Today's sports news: what you need to know

Latest - Daniil Medvedev is the first Russian man to reach a Grand Slam tennis final since Marat Safin in 2005.

The fifth seed has beaten unseeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets to book a place in the final of the US Open in New York.

Medvedev has had a complicated relationship with the Flushing Meadows crowds, who cast him as a U.S. Open bad boy following some on-court antics, but the fifth seeded Russian has been as good as gold where it matters -- on the scoreboard.

The win sends Medvedev through to his fourth straight final, where he'll meet three-times champion and second seed Rafael Nadal, and stretches his winning streak to 12 matches.

Jonelle Price edges ahead of her husband at Burghley

Jonelle Price is the best placed of the New Zealand eventers after the dressage phase of the Burghley Horse Trials.

She's recorded a score of 28.4 on Faerie Dianimo to be seventh equal.

Her husband Tim Price, the defending champion, is ninth equal on Ringwood Sky Boy with a score of 28.7 penalty points.

Tim Price is also 11th equal on Bango and 20th on Xavier Faer.

Great Britain's Pippa Funnell and her horse MGH Grafton Street lead Burghley after a score of 22.8.

England run away with comfortable win

A mix and match England team has overcome a patchy start to run in four second-half tries and finish their Rugby World Cup preparations with a healthy 37-0 victory over Italy at St James' Park in Newcastle.

With various new combinations and several key men sitting out the game, England were restricted to three Owen Farrell penalties in the first half as Italy defended with gusto and even threatened a try on a couple of occasions.

It was one-way traffic in the second half though as Ben Youngs, Joe Marchant, Ellis Genge and Anthony Watson all crossed.

England fly out to Japan tomorrow, beginning their campaign against Tonga on Sept. 22, and will travel in good heart with wins against Wales, Ireland and Italy under their belt, along with a narrow defeat by Warren Gatland's Welsh side.

Italy face Namibia in their Rugby World Cup opener, also on Sept. 22.

- Reuters

Flattering win for Scots at Murrayfield

Scotland's completed its Rugby World Cup build-up with a second successive victory over Georgia but found things tougher going this week before a late surge secured a somewhat flattering 36-9 victory at Murrayfield.

Scotland won 44-10 in Tbilisi but struggled to impose themselves in an error-strewn first half today as they led 10-9 at the break after tries for Ali Price and Blair Kinghorn against three Tedo Abzhandadze penalties.

The Scots were in control in the second half, however, and added further tries through Sam Johnson, Darcy Graham, and brothers George and Pete Horne.

As with their previous three warm-ups, the Scots played well in parts but struggled to sustain it and coach Gregor Townsend may still have quite a few World Cup selections yet to be settled in his mind.

Scotland have a tough start to their World Cup campaign as they face Pool A favourites Ireland in their opening game.

Georgia open up against Wales in Pool D, which also contains Australia.

- Reuters

Springboks gain revenge in final RWC warm-up

A hat-trick of tries from Makazole Mapimpi has led South Africa to a comfortable 41-7 victory over Japan in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up match, laying down a tournament marker and gaining revenge for defeat four years ago.

Japan's famous 34-32 victory at the 2015 World Cup had dominated the build-up to Friday's clash but the hosts were never in the contest as South Africa pounced on sloppy handling and play at the breakdown.

Ahead of the World Cup opener against old rivals New Zealand on September 21, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, who named a strong side, was pleased with the test provided by the Japanese.

"We played against a very strong Japanese team, which we wanted to play against before we played against the All Blacks and we got exactly what we expected," said Erasmus.

"Luckily we didn't get a lot of injuries and we think now this puts us on the right track before we play the All Blacks in two weeks' time."

- Reuters

Quarter-final exit for Joelle King

New Zealand squash player Joelle King has been beaten in the quarter-finals of her season-opening tournament in Shanghai.

The world number six has been stunned by newly crowned world junior champion Hania El Hammamy of Egypt at the China Open.

El Hammamy has won in straight games, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9 in 50 minutes.

King is now scheduled to play the Oracle Netsuite Open in San Francisco, where she made the quarter-finals last year.

Fellow Kiwi Paul Coll starts his new season tonight at the Open De France in Nantes, where he is the second seed.

Jones progresses at final world cup

Kiwi kayaker Luuka Jones has tapped into some rich paddling form, with Olympic qualifications on the horizon.

The Olympic silver medalist was one of three New Zealanders to make semifinals of the final ICF canoe slalom World Cup of the season in Prague overnight, joining K1 men Finn Butcher and Callum Gilbert in progressing.

