BC-AP Sports Preview Digest
Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent about 3 p.m. All times EDT:
- LONDON - Serena Williams resumes her Grand Slam quest, playing Maria Sharapova in the Wimbledon semifinals. The winner faces Garbine Muguruza, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska in the other semifinal.
- LONDON - Three of the four players Friday in the men's semifinals - Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - have won Wimbledon. The other, Richard Gasquet, has never been to a Grand Slam final.
- DALLAS - DeAndre Jordan's stunning change of heart leaves the Mavericks with few, if any, options to try to stay competitive for aging star Dirk Nowitzki in the demanding Western Conference.
- CLEVELAND - Kevin Love had a ''very honest'' talk with LeBron James before deciding to return to the Cavaliers. Now, Cleveland is focused on a new deal with James and forward Tristan Thompson.
- LAS VEGAS - Diving for loose balls, clogging passing lanes, taking charges. They're the intangibles, and the NBA wants to make them tangibles. These ''hustle stats'' will be measured in the Las Vegas summer league.
- CINCINNATI - Hits king Pete Rose speaks during a conference call about next week's All-Star Game in his hometown of Cincinnati.
- SEATTLE - Mariners ace Felix Hernandez goes for his 11th win when Seattle opens a series against the Angels. In his last nine starts against the Angels, Hernandez is 5-0 with a 0.93 ERA. Game starts 10:10 p.m.
- LOS ANGELES - Zack Greinke, working on a scoreless streak of 27 2-3 innings, makes his final push to start the All-Star Game when the first-place Dodgers play last-place Philadelphia. Game starts 10 p.m.
- PITTSBURGH - The Pirates, winners of five straight, try to gain ground on first-place St. Louis when they open a four-game series with the Cardinals. Pittsburgh is 4 1/2 games back. Game starts 7:05 p.m.
- LANCASTER, Pa. - Michelle Wie opens defense of her U.S. Women's Open title on a hot, humid day against a field featuring top-ranked Inbee Park, 2014 runner-up Stacey Lewis and teenage sensation Lydia Ko.
- SILVIS, Ill. - Jordan Spieth, winner of the Masters and U.S. Open, has skipped Scotland for the familiarity of the John Deere Classic. He begins play against a thin field a week before the British Open.
- GULLANE, Scotland - The Scottish Open begins without injured Rory McIlroy but with a slew of top players looking for links practice leading to next week's British Open.
- LE HAVRE, France - Germany's Tony Martin has the yellow jersey entering the sixth stage of the Tour de France, with Britain's Chris Froome 12 seconds back.
- GENEVA - Chuck Blazer is banned for life by FIFA for widespread corruption, ending the career of the longtime most senior American in world soccer. Blazer pleaded guilty to racketeering and tax evasion.
- CHICAGO - Mexico begins CONCACAF Gold Cup play against Cuba down a key player after losing forward Javier ''Chicharito'' Hernandez to a broken collarbone. Game starts 9:30 p.m.
- LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Justin Gatlin is among three of the five fastest men in history running the 100 meters at the Athletissima Diamond League meet.