Maria Sharapova "will be unable to compete in Wimbledon qualifying at Roehampton because of injury." The five-time Grand Slam champion "has not played since retiring with a thigh problem from her second-round match" at the Italian Open on May 16. She is "hoping to return at the end of July, by which time the grass court season will have ended." As a result of "missing the entire grass court season, she will not be ranked highly enough to gain direct entry" into the US Open (BBC, 6/10).
All India Football Federation President Praful Patel on Saturday proposed that the top four I-League and Indian Super League teams "engage in a competition" from which the winners and runners-up will be awarded AFC Champions League and AFC Cup slots, respectively, sources said (IANS, 6/10).
The Derrick Lewis vs. Mark Hunt fight "drew an audience of 8,649 to Spark Arena" in New Zealand for UFC Fight Night 110 that accounted for gate receipts of $829,644. Hunt "put on a stellar performance for his home country fans" (MMAWEEKLY.com, 6/11).
Rock band The Killers "are reportedly coming to Melbourne to perform" at the 2017 Australian Football League Grand Final. Rumors "have been swirling for weeks" that the band would be coming to Australia. Sources have since confirmed that The Killers "will headline the most important day on the AFL calendar." AFL spokesperson Patrick Keane declined to comment. He said that fans can expect an announcement about pregame entertainment in a "couple of weeks" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 6/9).