It's the final event before the world championships in Spain at the end of the month, which doubles as the main Olympic qualifier.

Jones made it through in both her K1 and C1 heats. She was 13th in the K1 first round, posting a time of 106.56secs, which included a 2sec penalty for touching Gate 8.

Jones also qualified in 14th in her C1 run, although her 120.04sec time left her 9.11secs off the pace set by Austria's Nadine Weratschnig.

Campbell's European Tour return comes to an end

New Zealand Michael Campbell has missed the cut at his first European Tour event in seven years.

The 2005 US Open winner has carded an improved two-over par 74 in the second round of the European Open in Germany but has finished eight-over par for the tournament, five shots adrift of the cut line.

New Zealand number one Ryan Fox will play the final two rounds after moving up the leaderboard on day two.

He's carded a one-under par 71 in his second round to be tied for 58th at three-over.

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre sits atop the leaderboard at 11-under par, four shots clear of his nearest rival.

Lewis secures Oly Whites a draw in warm-up match

The New Zealand U-23 men's football team have drawn 1-1 with their Australian counterparts in the first of two international friendlies in New South Wales.

The Des Buckingham coached team, who are preparing for the OFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Fiji later this month, competed well with Gary van Egmond's Australian team with nothing separating the sides at half-time.

The Young Socceroos took the lead in the 56th minute when Lachlan Wales set up Riley McGree for the opener.

The 20-year-old midfielder from Adelaide United made up for failing to convert the best chance of the first half when he found the back of the net after good lead-up work from Wales.

New Zealand got back on level terms soon after.

All Whites midfielder Clayton Lewis delivered a sweetly timed free-kick to beat Australian keeper Tom Glover in the 71st minute.

Melbourne presented with minor premiership

The Melbourne Storm have rolled over the top of the North Queensland Cowboys 24-16 in their final round NRL match at AAMI Park in Melbourne.

The Storm were presented with the JJ Giltinan Shield by NRL boss Todd Greenberg after the match in clinching their third minor premiership in four years.

The win was their 20th for the season, the fourth time they have achieved such a feat, with the last time in 2017 leading to a grand final triumph.

Stunningly their biggest loss in the regular season was by just four points.

Earlier, the Parramatta Eels beat the Manly Se Eagles 32-16 in Sydney to secure fifth place on the NRL ladder.

- AAP

Former Kiwis winger heading to the UK

Newcastle winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall has played his final game in the NRL after accepting a deal with a Super League club.

Kenny-Dowall, who has been a solid servant for the Knights over the past three years, was due to come off contract at the end of the season.

It is believed the former New Zealand international has been ruled out of Sunday's final round clash with Penrith because of a knee injury.

The 31-year-old now departs for England after 277 games in 13 seasons in the NRL, 10 of which were with the Sydney Roosters.

Kenny-Dowall played on the wing in the Roosters' 2010 triumph, and his 121 tries for the Tri-colours is second to Anthony Minichiello in club history.

He also played 13 Tests for the Kiwis, making his debut in 2007.

- AAP

Former Pakistan leg-spinner passes away

Pakistan cricket great Abdul Qadir, who revived the art of leg-spin bowling, has died at the age of 63.

Pakistani media reported that he died of cardiac arrest.

Qadir made his Pakistan debut in 1977 in Lahore and went on to play 67 tests and 104 one-day internationals, claiming a total of 368 wickets.

The PCB wrote on Twitter: "PCB is shocked at the news of 'maestro' Abdul Qadir's passing and has offered its deepest condolences to his family and friends."

Qadir was an influential figure in Pakistan's most successful teams in the 1980s and later a mentor to the next generation of leg-spinners, including Australia's Shane Warne and Pakistan's Mushtaq Ahmed.

After retiring from the sport, he served as the chief selector for Pakistan.

"They called him the magician for many reasons but when he looked me in the eyes & told me I was going to play for Pakistan for the next 20 years, I believed him," former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram wrote on Twitter

- Reuters

Afghanistan captain shines against Bangladesh

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan dominated day two of their one-off test against Bangladesh with a maiden half-century and four wickets as the tourists took control.

Khan's 51 off 61 balls took his side to 342 all out, their highest test total, but he was far from finished as he helped reduce the hosts to 8-194 by the close in Chattogram.

Afghanistan batsman Asghar Afghan fell eight short of his first test century.

But he still posted his top score and then it was over to the bowlers as Yamin Ahmadzai struck to remove Shadman Islam with the fourth ball of Bangladesh's innings.

Rashid then took centre stage again, accounting for the key wickets of captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in the same over.

