Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - Roger Federer has played his first match on clay in almost three years, winning his second round match at the Madrid Open.

The 37-year-old Swiss legend beat France's world number 39 Richard Gasquet in 53 minutes, 6-2, 6-3.

Gasquet, playing his first tournament of the year following a groin injury, did not look fully fit.

Nevertheless, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was at his ruthless best.

"It's been a special night for me to come back and play here," fourth seed Federer said.

"I was very calm all day waiting for the match, sometimes nerves can come up when you're waiting all day but only felt them when started talking about tactics.

"They went away and I played a great match."

Federer was making his return to the red dirt for the first time since losing to Austria's Dominic Thiem at the 2016 Rome Masters, having missed that year's French Open with a back injury and sitting out the past two clay-court swings to preserve his body.

-BBC

Taylor finds form

Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor has hit form in England, ahead of the start of the Cricket World Cup there at the end of this month.

The world's third ranked ODI batsman has hit 94 from just 85 balls for county side Middlesex in a 33-run win over Kent in their one day match at Kent this morning.

Taylor started his stint with Middlesex last month with 64, but had only managed scores of 5, 6 and 2 before today's almost century.

Taylor's team-mate Max Holden was the star of the match, blasting 166 from only 139 balls.

Nikorima to start for Warriors

New signing Kodi Nikorima will make his Warriors debut at his old home ground of Suncorp Stadium after being named to start at standoff for Saturday's NRL game against St George Illawarra in Brisbane.

The 25-year-old Palmerston North-born Kiwi international will become Warrior number 236 just eight days after being signed from the Brisbane Broncos.

Nikorima has an intimate knowledge of Suncorp Stadium after playing at the venue in almost 50 of his 86 matches for the Broncos. His last outing for Brisbane was in its 29-6 seventh-round home win against Cronulla on April 27.

Meanwhile hooker Issac Luke has been dropped to the bench and replaced by Nathaniel Roache.

Adam Blair misses the game as he serves a one week suspension.

Two NZ refs for World Cup

Just two New Zealand referees will officiate games in this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Paul Williams and Ben O'Keefe have both been selected for their first ever Wold Cup and are a part of a 12-strong referee team.

Another leading New Zealand referee Glen Jackson has missed out.

Meanwhile Brendon Pickerill has been selected as an assistant referee in his first Rugby World Cup and specialist television match official (TMO), Ben Skeen, will participate in his third Rugby World Cup.

England's Wayne Barnes and Wales' Nigel Owens will be officiating at their fourth World Cup.

World Cup Referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England), Jérôme Garcès (France), Romain Poite (France), Pascal Gaüzère (France), Mathieu Raynal (France), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand), Nic Berry (Australia), Angus Gardner (Australia)

New engine for Ferrari

Ferrari are bringing forward to this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix an engine upgrade originally scheduled for Canada in June as they battle the early-season domination of Formula One champions Mercedes.

Mercedes have won the first four races one-two with five times world champion Lewis Hamilton and his Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas, who leads the Briton by a single point, having two wins each.

Ferrari were quickest in pre-season testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, however.

Team boss Mattia Binotto said Ferrari were "pushing hard to make up ground.

The Spanish Grand Prix is the first round of the European season with teams close to their factories again and set to bring some substantial upgrades.

Ferrari took a new aerodynamic package to the previous race in Baku, with Sebastian Vettel finishing third and Charles Leclerc fifth.

Vettel is 35 points behind Bottas in the drivers' standings. Ferrari are 74 behind Mercedes in the constructors' championship.

-Reuters

Olympic football qualifying draw made

The draw has been made for the Oceania men's football Olympic qualifying tournament with the New Zealand Under 23 now knowing the path they must take to earn a place at the 2020 Games in Tokyo.

Top-seeded New Zealand, whose campaign will be led by All Whites Head Coach Fritz Schmid, have been drawn in Group A and will face the fourth-ranked Solomon Islands, as well as Pacific cousins American Samoa and Samoa.

In Group B, second-seeded and hosts Fiji will need to overcome third-ranked Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.

Only one berth is available to Oceania at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Oceania tournament will be played in late September.

Thomson in Scotland rugby squad

The former Hurricanes forward Blade Thomson has been named in a 42-man Scotland rugby squad to prepare for this year's World Cup.

Thomson is one of three uncapped players in coach Gregor Townsend's squad.

Thomson left New Zealand last year and has been playing for Welsh side Scarlets.

He is eligible for Scotland through a grand parent.

Scotland play two tests each against France and Georgia starting in August, before taking on Ireland in their World Cup Pool A opener in Yokohama on Sept. 22.

-RNZ/Reuters

Indians progress in IPL

Mumbai Indians batsman Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten half-century to help the three-times champions beat Chennai Super Kings by six wickets and reach their fifth Indian Premier League final.

Chasing 132 for victory, Yadav scored 71 from 54 balls to help table-toppers Mumbai comfortably cross the finish line with nine balls to spare.

Earlier, Chennai skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat but the hosts found themselves in trouble early on, losing three wickets with only 32 runs on the board.

Chennai will have another opportunity to reach the final of the tournament when they face the winners of tomorrow's clash between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

-AAP

Punter gets rich on Trump win

A far-sighted punter has won $19,000 after Judd Trump's victory in the World Championship saw a 21-year-old bet finally pay off.

Racing journalist Neil Morrice placed a bet on Trump to win the snooker showpiece in 1998 after seeing the then-eight-year-old play a frame against his son.

At the time the young Englishman needed to stand on a box to reach the table.

Now, he's the world champion, following a convincing 18-9 victory over John Higgins at Sheffield's famous Crucible.

Morrice said he felt he had "seen something" when he first witnessed Trump in action against his 12-year-old son Richard.

Following the encounter, Morrice called a bookmaker and was offered a "fantasy bet" at 1,000-1 for Trump to become champion of the world by the age of 30.

The eventual victory was all the sweeter as this year's tournament was the last opportunity for Trump, 29, to ensure the bet came to fruition.