Maria Sharapova at Italian Open, Rome, Italy, 13 May 2014. Image credit: CC BY 2.0

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has decided to not hand Russian professional tennis player, Maria Sharapova, a wildcard entry to the French Open to ‘protect’ the sport’s standards.

Sharapova, who’s 30, was ranked too low to gain direct entry as she continues her return from a 15-month drugs ban.

But the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), has said that there were no grounds to penalize Sharapova.

The French Open begins on 28th May.

Football can help increase self-confidence in teenagers

Match between Germany and Sweden in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2003 final. Image credit: Curt Gibbs, CC BY 2.0

A research commissioned by UEFA has suggested that football can help increase teenage girls’ self-confidence more than other sports.

The study sampled 4,128 females aged 13 and over in Spain, Denmark, England, Germany, Poland and Turkey.

Research proves that teenage girls who play football report higher self-confidence 📈 🙌 https://t.co/I540R9SdCI

Together #WePlayStrong 💪 pic.twitter.com/6BA8AKSKbx

— UEFA (@UEFA) May 17, 2017

It found that 80% of teenage female footballers said playing football made them feel more confident, compared to 74% of those who practise other sports.

58% of the girls also said that they had overcome a lack of self-confidence as a result of the sport.

North Korea v Malaysia Asian Cup qualifier postponed again

Malaysia’s Asian Cup qualifier in North Korea is being postponed a second time citing ‘geo-political tension’ and ‘safety and security’ concerns.

The match was first postponed to June 8th following the murder of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s half-brother.

The new date for the game is now set for October 5th.

Malaysia’s football chief, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, said that he was worried players could be poisoned.

Walter Mazzarri to leave Watford after final match of the season

Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri will step down from his position at the end of the 2016/17 season: https://t.co/FSuI2Yqgmupic.twitter.com/bRFTAi3DRr

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 17, 2017

The chairman of Watford FC, Scott Duxbury, has announced in a statement released today that the club will drop manager, Walter Mazzarri after the club’s final match of the season.

The 55-year-old Italian signed a three year deal to succeed Quique Sanches Flores last summer.

Mazzarri’s defensive style of football and failure to learn English are factors that contributed to his departure.

The next manager will be the 9th manager for Watford in five years.