she owes her maturity to last year's U.S. Open triumph. Last September the Florida-based Japanese player beat Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows, denying her childhood idol a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title.

Tennis: Australian number four Kyrgios 'in a good spot' ahead of home Open

Nick Kyrgios is in the unusual position of being Australia's number four in the men's draw at Melbourne Park this year but the 23-year-old thinks he has found at least some of the answers to the questions that have held back his career. Part of the reason for his lowly spot in the ranks of the home hopefuls for the Australian Open is the improvement in the fortunes of his compatriots with Alex de Minaur (29), John Millman (38) and Matthew Ebden (47) all now in the top 50.

Nadal shrugs off injury concerns, pays tribute to Murray

Former champion Rafa Nadal shrugged off concerns about his fitness ahead of the Australian Open and paid tribute to fellow 'Big Four' rival Andy Murray, a day after the emotional Briton revealed plans to retire. The 2009 winner Nadal pulled out of the Brisbane International warmup with a thigh strain, raising fears about his campaign at Melbourne Park after his 2018 season ended early with ankle surgery and an abdominal injury.