Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Thursday, July 2

July 2 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - TENNIS Wimbledon (to July 12) Federer, Murray power through, Kvitova in action LONDON - No. 2 seed Roger Federer rolls over big-serving American Sam Querrey, while third seed Andy Murray beats Dutchman Robin Haase to reach the third round. Czech Petra Kvitova continues her title defense against Kurumi Nara of Japan. (TENNIS-WIMBLEDON/ (PIX), moved; will be led, by Pritha Sarkar, Toby Davis and Neil Maidment. 650 words) - - Sublime Murray finds A-Game LONDON - When a totally off-balance Andy Murray fashioned the most improbable lob winner to break Robin Haase in the first set the Dutchman must have known that his 2015 Wimbledon journey was going to end sooner rather than later. (TENNIS-WIMBLEDON/MURRAY (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved, by Pritha Sarkar, 505 words) - - - - SOCCER Women's World Cup A look ahead to Sunday's final We will offer a lookahead story on Sunday's championship match between the United States and defending champion Japan. (SOCCER-WOMEN/ (PIX), expect by 4 PM ET, by Simon Evans 400 words) - - Can the spirit of the women's game survive its growth in popularity? EDMONTON - For those weary of players diving in the penalty area, rolling around on the pitch after minor fouls or brandishing imaginary yellow cards in the referee's face, the Women's World Cup has been a breath of fresh air. (SOCCER-WOMEN/FAIR (ANALYSIS), moved, by Simon Evans, 747 words) See also: Argentina faces Chile in history-rich Copa America final (SOCCER-COPA/ (PREVIEW, PIX) - - FIFA investigation Blatter says not corrupt, expects to 'go to heaven one day' BERLIN - Sepp Blatter, president of world soccer's governing body FIFA, tells a German magazine he has a clean conscience and believes he will "go to heaven one day." (SOCCER-FIFA/BLATTER, moved, 400 words) - - We will bring you all the latest news in the investigation into world soccer's governing body. (SOCCER-FIFA/) - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Redskins name a roadblock in stadium project? If the Washington Redskins want to build at the site of the old RFK Stadium, there could be only one way to get that new home - change the team name. (FBN-REDSKINS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 225 words) - - NFL roundup News and notes from around the NFL. (FBN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400-600 words per team) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Bucks get Monroe with max deal Greg Monroe chooses a three-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks over offers from the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. (BKN-BUCKS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Knicks to sign Afflalo Arron Afflalo agrees to a two-year, $16 million contract with the New York Knicks. (BKN-KNICKS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Pacers add Monta Ellis to backcourt Free agent guard Monta Ellis agrees to a four-year, $44 million contract with the Indiana Pacers. (BKN-MAVERICKS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Pelicans bring back Asik, Ajinca Unrestricted free-agent center Omer Asik and the New Orleans Pelicans are finalizing a five-year deal that could be worth up to $60 million. (BKN-PELICANS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - NBA roundup Recapping free agency's movers and shakers. (BKN-ROUNDUP/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 280 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: The Greenbrier Classic (to 5), White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Woods and Watson head Greenbrier field Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and 14-time major winner Tiger Woods are part of a strong field at the Old White TPC, where Argentine Angel Cabrera is defending champion. (GOLF-PGA/, expect by 8 PM ET, 300 words) See also: Woods fires lowest round of season at Greenbrier Classic (GOLF-PGA/) - - Masson: Solheim Cup can boost golf's appeal in Germany LONDON - Germany has produced champions like Bernhard Langer and Martin Kaymer but golf interest there is minimal and Caroline Masson says the 2015 Solheim Cup will be a great chance to show the locals how exciting the sport can be. (GOLF-WOMEN/MASSON (INTERVIEW), moved, by Tony Jimenez, 623 words) - - Nocera would swap 14 tour wins for one British Open LONDON - Gwladys Nocera has scooped up 14 wins on the Ladies European Tour but she would trade them all for one victory in the jewel of the crown tournament for European golfers, the British Open. (GOLF-WOMEN/NOCERA (INTERVIEW), moved, by Tony Jimenez, 608 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Twins call up slugging prospect Sano One of the top hitting prospects in the minor leagues was called up by the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Powerful Miguel Sano had 35 home runs in 2013 and is healthy