Sports News Roundup: Gauff crashes out of French Open; NFL postpones Titans game vs. Steelers and more

With Los Angeles preparing to take on the Miami Heat in Game One of the NBA Finals on Wednesday in the Orlando bubble in which they have been quarantined for more than two months, the league announced James again topped the sales list ahead of Dallas Mavericks Slovenian point guard Luka Doncic.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Gauff crashes out of French Open

American teenager Coco Gauff was knocked out in the second round of the French Open after losing her way following a solid opening set in a 4-6 6-2 7-5 defeat to Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan on Wednesday. On the day 23-times Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams withdrew with an Achilles injury, Gauff was looking to keep the Stars and Stripes flying but she eventually flagged, serving two double faults in the last game.

Disciplined Halep beats Begu to extend winning run to 16

French Open top seed Simona Halep put in a disciplined performance to tame big-hitting Romanian compatriot Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3 6-4 in the second round on Wednesday, extending her winning run to 16 matches. World number two Halep arrived at Roland Garros having won her last three tournaments - two of them on claycourts in Prague and Rome - and started as the overwhelming favourite to add a second French Open title to her Grand Slam cabinet.

Australian sports set guidelines on trans athletes

Eight Australian sports federations, including peak bodies for tennis, rugby union and Australian Rules football, issued guidelines for the participation of transgender athletes in competition on Thursday. The initiative spearheaded by ACON, a health NGO advocating LGBT rights, was driven by a need for national guidance on how sports could be inclusive of "trans and gender-diverse" people, organisers said in a media release.

Serena pulls out of French Open with Achilles injury

Serena Williams' search for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title will extend into another year after an Achilles tendon injury forced her to withdraw from the French Open on Wednesday. The American, who turned 39 this week, had been due to play Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round later but after a warm-up decided the injury was too severe.

Lakers' James tops jersey sale list

Despite being tucked away in a COVID-19 quarantine bubble, Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James remains the most popular player when it comes to jersey sales and social media, the National Basketball Association said on Wednesday. With Los Angeles preparing to take on the Miami Heat in Game One of the NBA Finals on Wednesday in the Orlando bubble in which they have been quarantined for more than two months, the league announced James again topped the sales list ahead of Dallas Mavericks Slovenian point guard Luka Doncic.

NFL postpones Titans game vs. Steelers

The NFL postponed Sunday's Week 4 matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among Titans players and team personnel, the league announced Wednesday. The league is expected to reschedule the game for Monday or Tuesday night.

Limited number of attendees to be allowed at NLCS, World Series games

Major League Baseball fans will be able to attend a game for the first time this season as Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, opens its gates for a limited number of attendees at the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and World Series. Game 1 of the NLCS is set for Oct. 12, as MLB looks to close the book on a chaotic and delay-filled season in which numerous players and personnel tested positive for COVID-19, after the viral pandemic forced a months-long delay of Opening Day.

MLB roundup: Astros, Rays sweep series

Carlos Correa had two hits, including a homer for the go-ahead run, as the Houston Astros completed a two-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 3-1 victory in their American League wild-card series on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Kyle Tucker went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Cristian Javier pitched three no-hit innings of relief to pick up the win.

Cycling: Astana pull two riders from Giro due to COVID-19 concerns

Astana have dropped Yuriy Natarov and Vadim Pronskiy from their squad for the upcoming cycling race Giro d'Italia after the two riders came in close contact with team mate Zhandos Bizhigitov, who tested positive for COVID-19, the Kazakh outfit said. Natarov and Pronskiy, who were both part of Kazakhstan's squad for the cycling world championships last month, will be replaced by Jonas Gregaard and Rodrigo Contreras at the Giro in October.

Lakers dominate Heat for lopsided win in Game 1

Heavy favorites Los Angeles Lakers overcame a sluggish start to dismantle the Miami Heat 116-98 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday. The Heat got a 13-point leg up in the first quarter but the lead was shortlived, as the Lakers drained 11 three-pointers to complete a 30-point turnaround and close out the first half, while Miami's defense evaporated inside the NBA's quarantined Orlando, Florida, campus.

(With inputs from agencies.)