Sports News Roundup: Rivera, Halladay, Martinez, Mussina voted to Hall of Fame; Williams stunned by Pliskova fightback at Aussie Open

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Cuban baseball welcomes first U.S. player in six decades

A 24-year-old student has become the first U.S. citizen to play in an official Cuban league in around six decades, just as Cubans are batting for U.S. Major League Baseball without having to defect under a historic deal made in December. U.S.-Cuban relations have chilled as U.S. President Donald Trump turned to Cold War characterizations of the communist-run island, but one would not know from the camaraderie on the baseball field.

Cardiff City's Sala missing after plane disappears over English Channel

Cardiff City's new soccer star, Emiliano Sala, was on board a light aircraft that disappeared en route to the Welsh capital for his club debut, France's civil aviation authority said on Tuesday. Sala was flying from the French city of Nantes to Cardiff when the plane lost radar contact off the English Channel island of Guernsey late on Monday.

Tiger plans to make use of new flag rule

Tiger Woods plans to take advantage of a new rule that allows players to leave the flag in the hole while putting, the former world number one said ahead of his first start of the season at Torrey Pines this week. The U.S. Golf Association implemented a host of new rules this year designed to speed up the pace of play and Woods said there were situations where leaving the flag in would help.

Williams stunned by Pliskova fightback at Australian Open

Serena Williams squandered four match points and blew a 5-1 lead in the decider to fall to seventh seed Karolina Pliskova 6-4 4-6 7-5 in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Wednesday. Williams also saved two match points in the last game but netted on the third in a stunning loss to the big-serving Czech at Rod Laver Arena.

NFL notebook: Chiefs fire DC Sutton

The Kansas City Chiefs fired defensive coordinator Bob Sutton on Tuesday, two days after the team's loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs' defense allowed 524 yards and 36 first downs and was on the field for 94 plays during the 37-31 overtime loss to the Patriots.

NBA notebook: Grizzlies' Gasol, Conley reportedly up for grabs

The Memphis Grizzlies will begin listening to trade offers for center Marc Gasol and guard Mike Conley for the first time since the pair developed into franchise building blocks a decade ago, ESPN reported Tuesday. According to the report, the Grizzlies are prepared to consider trading one or both veterans before the Feb. 7 deadline, or perhaps after the season. The report added that Gasol and Conley met with team owner Robert Pera recently, though neither expressed interest in being dealt.

Patience pays off says WADA, as Russia doping investigation moves on

Savaged by anti-doping hardliners for their leniency in handling the Russian doping affair, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) gave itself a pat on the back on Tuesday saying its patient diplomatic approach has moved the scandal closer to an end. After provisionally reinstating the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in a controversial vote in September, WADA came under attack but has argued that the decision opened the door to the Moscow laboratory and provided access to secret data that might have otherwise remained close.

Tennis: Osaka blows away Svitolina to reach Melbourne semis

U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka set up a potential rematch of her controversial Flushing Meadows final against Serena Williams after beating Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-1 to reach her first Australian Open semi-final on Wednesday. The 21-year-old Osaka committed a string of unforced errors but still proved too strong for the sixth-seeded Ukrainian, wrapping up the win in an hour and 12 minutes to become the first Japanese woman to reach the last four at Melbourne Park since Kimiko Date in 1994.

Saints fans sue NFL over no-call that helped send Rams to Super Bowl

Two New Orleans Saints fans on Tuesday sued the National Football League and its commissioner Roger Goodell to force a review of the team's controversial 26-23 loss in Sunday's National Football Conference championship that sent the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl. The teams were tied 20-20 late in regulation when officials failed to call pass interference or helmet-to-helmet penalties on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman for knocking Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis down as he awaited a pass.

Rivera, Halladay, Martinez, Mussina voted to Hall of Fame

All-time saves leader Mariano Rivera became the first person to earn unanimous selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame when he was named on all 425 ballots submitted by the National Baseball Writers' Association of America. The voting tabulations were announced Tuesday by Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson on the MLB Network.