Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Federer downs Herbert to take a step closer to 10th Halle crown

Roger Federer's Wimbledon preparations gained momentum as the Swiss blasted past Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-3 6-3 on Saturday to reach the final of the Halle Open where he is seeking a 10th title. The 20-times Grand Slam winner was dragged to three sets in his previous two rounds in Germany but was back to his best in his first meeting with Frenchman Herbert, winning 86% of points on his first serve. Barty overpowers Strycova to set up Birmingham final with Goerges

Ashleigh Barty moved to within one victory of the world number one ranking, beating Czech Barbora Strycova 6-4 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham. The 23-year-old Australian, fresh from her maiden Grand Slam triumph at the French Open, sent down 11 aces and fired 24 winners to dispatch world number 51 Strycova in 84 minutes and stay in the hunt for her third title of the season. Green leads Ariya by one shot at Women's PGA

Australian Hannah Green had her lead whittled down to one stroke as Ariya Jutanugarn applied the heat in the third round of the Women's PGA Championship in Minnesota on Saturday. A three-putt bogey at the final hole for a two-under-par 70 left Green with a slender advantage with one round left at Hazeltine National in Chaska. She posted a nine-under 207 total, while Ariya compiled a 68 to go to eight-under. Brazil crush Peru 5-0 to reach Copa America last eight

Brazil overwhelmed Peru with three goals in a superb first half to set up a crushing 5-0 victory on Saturday and cruise into the Copa America quarter-finals. Looking like their imperious old selves, the host nation went ahead after 12 minutes when Casemiro nodded home after a goalmouth scramble and Roberto Firmino made it two seven minutes later after keeper Pedro Gallese made a hash of his kick out. Centurion Popp leads Germany into World Cup quarter-finals

Double champions Germany, inspired by skipper Alexandra Popp, continued their unbeaten run at the women’s World Cup by beating Nigeria 3-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals on Saturday. Popp, winning her 100th cap, and Sara Daebritz netted in quick succession in the first half with Lea Schueller wrapping it up late on to set up a meeting with Sweden or Canada. Motor racing: Hamilton on pole in France, Vettel only seventh

Lewis Hamilton seized pole position for the French Grand Prix in track record time on Saturday as Mercedes, chasing their 10th successive win, swept the front row of the grid in dominant fashion. The Formula One world championship leader and last year's race winner was 0.286 seconds quicker than team mate Valtteri Bottas on another searingly hot afternoon at Le Castellet in the south of France. Maple Leafs trade Marleau to Canes for draft pick

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded veteran center Patrick Marleau to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday for a sixth-round pick in 2020. The Hurricanes also will receive a conditional first-round pick and a seventh-round pick in 2020. Golf: Reavie blisters back nine to romp to six-stroke Travelers lead

A blistering back nine saw Chez Reavie romp to a six-stroke lead in the third round of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut on Saturday. Six back at the turn, Reavie birdied seven holes coming home to shoot a seven-under 63 as he took aim at his first PGA Tour victory in 11 years. Crew and SKC looking to ignite playoff push

After an extended break from MLS play, the Columbus Crew host Sporting Kansas City on Sunday with each team looking to reset their season. Sporting K.C. (3-5-7, 16 points) have a win and six ties in their past 11 matches to offset a 2-1-1 mark to open the campaign. Kansas City is 10th in the Western Conference entering the weekend, three points from a postseason berth. Norway sink Australia in shootout to reach last eight

Norway beat Australia 4-1 on penalties to reach the women's World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2007 following a highly-entertaining 1-1 draw after extra time on Saturday. Norway's Isabell Herlovsen opened the scoring shortly after the half hour but Elise Kellond-Knight's direct corner seven minutes from time sent the game into extra time -- during which Australia's Alanna Kennedy was sent off.