Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Verstappen fastest in final U.S. GP practice
Dutch teenager Max Verstappen topped the timesheets as Red Bull lapped fastest in final practice for the U.S. Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday. The 18-year-old produced a best effort of one minute 36.766 seconds, with Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo 0.266 slower.
New Zealand tame Australia for record 18th win
World champions New Zealand were challenged for 50 minutes but still ran in six tries to beat Australia 37-10 in Auckland on Saturday and become the first top tier nation to win 18 consecutive test matches. Less than a year after becoming the first country to win back-to-back World Cups and with a much-changed line-up, Steve Hansen's side bolstered their claim to being the greatest ever rugby team.
Singer kneels while performing anthem at Miami NBA game
A singer knelt while performing the national anthem at a Miami Heat basketball game on Friday and opened her jacket to reveal a shirt that read "Black Lives Matter," a variation on a protest that has punctuated many U.S. sporting events since the summer. Like other anthem protests, the gesture by Denasia Lawrence was intended to highlight what activists say is unfair police treatment of minorities. The trend began in August when San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" before a preseason National Football League game.
Kuznetsova wins in Moscow to claim last WTA Finals berth
Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova raced to a 6-2 6-1 victory over Australian Daria Gavrilova to defend her Kremlin Cup title in Moscow on Saturday and secure a place at the season-ending WTA Finals. Kuznetsova was broken in her first service game to fall 2-0 behind but the 31-year-old broke back immediately to claim the first of 10 straight games as she roared to victory in 73 minutes against the world number 37.
Lahiri surges clear in pursuit of maiden PGA Tour title
Anirban Lahiri moved into position to record a first PGA Tour victory when the Indian fired an exquisite third round seven-under 65 at the TPC Kuala Lumpur course to storm four shots clear of the field at the CIMB Classic on Saturday. Lahiri's nine birdies offset an ugly double-bogey six on the 12th as the Pune-born 29-year-old moved to 19-under for the tournament, well ahead of overnight leader and defending champion Justin Thomas (71) and Scotland's Russell Knox (68).
Arsenal top but Wenger fails to land the present he wanted
Arsene Wenger failed to collect the one birthday present he really coveted as his Arsenal side missed a golden opportunity to open daylight on their rivals at the top of the Premier League on Saturday. Wenger had hoped to celebrate his 67th birthday with an eighth successive win in all competitions but the Gunners were frustrated in a goalless home draw with Middlesbrough.
Radwanska hoping for luck and pluck in WTA Finals defense
Agnieszka Radwanska returns to the scene of her greatest triumph next week when she opens the defense of her WTA Finals title and the 27-year-old Pole is the first to admit that luck can be as important as skill to emerge victorious in Singapore. Radwanska become the first player in the history of the elite eight-woman tournament to lose two of her three round robin matches before claiming the title after she made the most of her good fortune to secure a surprise victory.
NFL defends handling of Josh Brown domestic abuse case
The National Football League on Friday defended its handling of a domestic violence case against Josh Brown, but temporarily barred the New York Giants kicker from games and practices after newly released documents showed his then-wife accused him of a years-long pattern of physical and emotional abuse. The NFL suspended Brown in August for one game following his arrest in May 2015, when his then-wife, Molly, told police he grabbed her by the wrist during a heated argument at their home in Woodinville, Washington.
Flyers' Weise suspended three games for Holzer hit
Philadelphia Flyers forward Dale Weise received a three-game suspension from the NHL on Friday for his illegal check to the head of Anaheim Ducks defenseman Korbinian Holzer. The incident occurred during Thursday night's game in Philadelphia. No penalty was called against Weise, who caught Holzer in the face with his right shoulder. Holzer was not injured on the play.
Kerber seeks reversal of fortunes in Singapore
Angelique Kerber showed more passion in the media center than on the court when she crashed out of last year's WTA Finals, the German angered by the format and frustrated by her inability to win the set off an eliminated opponent she needed to advance. Her petulance then provided a sideshow to the eight-woman season-ending tournament but this year she returns as world number one, a double grand slam winner, Olympic silver medalist and a woman on a mission.
