SERENA WILLIAMS is "very likely" to return to Melbourne for the 2018 Australian Open, according to Tournament Dir CRAIG TILEY. Williams gave birth to her first child during the 2017 US Open, and has not "competed professionally since she won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open earlier this year." She has been training with her new hitting partner, JARMERE JENKINS (London GUARDIAN, 12/6). ... Former Real Madrid player HENNING JENSEN passed away, aged 68. He won two consecutive La Liga titles and made 102 appearances, scoring 19 goals (Real Madrid). ... MANNY PACQUIAO announced he has been promoted to the role of colonel in the Philippines Army. The 38-year-old Filipino, "who is an army reservist and previously held the role of lieutenant colonel, posted a series of pictures on Instagram in his army fatigues" (BBC, 12/6).
ON THE MOVE: Socceroos legend TIM CAHILL quit A-League side Melbourne City in a move that has "looked to be on the cards ever since he made his plea last month for more game time to help him cement a spot in the World Cup squad." The striker, who has "rarely" been featured in new coach WARREN JOYCE's starting lineup, has not said where he is going. Cahill was in the second year of a "lucrative" multi-million dollar contract that was reportedly "heavily front-end loaded" (THE AGE, 12/6).