again after elbow surgery in 2014. (BBO-TWINS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - Marlins RHP Fernandez impressive in return MIAMI - Nearly 14 months after Tommy John surgery, Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez is back on the mound against the Giants, where he touched 99 mph on the radar gun in the first inning and hit a home run against San Francisco's Matt Cain. (BBO-MARLINS-NEWS/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Walter Villa, 350 words) - - Today's MLB schedule at a glance - - American League Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 12:10 PM ET (PIX) Texas at Baltimore, 7:05 PM ET (PIX) Boston at Toronto, 7:07 PM ET (PIX) Minnesota at Kansas City, 8:10 PM ET (PIX) Seattle at Oakland, 10:05 PM ET - - National League San Francisco at Miami, 12:10 PM ET (PIX) Chicago Cubs at New York Mets, 1:10 PM ET (PIX) Milwaukee at Philadelphia, 6:35 PM ET (PIX) Washington at Atlanta, 7:10 PM ET (PIX) San Diego at St. Louis, 7:15 PM ET (PIX) Colorado at Arizona, 9:40 PM ET - - Interleague Pittsburgh at Detroit, 1:08 PM ET (PIX) - - MLB Roundup Running capsule recaps of all the games on the MLB schedule. (MLB-ROUNDUP/, expect first version ASAP after conclusion of the first game of the day, The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE St. Louis retires Martin St. Louis announces his retirement after 16 seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers. He scored 52 points last season. (HKN-RANGERS-LIGHTNING-NEWS/, expect by 3 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - Capitals sign RW Williams The Washington Capitals sign right winger Justin Williams to a two-year, $6.5 million contract. (HKN-CAPITALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 250 words) - - Oilers announce Sekera signing The Edmonton Oilers sign defenseman Andrej Sekera to a six-year, $33 million contract and center Mark Letestu to a three-year, $5.4 million contract. (HKN-OILERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - - - OLYMPICS Walsh Jennings sets sight on fourth straight gold BERLIN - Kerri Walsh Jennings is eyeing her fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro next year but the American beach volleyball champion will have to complete this remarkable feat with a new partner. (OLYMPICS-BEACH VOLLEYBALL/JENNINGS (INTERVIEW), moved, by Karolos Grohmann, 400 words) - - - - AUTO RACING Stewart can make Daytona dash into Chase Luckily for Tony Stewart, under the new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup format, a win in the next 10 races is all he needs to secure a berth in NASCAR's playoffs. One visit to Victory Lane can turn his season around. That visit could occur in Sunday's Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway. (CAR-SPRINT-NOTEBOOK/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 988 words) - - NASCAR Scuttles the Confederate Flag Does the Confederate flag belong at NASCAR races? Not anymore. (CAR-SPRINT-COLUMN/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jonathan Ingram, 852 words) - - NASCAR seeks to distance itself from Confederate flag, a fan favorite DAYTONA, Fla. - NASCAR is scaling up its efforts to limit the confederate flag at races, following the recent racially-motivated church shootings in Charleston, S.C. (NASCAR-FLAG/ (PIX), expect by 6 PM ET, 500 words) - - British Formula One Grand Prix 'Iceman' Raikkonen is feeling the heat, says Massa SILVERSTONE, England - Formula One fan favorite Kimi Raikkonen is feeling the heat at Ferrari despite his icy reputation and needs to chill out, according to the Finn's former teammate Felipe Massa. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/, (PIX), moved, by Alan Baldwin, 414 words) - - McLaren handed an extra power unit in rules review SILVERSTONE, England - Struggling McLaren will be allowed an extra engine for each of its drivers as Formula One announces a package of measures that include an overhaul of its controversial power unit penalty system. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/STRATEGY, moved, by Alan Baldwin, 417 words) - - Hamilton gets his hands on a proper trophy SILVERSTONE, England - Two-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is handed one of the sport's most prestigious trophies, only days after moaning about the poor quality of some of Formula One's podium prizes. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/HAMILTON-TROPHY (PIX), moved, by Alan Baldwin, 351 words) - - - - CYCLING Tour de France Giro/Tour double would be career-changing, says Contador UTRECHT, Netherlands - The Giro/Tour de France double would be a career-changing achievement, Alberto Contador says as he embarks on a the world's greatest cycling race less than two months after winning in Italy. (CYCLING-TOUR/ (PIX, TV), moved, by Julien Pretot, 468 words) See also: Contador has the crucial edge, says Yates (CYCLING-TOUR/YATES) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)