Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Tennis-Top seed Thiem knocked out by home favorite Schwartzman

Local favorite Diego Schwartzman recovered from a shaky start to overcome top seed Dominic Thiem 2-6 6-4 7-6(5) on Saturday and set up a final showdown with Italy's Marco Cecchinato at the Argentina Open. Buenos Aires-born Schwartzman fought back from 4-2 down to force a tiebreak in the third set. NHL roundup: Devils score final 4 goals, top Wild in OT

Nico Hischier scored with 1:41 left in overtime Friday night to cap a big comeback by the New Jersey Devils, who scored the final four goals to stun the Minnesota Wild 5-4 in St. Paul, Minn. The Devils, who trailed 4-1 with fewer than two minutes left in the second period, salvaged the finale of a three-game Western Conference road trip by winning for just the second time in the last seven games (2-4-1). Former U.S. Open champion 'Gene the Machine' Littler dies at 88

Californian Gene Littler, a U.S. Open champion and Hall of Fame golfer, has died at the age of 88, the PGA Tour announced on Saturday. Littler, whose silky smooth swing earned him the nickname "Gene the Machine", won 29 PGA Tour events, as well as two in Japan. NBA and FIBA to launch pro league in Africa

The NBA's first professional basketball league outside of North America will begin in Africa next year, the NBA and the sport's global governing body announced on Saturday. Basketball Africa League (BAL) will feature 12 club teams from across Africa and will launch next January, the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) said. Thomas and Scott share Genesis lead after two rounds

Justin Thomas and Adam Scott shrugged off chilly morning conditions on Saturday to share the lead after the second round of the rain-interrupted Genesis Open in Los Angeles. The pair, both former world number ones, completed rounds of six-under-par 65 at Riviera to lead on 11-under 131. After weather disrupted play the first two days, Thomas had to finish off six holes of his second round early on Saturday, while Australian Scott had seven left. Alpine skiing: Swiss Holdener leading women's slalom

Swiss Wendy Holdener was the halfway leader in the women's slalom at the Alpine skiing world championships on Saturday with favorite Mikaela Shiffrin in third spot. Holdener, enjoying a superb championships with golds in the combined and team events, negotiated the 70 gates in 57.08 seconds, 0.11 quicker than home favorite Anna Swenn Larsson. Soccer: Argentines pay tribute to Sala at special memorial

Grieving Argentines paid tribute to footballer Emiliano Sala on Saturday at a special memorial in his home region of Santa Fe. The body of the 28-year old Sala, who died in a plane crash last month, was laid out in a gymnasium in the town where he grew up so friends and family could pay their last respects. Mertens stuns Halep to lift Qatar Open title

Belgium's Elise Mertens rallied from a set down to beat top seed Simona Halep 3-6 6-4 6-3 and clinch her first Premier-level title at the Qatar Open on Saturday. After both players dropped their opening service game, Halep took control of the encounter by winning 18 consecutive points from 3-3 to clinch the first set. U.S. quarterback Kaepernick settles grievance case with NFL

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who sparked a national debate when he protested against racial injustice by kneeling during the U.S. national anthem, has resolved a pending grievance with the league, the two sides said on Friday. The attorney for Kaepernick, who filed the grievance in October 2017, and the league said in a joint statement that the resolution was subject to a confidentiality agreement and so there would be no further comment by either party. Wawrinka outlasts Nishikori in Rotterdam, faces Monfils in final

Three-times Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka battled past Kei Nishikori 6-2 4-6 6-4 at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam on Saturday to set up a final against Frenchman Gael Monfils. Swiss Wawrinka, who reached his first final since undergoing two knee surgeries in 2017, fired 35 winners, including eight aces to triumph in just over two hours.