Mominul Haque (52) helped ensure Bangladesh avoided the follow-on before Mosaddek Hossain (44 not out) and Taijul Islam (14 not out) shared an unbeaten 48-run stand.

- AAP

Malaysia complaining to FIFA

Malaysia's football association will file a formal complaint to FIFA after bottles and flares were thrown at the country's supporters during its World Cup 2022 qualifying game against Indonesia on Thursday

The South Korean referee was also forced to stop the game for several minutes after Indonesian fans invaded the pitch at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno stadium. Malaysia came from behind to win the match 3-2 in stoppage time.

"Gangsterism will not be tolerated in any way. The safety of Malaysian players and supporters is a priority," Malaysia's sports minister Syed Saddiq said on Instagram after attending the game.

Indonesian police also fired tear gas outside the stadium to disperse the crowd, while Malaysian supporters had to be escorted by anti-riot police out of the area.

"On behalf of the Indonesian people and the government, we would like to apologise for the unpleasant actions that were carried out by Indonesian supporters," Indonesia's sports minister Imam Nahrawi said in a statement.

- Reuters

Semenya signs with football club

Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya could trade her running shoes for football boots as early as next year after the 28-year-old signed for South African women's club JVW FC.

The South African athlete will not be able to defend her 800 metres title at the world championships later this month after the Swiss Federal Tribunal reversed a ruling that temporarily lifted testosterone regulations imposed on her.

Her latest move suggests that Semenya could potentially be preparing for a career outside of athletics.

"I'm grateful for this opportunity and I appreciate the love and support I already get from the team. I'm looking forward to this new journey and hopefully I can contribute as much as I can to the club," Semenya said in a statement on JVW's website.

Although Semenya will not be registered for the current SAFA Sasol League season, she will continue to train with JVW in preparation for a 2020 debut in the country's top tier.

Semenya is appealing the Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling that supported regulations introduced by the sport's governing body, the IAAF.

- Reuters

Roglic extends Vuelta lead.

Slovenian Primoz Roglic struck another blow in his bid to win the Vuelta a Espana by extending his overall lead by 33 seconds after finishing second on stage 13 on the tail of winner Tadej Pogacar.

Roglic now leads Spaniard Alejandro Valverde by two minutes 25 seconds, while fellow Slovenian Pogacar climbed into third place overall thanks to his stage win, trailing Roglic by three minutes and one second.

Roglic had taken a commanding lead by winning the stage 10 time trial but had taken it easy in the last two hilly rides along with his fellow general classification contenders.

Yet he took centre stage when the race returned to the mountains in picturesque northern Spain for the 166.4 kilometre ride from Bilbao to Los Machucos.

Roglic's team-mate George Bennett is the leading New Zealand rider in 14th overall, more than 13 and a half minutes back.

- Reuters

First quarter-finalists found at Basketball World Cup

Heavyweights Serbia and Spain have advanced to the Basketball World Cup quarter- finals with a game to spare and were joined by Poland and Argentina after all four sides won their opening second group stage matches.

Serbia mauled Puerto Rico 90-47 and Spain overpowered Italy 67-60 in Group J on Friday, while Poland beat Russia 79-74 and Argentina breezed past Venezuela 87-67 as the quartet stretched their perfect records to four successive wins.

The Tall Blacks will play Japan in its first classification game in Japan tonight.

New Zealand will also face Turkey on Monday night after missing out on the second round.

The Tall Blacks beat Montenegro, but lost to Brazil and Greece.

- Reuters

Leclerc sets the pace at Monza

Charles Leclerc has the pace in practice for his Ferrari team's home Italian Grand Prix with Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton hot on his heels for Mercedes.

The 21-year-old Monegasque led both sessions at Monza, the soggy and crash-strewn first one hardly representative after heavy overnight downpours while showers returned in the afternoon.

Fresh from his first F1 victory last weekend at a Belgian Grand Prix overshadowed by the death of French Formula Two racer Anthoine Hubert, Leclerc lapped the 'Pista Magica' with a best time of one minute 20.978 seconds.

The youngster had led the first session timesheets with a time of 1:27.905 and is hitting a fine run of form after also dominating practice at Spa-Francorchamps and taking pole position.

Ferrari and Monza are both celebrating 90th anniversaries this weekend, with a big crowd already on Friday and the grandstands festooned with red and white banners.

Ferrari have not won at Monza since Spaniard Fernando Alonso in 2010 but hopes of ending that drought are high at a circuit that suits their car's characteristics, although rain is expected.

- Reuters