Reuters Sports News Summary

World number one Novak Djokovic brushed aside Briton Kyle Edmund 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday after a sluggish start to remain unbeaten in 2020 and move into the third round of the U.S. Open. The Brazilian Football Confederation said on Wednesday that its men’s and women’s national soccer teams will receive equal pay and prize money. James Harden capped a…

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Djokovic overcomes slow start to extend win streak

World number one Novak Djokovic brushed aside Briton KyleEdmund 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday after a sluggish start toremain unbeaten in 2020 and move into the third round of theU.S. Open. On a hot, humid day at Flushing Meadows, Edmund wasleft bathed in sweat while a cool and collected Djokovic stayedon course for his 18th Grand Slam title and improved his 2020match record to 25-0.

Brazil announces equal pay for men’s and women’s nationalteams

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Wednesdaythat its men’s and women’s national soccer teams will receiveequal pay and prize money. “There is no more gender difference,the CBF is treating men and women equally,” CBF chief RogerioCaboclo said in statement https://www.cbf.com.br/selecao-brasileira/noticias/selecao-feminina/presidente-da-cbf-anuncia-equiparacao-das-diarias-pagas-as-selecoes-br.

Rockets hang on to defeat Thunder, move on to West semis

James Harden capped a miserable shooting performance with atimely defensive play, and the Houston Rockets held on for a104-102 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 oftheir Western Conference first-round playoff series on Wednesdaynear Orlando. Harden closed out on Thunder guard Luguentz Dortand recorded a blocked shot with 4.8 seconds left and Houstonclinging to a one-point lead. Following a Robert Covington freethrow, the Rockets blew up an inbounds play from the Thunderwith 1.1 seconds left to clinch the series and set a dateopposite the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conferencesemifinals.

Mask after mask, Osaka brings protest to internationalaudience

Naomi Osaka stepped into the Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing amask that read “Elijah McClain” ahead of her second-round U.S.Open victory on Wednesday, harnessing tennis’s global appeal inher fight for racial justice. The 22-year-old’s mask honoredMcClain, the 23-year-old Black man who died after a violentencounter with Aurora, Colorado, police officers in 2019.

No sign of slowdown as Osaka beats second-round challengerat U.S. Open

Former champion Naomi Osaka made quick work of second-roundopponent Camila Giorgi 6-1 6-2 at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, ina lopsided matchup at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in which sheshowed no sign of slowing down. A dominant Osaka came roaringout of the gate, winning the first five straight games innear-pristine form, committing just four unforced errors in thefirst set and winning 10 of her 12 first-serve points.

MLB roundup: Duvall gets Braves’ second straight three-homergame

The visiting Atlanta Braves got a three-homer performancefor the second straight night, this time by Adam Duvall in a 7-5win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The result gaveAtlanta a three-game sweep of Boston, the first time the Bravesswept three from the Red Sox since 2002.

Highlights: U.S. Open day three

Naomi Osaka continued her charge towards a second U.S. Opencrown by thrashing Italian Camila Giorgi 6-1 6-2 in the secondround on Wednesday, while top seed Karolina Pliskova crashed outfollowing a 6-1 7-6(2) loss to Caroline Garcia. Osaka, whowithdrew from her Western & Southern Open final last week with aleft hamstring problem, walked onto the court with her legwrapped in medical tape but was barely troubled in the lopsidedmatch to set up a meeting with Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.

‘Not easy’ during U.S. Open, but Djokovic moving forwardwith players body

Novak Djokovic is finding it tough to deal with issuesrelated to his breakaway players body in the middle of the U.S.Open but the world number one says he is moving forward with itas more professionals join the cause daily. Djokovic resigned ashead of the ATP player council last week, along with membersVasek Pospisil, John Isner and Sam Querrey, to form theProfessional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).

Former New York Mets star pitcher Tom Seaver dies at 75

Tom Seaver, the Hall-of-Fame pitcher who won more than 300games during his Major League Baseball career and led the NewYork Mets to their unlikely 1969 World Series championship, hasdied at the age of 75. Seaver, who was nicknamed “The Franchise”and “Tom Terrific” because of how valuable he was to the Mets,died in his sleep on Monday from complications of Lewy bodydementia and COVID-19, the Baseball Hall of Fame said in astatement.

Avalanche knock off Stars, force Game 7 in semifinal series

Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon each collected one goaland one assist and the Colorado Avalanche overcame a couple moreinjuries to beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 Wednesday night and forceGame 7 in their Stanley Cup playoff series. Colorado goaltenderMichael Hutchinson — their third stringer — rebounded fromsurrendering a dud of a goal to make 27 saves in the victorythat set the stage for Friday’s game to decide the WesternConference semifinal. Colorado trailed the series 3-1.