Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. 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. NHL roundup: Sharks extend Caps' slump

Tomas Hertl completed a hat trick by scoring 1:48 into overtime to give the visiting San Jose Sharks a come-from-behind, 7-6 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. Evander Kane (two goals) knocked in a loose puck with one second left in regulation to force overtime, and Hertl then won it for San Jose, which ended a three-game losing streak. Plucky Pliskova stuns Serena with epic Australian Open fightback

Serena Williams squandered four match points and blew a 5-1 lead in the deciding set as seventh seed Karolina Pliskova produced a fightback for the ages to claim a 6-4 4-6 7-5 quarter-final win over the American great at the Australian Open on Wednesday. Williams, chasing a milestone 24th Grand Slam triumph, also saved two match points in the last game but netted on the third as the big-serving Czech shocked a packed Rod Laver Arena with her remarkable rally from the brink of defeat. Search for missing Cardiff City's Sala resumes in English Channel

The search for Cardiff City's new soccer star, Emiliano Sala, resumed on Wednesday 36 hours after the light aircraft he was flying on disappeared in the English Channel. Sala was flying from the French city of Nantes to Cardiff for his club debut when the plane lost radar contact off the English Channel island of Guernsey late on Monday. 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. Top 25 roundup: Buzzer-beater lifts No. 5 Michigan past Minnesota

Charles Matthews made a buzzer-beating put-back shot, and No. 5 Michigan bounced back from its first loss of the season to defeat Minnesota 59-57 on Tuesday at Ann Arbor, Mich. Ignas Brazdeikis missed a layup with three seconds left, but the ball was tipped to Matthews, who scored the game-winner from the baseline just before the game clock ran out. 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. NBA roundup: Rolling Raptors rout Kings

Fred VanVleet scored 19 points and added seven rebounds and seven assists Tuesday night as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Sacramento Kings 120-105. Kyle Lowry added 19 points and nine assists for the Raptors, who won their season-best 10th straight home game and are 9-2 in January. Tennis: Osaka reaches Melbourne semis for first time

U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka managed to keep a lid on her simmering temper and powered to a 6-4 6-1 win over Elina Svitolina on Wednesday to book a spot in the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time. The 21-year-old, who will play Karolina Pliskova for a place in the final, committed a string of unforced errors but still proved too strong for the sixth-seeded Ukrainian. Tennis: Becker urges Murray to consider surgery to prolong career

Former world number one and triple Grand Slam champion Andy Murray could have lasting regrets if he retires through injury and must consider surgery to end his career on his own terms, German great Boris Becker has said. The 31-year-old Briton has struggled to regain form since undergoing a hip operation last January and was knocked out in the first round of the ongoing Australian Open, having said that the tournament could be his last as a professional.