Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Vekic tames Azarenka at Silicon Valley Classic

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka paid the price for her erratic serve as fifth-seeded Donna Vekic prevailed 6-4 6-3 on Thursday in the second round of the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose. Azarenka, who is coming off a third round loss at Wimbledon last month, committed seven double faults and had her service broken five times in the contest. She showed life in the second set as she seized a 2-0 lead, but 23-year-old Croatian Vekic had her way in the end to set up a quarter-final match with Kristie Ahn. Ahn reached the quarter-finals by converting seven break points to upset third-seeded Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3 6-3. Fourth seed American Amanda Anisimova, a 17-year-old, beat compatriot Madison Brengle 6-2 6-2 to reach the next round matchup with China’s Saisai Zheng who routed Danielle Collins 6-2 6-0. Cuba have golden punch in Pan Am boxing ring

Cuba landed the golden punch in the Pan Am Games boxing ring on Thursday, rolling out a lineup of Olympic and world champions to fight their way up the medal table. Of the five men's gold medal bouts on Thursday's card, Cuba had fighters in all of them and, led by stylish light heavyweight Julio Cesar La Cruz, grabbed four golds and a silver. MLB roundup: Cards one-hit Cubs, take NL Central lead

Jack Flaherty took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, allowed one hit in seven outstanding innings and combined with two relievers on a one-hitter as the St. Louis Cardinals continued their surge with an 8-0 victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Thursday night. The Cardinals, who lead the Cubs by one game in the race for the National League Central title, won for the 17th time in 25 games and improved to 14-6 since the All-Star break by collecting 14 hits. The Cubs lost for the seventh time in 10 games and did not hold a lead for the first time in their 18 games since the All-Star break. Australia's Jack to 'fight' doping charge and return to pool

Australian swimmer Shayna Jack said on Friday she would fight to clear her name in the wake of a positive drug test that embarrassed the nation's swim team at the recent world championships. The 20-year-old freestyle swimmer was withdrawn from the team days before the championships in Gwangju, having tested positive for Ligandrol, a banned anabolic agent, in an out-of-competition test on June 26. Kyrgios, Tsitsipas advance to quarter-finals at Citi Open

Australian Nick Kyrgios blasted 15 aces to blow past Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2 7-5 on Thursday and reach the quarterfinals at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. Kyrgios was dominant on serve as he enjoyed his least stressful match of the tournament thus far. He was broken on service just once by Nishioka and won 85 percent of his first serves. Playing in his first tournament since his testy second round loss to Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon, Kyrgios will next face unseeded Slovakian Norbert Gombos. NFL notebook: Chargers reportedly ignore RB's trade demand

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon formally requested a trade through his agents, ESPN reported Thursday, but was informed the demand will be ignored. Per reports from ESPN and CBS, the Chargers have no intention of facilitating a trade. General manager Tom Telesco reportedly informed Fletcher Smith and Damarius Bilbo, who represent Gordon, that the running back won't be going anywhere. Ashley Wagner says Coughlin sexually assaulted her in 2008

Olympic bronze medalist and three-time U.S. figure skating champion Ashley Wagner said she was sexually assaulted by former figure skater John Coughlin in June 2008. Wagner, 28, said the incident occurred after a party at the U.S. team's figure skating camp in Colorado Springs, Colo. Wagner was 17 years old at the time, while Coughlin was 22. MLB suspends eight individuals for Pirates-Reds brawl

Eight individuals from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, including the managers of both clubs, have been suspended for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl this week, Major League Baseball said on Thursday. Tempers between the rival clubs, who also had a bench-clearing fracas during a game in April, reached new heights in the top of the ninth inning of their Tuesday game in Cincinnati when Reds reliever Amir Garrett charged the Pirates dugout. Halep signs up for inaugural Adelaide International

Reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep will play in the inaugural Adelaide International ahead of next year's Australian Open, organizers said on Friday. Adelaide International, a combined ATP and WTA event, replaces the Sydney International which was dropped from the tennis calendar to make room for the ATP Cup men's team event. U.S. medal juggernaut rolls on as Cuba unleash golden gloves

Cuba punched their way up the medal table picking up four golds and a silver in the boxing ring on Thursday but the United States continued to pull away and were closing in on 100 Pan Am Games medals after just six days of competition. The Caribbean boxing powerhouse will feature a fighter in every men's gold medal bout but one in Lima and are likely to add to their haul on Friday with no other nation able to match their roster of world and Olympic champions.