Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - Lydia Ko's made a solid start to her first tournament since her final round meltdown at the LPGA Classic in Ohio.

The former world number one was even par through 14 holes of her opening round at the Scottish Open when play was suspended for the day.

Ko surrendered a five shot lead with six holes to play on Monday to miss out on her first LPGA Tour victory in more than two years.

She's tied for 22nd place in Scotland, four shots off the lead.

Meanwhile, Fellow New Zealander Ryan Fox is tied for 34th after the opening round of the European Tour's Celtic Classic in Wales.

Defending champion withdraws from US Open

Bianca Andreescu has announced she will not defend her title at this month's U.S. Open in New York.

The 20-year-old Canadian, who has not competed since she suffered a knee injury last October, said on Twitter she made the difficult decision because the COVID-19 outbreak has compromised her ability to reach her highest level of form.

"The U.S. Open victory last year has been the high point of my career this far and I will miss not being there," said world number six Andreescu, who beat Serena Williams in last year's U.S. Open final.

"However, I realize that the unforeseen challenges, including the COVID pandemic, have compromised my ability to prepare and compete to the degree necessary to play at my highest level."

Andreescu is the latest top-10 player on the women's side to skip the Aug. 31-Sept. 13 U.S. Open, joining world number one Ash Barty, Ukraine's Elina Svitolina (five) and Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens (seven).

Her decision also means the Grand Slam will be missing both reigning singles champions as men's world number two Rafael Nadal previously said he would skip the event.

- Reuters

Djokovic commits to playing U.S. Open

World number one Novak Djokovic will compete at the Aug 31-Sept 13 U.S. Open and the Western & Southern Open curtain-raiser.

It is a U-turn from Djokovic after his June statements that competing at the 2020 U.S. Open would be "impossible" due to "extreme" COVID-19 protocols for the tournament at Flushing Meadows.

"I am happy to confirm that I will participate at the Western & Southern Open and U.S. Open this year," the 33-year old Serb said.

"It was not an easy decision to make with all the obstacles and challenges on so many sides, but the prospect of competing again makes me really excited.

"I am aware that this time around it will be very different with all the protocols and safety measures that are put in place to protect players and the people of New York."

- Reuters

Leipzig book Champions League semi-final with PSG

RB Leipzig stunned Atletico Madrid, with a 2-1 victory in their Champions League quarter-final, to reach the competition's last four for the first time in their club's short history.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, United States midfielder Tyler Adams snatched victory with a deflected shot from outside the box to set up a semi-final clash with Paris St Germain.

The German side had taken the lead in the 51st minute with a header from Spanish forward Dani Olmo but a disjointed Atletico were shaken into life when record signing Joao Felix came off the bench, earning and scoring a penalty to level in the 71st.

Atletico, runners-up in 2014 and 2016, looked more likely to score the next goal but it was the club founded only eleven years ago who were left celebrating in front of the empty seats of the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Now the team, built up from the lower leagues and owned by energy drinks company Red Bull, will come up against Neymar and company with a chance at a place in the Aug. 23 final.

- Reuters

Evans outside the points in Formula E finale

New Zealand driver Mitch Evans has finished seventh in the Formula E championship as the all-electric series wrapped up its season in Berlin.

Evans has slipped three places in the standings after finishing just outside of the points in the last round.

He drove through the field to come home in 11th, after starting from 23rd on the grid.

Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne won the season finale to finish second overall, well behind championship winner Antonio Felix Da Costa of Portugal.

Da Costa finished 71 points clear of Vandoorne, with just 10 points covering the next five drivers.

Crusaders apologise again

Crusaders Chief Executive Colin Mansbridge says his side had not fulfilled their role as guardians of the Super Rugby Aotearoa trophy after it was damaged during their title-winning celebrations.

The Crusaders wrapped up the title last weekend with a match to spare and were then presented with the trophy, which was specially made for the domestic competition.

The Tū Kōtahi Aotearoa trophy features a carved wooden base representing an upturned Maori 'waka' canoe with a 'mere pounamu' -- a ceremonial weapon of Maori chieftains -- mounted on top.

Images emerged of the trophy with chips to the base and the mere missing.

"We're unhappy with what's happened with the trophy," Mansbridge told reporters on Thursday. "I'm disappointed."

"By winning Super Rugby Aotearoa, we become kaitiaki (guardians) of the trophy and it's a trophy that has significance more broadly than just the club," he said.

"We haven't fulfilled our obligations as kaitiaki as full as what we should."

- Reuters

Mounting injury toll for NRL premiers

The Sydney Roosters have suffered another major injury setback with Luke Keary suffering a suspected ruptured spleen in their 26-4 NRL loss to the Melbourne Storm at the SCG.

The defeat will hurt less than the growing casualty ward with Keary, Mitch Aubusson (fractured wrist) and Lachlan Lam (ankle) all taken from the field on Thursday night.

Test five-eighth Keary was helped from the field in severe pain in the 63rd minute and was later taken to hospital by paramedics with what was first thought to be a rib injury.

But Roosters coach Trent Robinson has told media it's likely an internal injury.

The result leaves the reigning premiers fourth on the table.

They Roosters are now six points behind the top of the table Melbourne Storm, who've moved a point above the Penrith Panthers, who play the Warriors tonight (Friday).

England bowlers on top in Southampton

Pakistan opener Abid Ali scored a half-century but England's seam bowlers used the muggy conditions to their advantage to restrict the tourists to 126 for five at the close of a rain-hit opening day of the second test at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

The tourists chose to bat first and were fortunate not to lose more wickets as the bounce, movement off the seam and swing through the air in hot, overcast conditions was perfectly suited to England's experienced seam attack.

Babar Azam (25 not out) and Mohammad Rizwan (4 not out) will resume on the second morning, seeking to rescue the innings in their bid to rebound from a three-wicket loss in the first test.

England had earlier recalled batsman Zac Crawley for all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has withdrawn from the remainder of the three-match series for personal reasons.

- Reuters

Perez returns to Racing Point

Racing Point's Sergio Perez will race in Spain this weekend after his latest COVID-19 test was negative.

The Mexican missed the previous two grands prix at Britain's Silverstone circuit after contracting the virus.

"Checo (Perez) tested negative for COVID-19 and the FIA have confirmed he can enter the paddock today and compete this weekend," the team said at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona.

Germany's Nico Hulkenberg has been filling in for Perez, qualifying third and finishing seventh in last weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

Perez tested positive before the British Grand Prix after returning to Mexico to see his mother who had been in hospital following an accident.

- Reuters

FA Cup replays canned

The FA Cup will not have replays for the 2020-21 season to help ease fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

Next season's competition is scheduled to begin on September 1 - only a month after the 2020 final - with the showpiece match at Wembley set to take place on May 15, 2021.

"In order to assist in easing pressure on the football schedule, there will be no replays for the 2020-21 season," the FA said in a statement.

The FA added that the prize fund would return to 2017-18 levels because of the financial impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak after two seasons of record payment levels.

Meanwhile, the English Football League (EFL) said the two-legged semi-finals of the League Cup will be replaced by single ties to be played in January 2021.

The first four rounds of the competition will take place on consecutive weeks, kicking off in early September.

- Reuters