Sports News Roundup: Bucks' Middleton declines option; 'Kyrgios not such bad guy'

Bucks' Middleton declines option, hopes to stay in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star guard Khris Middleton opted out of the final year of his contract and will officially become an unrestricted free agent. Middleton passes on a one-year, $13 million deal for 2019-2020, but he and the Bucks are still discussing a new five-year contract to keep him in Milwaukee, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Kyrgios is not such a bad guy, says Djokovic

Novak Djokovic does not have a problem with his outspoken peer on the men's ATP Tour Nick Kyrgios or the Australian's stinging remarks regarding the Serb's personality, the world number one said on Wednesday. While speaking to tennis writer Ben Rothenberg on the 'No Challenges Remaining' podcast last month, Kyrgios described Djokovic as someone who has a "sick obsession" with being as popular as Swiss rival Roger Federer.

Wrong to remove World Cup fans advocating for Iranian women - FIFA

World soccer governing body FIFA says it was wrong for stewards to intervene and remove two fans at a women's World Cup match in France on Saturday because they advocated for Iranian women to be allowed into stadiums in the middle eastern country. Two supporters were forced to leave a match in Grenoble because they wore t-shirts which had slogans demanding Iranian women be allowed access to stadiums and messages relating to the enforcement of hijabs (headscarves worn by Muslim women).

Pliskova twins gear up for Birmingham sister act

World number three Karolina Pliskova says she will have to battle nerves and strange emotions when she faces her twin sister Kristyna in the main draw of a WTA event for the first time at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham on Wednesday. The Czech twins are set to meet in the second round at Edgbaston after former U.S. Open finalist Karolina accepted a wildcard to enter and beat Mihaela Buzarnescu on Monday.

Ex-UEFA head Platini released after being questioned over Qatar World Cup

Michel Platini, the former head of European soccer association UEFA, was released in the early hours of Wednesday after having been questioned over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament to Qatar. Platini's lawyer, William Bourdon, said his client was innocent of all charges and that he had been questioned on "technical grounds."

MLB roundup: Red-hot Blackmon makes history in Rockies' rout

Charlie Blackmon became the first Colorado player to have at least three hits in five consecutive games as the Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 in Phoenix on Tuesday night. Blackmon, who set a major league record with 15 hits in a four-game series against the San Diego Padres last weekend, went 3-for-5 with a double on Tuesday. He is the 12th player since 1900 -- and the first since Houston's Jose Altuve (July 4-9, 2017) -- with three hits or more in five consecutive games, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

Hurricanes expect to lose goalies Mrazek, McElhinney

The Carolina Hurricanes are preparing for the likelihood they will lose goalies Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney when free agency opens July 1. "We're trying to sign them, but it doesn't look like we're going to get either signed," Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell told reporters. "So, if not, we'll go to the market and see what's out there for July 1."

Top Swiss prosecutor recuses himself from football corruption probe

Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber will no longer participate in meetings about his department's probe into corruption in world soccer, his office said on Wednesday, as he bows to a court order to recuse himself from the case. The Swiss Federal Criminal Court, in a ruling published on Tuesday, had concluded Lauber's closed-door meetings with FIFA President Gianni Infantino had raised the appearance of bias and disqualified him from the probe.

Italian PM Conte will attend 2026 Games vote to back Milan - source

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will attend an International Olympic Committee vote on Monday to support Milan and Cortina D'Ampezzo's bid to land the 2026 winter Games, a source within the Italian Olympic Committee said on Wednesday. The Italian bid is up against the Swedish candidacy of Stockholm and Are, with the IOC to elect the winning bid on Monday.

French Open champion Barty makes smooth transition to grass

French Open champion Ashleigh Barty made a smooth transition from Parisian clay to British lawns as the Australian opened her grasscourt campaign with an impressive 6-3 6-4 victory over Croatia's Donna Vekic on Wednesday. In her first match since winning her maiden Grand Slam title by beating Marketa Vondrousova at Roland Garros little more than a week ago, the 23-year-old began sluggishly but quickly found her rhythm to move through to the second round.