Golfer LEE WESTWOOD left Int'l Sports Management and split with his manager, CHUBBY CHANDLER. Westwood is now "joining IMG." The reasons "remain unclear, although it is understood that there is a legal dispute between the golfer and the agency." Westwood was one of Chandler's "first signings after he founded the agency" in '91, and the two have "owned many horses together" (London TELEGRAPH, 7/11). ... JOHANNA KONTA turned in "the performance of her life" to become the first British woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals since '78. Konta defeated No. 2 seed SIMONA HALEP. She will play VENUS WILLIAMS on Thursday (London GUARDIAN, 7/11). ... Australian world No. 188 tennis player SAM GROTH revealed that he was offered "a lot of money" to throw a match at a British grass-court tournament. A bribe was offered to Groth, 29, to "lose a match in straight sets at the Aegon Open ATP Challenger event" in Nottingham last month (LONDON TIMES, 7/11). ... Bayern Munich signed JAMES RODRÍGUEZ from Real Madrid in a two-year loan deal. The 25-year-old moves to the German club after three seasons in the Spanish capital, "where he never managed to secure a guaranteed starting place." Bayern has an option to buy the Colombian at the end of the loan deal (London GUARDIAN, 7/11).
NOT SO FAST: The BCCI on Tuesday denied reports that RAVI SHASTRI was appointed coach of the Indian cricket team, saying that the Cricket Advisory Committee was "still deliberating on the matter." Amid "media frenzy" that Shastri was named coach until the 2019 World Cup, BCCI Secretary AMITABH CHAUDHARY said, "No decision has been made on appointment of new coach" (PTI, 7/11). ... Mercedes Formula 1 team driver LEWIS HAMILTON "urged his fans to be patient and to try to understand the many frustrations that go with a world championship challenge as he prepares for his home grand prix at Silverstone this weekend." The Briton has "suffered a series of misfortunes in his Mercedes in the past two races which have cost him valuable points" (LONDON TIMES, 7/10). ... The most expensive signing in Arsenal's history will make his club debut in Australia after ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE's role for the club's upcoming tour was confirmed by Manager ARSÈNE WENGER. The 160,000 fans expected to attend the two games in Sydney this week will be "treated" to Arsenal's newest striker, who is set to make his first appearance for the Gunners in Thursday's match against A-League side Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium. Wenger declared Lacazette "will play not only a role on Thursday night but is set to back-up two days later" when Arsenal faces Western Sydney Wanderers (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/11).
