Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Easy for Nadal and Djokovic, scare for Serena
The surroundings looked slightly different but Rafael Nadal was his usual brutal self on a revamped Court Philippe Chatrier as he began his quest for a 12th French Open title on Monday. The Spaniard blasted past German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2 6-1 6-3 before Novak Djokovic also kicked off his tournament in style with an easy 6-4 6-2 6-2 win over Pole Hubert Hurkacz.
Bettman: NHL to consider expanding video reviews
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday that the league will consider expanding video review when general managers and the competition committee meet in June. Giving his annual state of the league press conference before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues, Bettman stressed that improvements need to be made after several controversial plays and missed calls this season.
Bruins rally past Blues in Stanley Cup Final opener
The Boston Bruins overcame a sluggish start and erased a two-goal deficit to beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 and draw first blood in the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Final on Monday. The host Bruins used a dominant second period to tie the game and grabbed their first lead of the night when Sean Kuraly corralled a cross-ice pass with his foot and tapped the puck in the Blues net five minutes into the third period.
MLB roundup: A's win 10th straight
The Oakland Athletics rode three home runs and stellar relief pitching to a 10th consecutive victory Monday afternoon, 8-5 over the visiting Los Angeles Angels. Jurickson Profar rallied the A's from an early deficit with a two-run homer, Josh Phegley broke a tie with a solo shot, and Matt Chapman gave his bullpen some breathing room with another solo homer, allowing Oakland to win its fourth straight game to open its nine-game homestand.
MLB notebook: Buckner dies at 69 after battling dementia
Bill Buckner, the 1980 National League batting champion who registered more than 2,700 hits during a career that touched four decades, died Monday after a battle with dementia. He was 69. Buckner debuted with the Los Angeles Dodgers at age 19 in 1969, became an All-Star, won a batting title with the Chicago Cubs, then committed an infamous error at first base for the Boston Red Sox during the 1986 World Series.
Report: NFL to review video of Cowboys' Elliott altercation
The NFL likely will investigate an altercation between Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and a security officer to determine whether Elliott violated any terms of a previous suspension agreement, Yahoo Sports reported Monday. Gossip website TMZ posted a video last Monday showing events that took place early May 18 at the Electric Daisy Carnival festival in Las Vegas. The video shows a man identified as Elliott pushing a security guard against a metal railing, and he falls. Elliott then is handcuffed but not arrested.
NBA notebook: Durant officially to miss finals opener
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant will not play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the host Toronto Raptors on Thursday and he might not make the trip due to his calf injury, coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Monday. Kerr also said that injured center DeMarcus Cousins (quadriceps) is listed as "questionable."
Halep banks on child-like enthusiasm to retain French Open crown
Simona Halep will channel her inner child when she begins her French Open title defense against Ajla Tomljanovic on Tuesday having vowed to enjoy herself in the absence of the stifling pressure of previous campaigns in Paris. Halep, twice runner-up at Roland Garros before lifting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup last year for her first Grand Slam title, said being a champion had made it easier to cope with the challenge of repeating the feat.
Cavs owner Gilbert 'awake, responsive' after stroke
Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who was hospitalized early Sunday morning in Detroit after suffering a stroke, is "awake, responsive and resting comfortably," according to Quicken Loans CEO Jay Farner. Late Sunday, Quicken Loans, the company Gilbert founded, announced in a statement that the 57-year-old Cavs owner "received immediate medical attention and is currently recovering comfortably."
Your time to shine, South Africa coach Ellis tells players on World Cup debut
When South Africa played their first women's international after readmission to global football in 1993, they were captained by diminutive midfielder Desiree Ellis, who carried the country into a fresh era for female footballers. Now, 26 years on, Ellis is coach of the side and will again be tasked with leading the team into a brave new dawn, this time as they debut at the women’s World Cup in France next month.
