Jesus not concussed after being elbowed

MELBOURNE • Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has escaped serious injury after being taken to hospital during Brazil's 0-1 loss to Argentina in their friendly football match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

He was carried off the pitch on a stretcher in stoppage time after being accidentally struck in the head by the elbow of his City team-mate Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina.

Brazil coach Tite also allayed fears that Jesus could have suffered concussion, though the 20-year-old is in doubt for the team's next friendly match against Australia at the same venue on Tuesday.

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Sharapova in doubt for Birmingham event

LONDON • Five-time Grand Slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova is said to be pulling out of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham - which starts on Saturday - because she has not recovered from an injury.

The 30-year-old Russian returned to action in April after a 15-month ban for doping and played last month in the Italian Open, where she retired in the second round against Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni owing to a thigh problem.

The BBC reported that official confirmation is expected in the next few days.