Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Leishman cards 65 to win at Torrey Pines as Rahm falters

Australian Marc Leishman won the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego on Sunday when the death of basketball great Kobe Bryant cast a shadow over the final round. Several of the players competing at Torrey Pines knew Bryant well, notably Tiger Woods. Obituary: Bryant, a transcendent star who never took a night off

Kobe Bryant became one of the greatest players in basketball, a transcendent star who went straight from high school to the game's biggest stage and brought "Showtime" back to the Los Angeles Lakers for two glittering decades. But Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California on Sunday at the age of 41, was not initially rated by National Basketball Association (NBA) scouts as a can't-miss prospect. 'Blessed' Sandgren hopes to keep dream alive with Federer up next

Roger Federer continues his quest for a 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Tuesday but for his journeyman opponent Tennys Sandgren their quarter-final meeting is the latest chapter in a story of survival in professional tennis. Aptly named for the sport he loves after his Swedish great-grandfather, Sandgren has spent much of his career playing on satellite tours and said after dumping out Fabio Fognini on Sunday that he perhaps "shouldn't be here". Tokyo 2020 to power Olympic torch with hydrogen for first time

Hydrogen will be used for the first time to power the Olympic torch during its journey through Japan, organizers said on Monday, as part of Tokyo 2020's efforts to hold an environmentally friendly Games. Organizers aim to offset all carbon emissions generated during the Games and also use the Olympics to boost awareness of environmental issues in Japan. Djokovic leads tennis community in mourning 'mentor' Bryant

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic led the tennis world in mourning for "mentor" Kobe Bryant on Monday after Melbourne Park awoke to the news that the NBA great had died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter and seven others. Djokovic had spoken fondly of his relationship with the former Los Angeles Laker in an interview at the weekend and the 16-times Grand Slam champion signed off his Tweet of condolence with the words: "RIP my friend". Counter-punching Halep beats Mertens to reach quarters

Simona Halep had to be at her counter-punching best to fight off another determined second-set comeback bid from Elise Mertens on Monday as the Romanian world number three advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. Halep, a beaten finalist at Melbourne Park two years ago, moved on with a 6-4 6-4 victory that sets up a meeting with Estonia's 28th-seed Anett Kontaveit in the last eight. NBA roundup: Pelicans get first win with Zion

Zion Williamson had his first double-double as an NBA player, and the New Orleans Pelicans won for the first time with him in the lineup, 123-108 over the visiting Boston Celtics on Sunday. Williams, the top pick in the 2019 NBA draft, had 21 points and 11 rebounds in his third game after his debut following preseason knee surgery. Jrue Holiday scored a team-high 25 points, and Derrick Favors added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Lonzo Ball had a career-high 15 assists to go with eight points. Super Bowl week off to subdued start after Bryant death

Super Bowl week got off to a subdued start as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers arrived in Miami on Sunday still digesting the news that Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash. What was supposed to be the kickoff to a week-long party turned somber as the NFL and players from both teams learned that Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in the crash. Coaches welcome WTA trial of allowing coaching from box

Coaches have welcomed the WTA Tour's decision to allow them to help players from the stands this season after the issue became a hot-button topic in the wake of the 2018 U.S. Open final when Serena Williams was controversially penalized. Williams's coach Patrick Mouratoglou gestured to Williams during her defeat by Japan's Naomi Osaka at Flushing Meadows, leading to a code violation and sparking a heated row between the American great and the chair umpire. NBA great Kobe Bryant and daughter among nine killed in helicopter crash near Los Angeles

Kobe Bryant, one of the NBA's all-time greatest players and an athlete of global renown, was killed at age 41 on Sunday in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven on board, officials said. Bryant rocketed to fame as an 18-year-old rookie and played 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers, 18 as an all-star forward, and won five NBA championships.