Gemma quits

EDINBURGH’S Gemma Gibbons is giving up judo at the age of 30 just months after being dropped from the sport’s world-class programme when she refused to move south.

The 2012 Olympic silver medallist will now start a new career as a teacher. MARIA SHARAPOVA will not seek a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw – but will play in the qualifying rounds.

The Russian was denied a return to Grand Slam competition at the French Open after her 15-month doping ban when she was refused a wild card either to the main draw or qualifying.

Now she has taken the decision on whether to give her a Wimbledon main draw wild card out of the hands of officials.

Sharapova said: “Due to my improved ranking after the first three tournaments of my return I will play in qualifying at Wimbledon and will not request a wild card for the main draw.

“I have been getting treatment on the injury I sustained a few days ago in Rome and will begin my preparation as soon I get better.”

Meanwhile, Austria’s Dominic Thiem dumped seven-times champion Rafael Nadal out of the Italian Open 6-4 6-3 to reach the semi-finals.

Beaten twice by the Spaniard in the last three weeks, in Barcelona and in Madrid, Thiem made it third time lucky against the 30-year-old.

The Austrian will now play world No.2 Novak Djokovic or Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.

Germany’s Alexander Zverev, 20, reached his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final with a 7-6 (4) 6-1 defeat of world No.6 Milos Raonic. He now faces USA’s John Isner who beat Croatian Marin Cilic 7-6 (3) 2-6 7-6 (2).