Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
ATP roundup: Eubanks upsets Johnson in Newport
Wild card Christopher Eubanks scored a major upset on Tuesday at the Hall of Fame Open in Newport, R.I., downing fellow American and fifth seed Steve Johnson 7-6 (9), 7-6 (5) to reach the second round. Eubanks was broken in his first service game and trailed 3-0 before rallying to force a tiebreaker, then staved off four set points before claiming the set on his second chance. In the second set, he again fell down a break but recovered, then clinched on his second match point.
Boxing: Pacquiao camp denies Khan claims over Saudi Arabia bout
Manny Pacquiao has not signed a contract to take on Amir Khan in Saudi Arabia later this year despite claims that a deal has been agreed for the bout, the Filipino's publicist has said. Khan, who beat Australia's Billy Dib in Jeddah on July 13 to win the WBC international welterweight title, said on Tuesday that he had agreed a deal to fight Pacquiao in Riyadh on Nov. 8.
MLB notebook: Rangers activate Pence from IL
The Texas Rangers activated slugger Hunter Pence from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and put him in the lineup to face the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. Pence had been sidelined for a month due to a strained right groin. He missed 23 games. The 36-year-old veteran was having an excellent season before the injury, batting .294 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs in 55 games. He earned his fourth career All-Star selection and his first since 2014, though he wasn't able to play in the game.
Knicks finalize deals with Bullock, Morris
The New York Knicks finalized contracts with free agent forwards Reggie Bullock and Marcus Morris on Tuesday. The team announced that the deals were completed but did not reveal contract terms.
Georgia QB Mathis back with team after brain surgery
Georgia freshman quarterback D'Wan Mathis is on the mend from May brain surgery to remove a cyst, coach Kirby Smart said Tuesday at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. "D'Wan is back in classes, he's back in workouts, he's doing a really good job for us," Smart said.
NHL notebook: Blackhawks trade Anisimov for Sens' Smith
The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Artem Anisimov to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday for forward Zack Smith. Smith, 31, tallied nine goals and 19 assists in 70 games last season, posting the third-highest point total of his 11-year NHL career. He is signed for two more seasons at an annual average value of $3.25 million. Smith had spent his entire career with Ottawa since the Senators took him in the third round in the 2008 draft, tallying 94 goals and 99 assists in 612 games.
Two Russian boxers competed despite doping bans
Two Russian boxers serving doping suspensions have competed while banned, Reuters has found, highlighting inconsistencies in Russia's efforts to reform its anti-doping practices. Competition records show that Russian amateur boxers Islam Dashaev and Alena Tokarchuk fought in official tournaments last year despite bans announced by Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA, which is forbidden under international anti-doping rules.
Report: Broncos in stalemate with second-round QB Lock
Contract staredown could become stalemate between the Denver Broncos and second-round quarterback Drew Lock. The Missouri product reportedly insisted through his agent on being paid a "quarterback premium" and getting a higher-value contract than left guard Dalton Risner, who was the 41st pick by Denver, one slot ahead of Lock.
WTA roundup: Sevastova rallies in Bucharest
Top-seeded Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia rallied for a 5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory over local favorite Ana Bogdan on Tuesday in the first round of the BRD Bucharest Open in Romania Sevastova lost a wild first set that saw five consecutive service breaks, before Bogdan served out. Sevastova also squandered two set points in the second set, then overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-1 in the tiebreaker. She then fell down a break in the third set before ultimately surviving in 3 hours and 3 minutes.
NFL notebook: Steelers' Conner reflects on cancer diagnosis
Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner revealed he was told he was close to death when diagnosed with cancer as a student at Pitt in 2015. Speaking recently on the "Ya Neva Know: you know what I mean?" podcast hosted by former Duke pitcher Mike Seander -- better known as hip-hop artist Mike Stud -- Conner said he sought medical attention when he was having trouble sleeping as he recovered from a torn MCL in his junior season.
