Reuters Sports News Summary

Speaking at a political forum, Bach said the Games should stay away from politics otherwise they would lose their uniting powers, citing examples of past boycotts in the 1970s and 1980s. Tennis-Andreescu downs Raducanu in Miami Open battle of Grand Slam winners Canada's Bianca Andreescu beat Britain's Emma Raducanu 6-3 3-6 6-2 at the Miami Open on Wednesday in a first-round clash of former U.S. Open champions looking to recapture top form after a spate of injuries.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Tennis-Lajovic upsets Murray in first round of Miami Open

Serbian Dusan Lajovic beat Andy Murray 6-4 7-5 at the Miami Open on Wednesday, sending the Briton packing in the first round with his first hard court win of the season. Lajovic thrust his fists to the air after surviving a 16-shot rally on the final point, setting up a meeting with American Maxime Cressy, who won their only prior encounter.

Motorcycling-MotoGP's record 21 race calendar puts pressure on teams

MotoGP is set for its biggest season yet and Mike Trimby, a power in the paddock as defender of team interests and rider safety for more than four decades, is apprehensive. This weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao will be the first of 21 with more races (10) outside Europe than ever, including newcomers India and Kazakhstan.

Baseball-Japan's Ohtani strikes out Trout to seal World Baseball Classic win

Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout in a showdown between two of the game's best players to seal Japan's 3-2 victory over the United States in a riveting World Baseball Classic (WBC) final at Miami's LoanDepot Park on Tuesday. Baseball is the United States' national pastime but Japan's win over the defending WBC champions means they have won three of five editions of the global showcase.

Baseball-Astros' Altuve has thumb surgery, expected to miss two months

Houston Astros' standout second baseman Jose Altuve had surgery on his broken right thumb on Wednesday and will not be able to resume baseball activities for about two months, the MLB team said. Altuve, whose reigning World Series champion Astros team open their MLB season on March 30, suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch while playing for Venezuela in a World Baseball Classic quarter-final game on Saturday.

Cuba rips Miami for 'vile' treatment of its players at World Baseball Classic

Cuba on Wednesday slammed Miami authorities and baseball officials for allowing what it called "vile and organized" attacks against its players at the semi-final of the World Baseball Classic last week. Sunday's game matched the U.S. team against Cuba at LoanDepot Park in Miami, a city that is home to the largest population of Cuban Americans in the United States, as well as many of the most vocal opponents to Cuba´s communist-run government.

Ice hockey-Russia, Belarus teams out of 2023-24 season -IIHF

The ice hockey teams of Russia and Belarus will be barred from taking part in international competitions in the 2023-2024 season, the sport's governing body said on Wednesday, citing safety concerns. "The IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) council determined that it is not yet safe to reincorporate the Russian and Belarusian teams back into IIHF competitions, and that it will not be safe for the upcoming 2023/2024 IIHF Championship season," it said in a statement.

'Napoli fan' prosecutor steps aside from legal case against Juventus

One of three prosecutors accusing Italian soccer club Juventus of financial misconduct has left the case after the emergence of derogatory comments he made about the team, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. In a video shot at a legal conference in Milan in 2019, a year before the inquiry into top-flight Serie A club Juventus opened, Turin prosecutor Ciro Santoriello said: "I am a huge fan of Napoli (soccer team), I hate Juventus".

Tennis-Defending champion Swiatek pulls out of Miami Open

Iga Swiatek has withdrawn from the Miami Open due to a rib injury, the world number one and defending champion said on Wednesday. Top seed Swiatek was due to begin her campaign against American Claire Liu in the second round on Thursday after being given a bye in the first round.

Olympics-IOC and Games cannot be referees in political disputes - Bach

The Olympic Games and its ruling body, the International Olympic Committee, cannot be referees in global political disputes, its president Thomas Bach said on Wednesday, defending the IOC's plans to includes Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris 2024 Games. Speaking at a political forum, Bach said the Games should stay away from politics otherwise they would lose their uniting powers, citing examples of past boycotts in the 1970s and 1980s.

Tennis-Andreescu downs Raducanu in Miami Open battle of Grand Slam winners

Canada's Bianca Andreescu beat Britain's Emma Raducanu 6-3 3-6 6-2 at the Miami Open on Wednesday in a first-round clash of former U.S. Open champions looking to recapture top form after a spate of injuries. Andreescu, coming off a third-round loss to world number one Iga Swiatek at Indian Wells, served seven aces and saved 11 of the 12 break points she faced against Raducanu to set up a clash with Greek seventh seed Maria Sakkari.

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