Sports News Roundup: 2016 Olympics bribe; Serena survives Fourth of July test and more

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Azarenka and Halep meet in battle of former number ones

A resurgent Victoria Azarenka runs into her biggest test so far at this year's Wimbledon when she meets fellow former world number one Simona Halep on Centre Court on Friday. The pair have beaten each other twice in their careers and the last time they met was at the same venue in the round of 16 two years ago, when Romanian Halep triumphed in straight sets.

Former Rio de Janeiro governor tells judge he paid $2 million bribe to host 2016 Olympics

The former governor of Rio de Janeiro state said in court testimony on Thursday that he paid $2 million to buy votes to ensure the sprawling Brazilian seaside city would be chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games. Sergio Cabral told a judge the money went to Lamine Diack, the former president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and was used to buy as many as nine votes. It was not immediately possible to reach Diack or his legal team on Thursday night.

Doping: WADA chief says path to bringing Russian cases to justice has been painful

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said the process to get the first batch of Russian doping cases turned over to international sports federations had been "very painful" but he was confident that sanctions would soon follow. The 43 Russian doping cases were all built on data retrieved in January from a discredited Moscow laboratory, access to which was a key condition behind WADA's decision last year to reinstate Russia's banned anti-doping agency.

For rebel pioneers of women's game, World Cup brings back memories

As the United States and England did battle in their World Cup semi-final, in front of 55,000 fans at Olympique Lyon's stadium, there was the sensation that this was a breakthrough moment for women's football. But for some in the crowd at Tuesday's game, it was more of a flashback moment, a reminder of when, 48 years ago, women's football appeared ready for take-off before being blocked by the conservative attitudes of the authorities.

Netherlands 'love' underdog status in World Cup final: Van de Donk

Netherlands are relishing their underdog status ahead of the women's World Cup final against the United States on Sunday, midfielder Danielle van de Donk has said. The Dutch side will take on the thrice champions in Sunday's title clash at Lyon and Van de Donk said her team will not be overawed by their more celebrated opponents.

Serena survives Fourth of July test by Slovenian student

For the second time in four days, a Wimbledon champion called Williams found herself being whipped by a high school teenager but in the end, it was Serena Williams dishing out the punishment on Thursday. Slovenia's Kaja Juvan, 18, appeared to have being inspired by fellow qualifier and teenager Cori Gauff's sensational first-round win over Williams's elder sister Venus, a five-time winner at the All England Club, as she came out swinging to break Serena twice in the opening set.

Isner's hopes extinguished on 4th of July as 10 Americans march on

There were no celebratory 4th of July fireworks from John Isner as Wimbledon's ultra marathon man perished on Thursday and failed to join his 10 fellow Americans who have made it into round three. Isner is likely to forever hold the distinction of contesting Wimbledon's two longest ever matches -- an 11-hour-five-minute first-round humdinger in 2010 and last year's six-hour-36-minute semi-final against eventual runner-up Kevin Anderson -- but his 2019 challenge fizzled out in the second round.

MLB roundup: Indians, Nats sweep series

Francisco Lindor's two-run single keyed a six-run seventh inning as the visiting Cleveland Indians defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-4 Thursday to complete a three-game sweep. Jose Ramirez hit two home runs for the Indians in the series finale, which included a 2 1/2-hour rain delay. All three games in the series ended with four-run margins.

Nadal survives Kyrgios test in Wimbledon thriller

Twice Wimbledon champion Rafa Nadal emerged victorious from a memorable four-set duel with Australian wild man Nick Kyrgios that delivered everything it had promised in front of an enraptured Centre Court crowd on Thursday. The fiery Kyrgios threw everything he had at the third seed - including an extraordinary 143mph second-serve ace - and undoubtedly had him rattled before the Spaniard eventually prevailed 6-3 3-6 7-6(5) 7-6(3) in the second round clash.

NBA notebook: Nuggets' Porter sustains minor knee injury

Denver Nuggets rookie forward Michael Porter Jr. sprained his left knee in a minicamp scrimmage Wednesday night and is not likely to play for the team in summer league action at Las Vegas, according to the Denver Post. The upcoming summer league was finally a chance to see Porter play after he missed the entire 2018 season for Missouri while recovering from a back injury. He was selected 14th overall in the 2018 draft.

(With inputs from agencies.)