Reuters Sports Schedule at 0001 GMT on Friday, June 9

Reuters sports schedule at 0001 GMT on Friday:

TENNIS

French Open

Nadal faces Thiem, Murray takes on Wawrinka in semis

PARIS - Rafa Nadal takes on Austrian Dominic Thiem in the semi-finals as the Spaniard closes in on an unprecedented 10th French Open title. World number one Andy Murray, back in form after a slump, meets Swiss Stan Wawrinka who, like Nadal and Thiem, has yet to drop a set. (TENNIS-FRENCHOPEN/ (PIX), expect by 1500 GMT/1100 AM ET, by Martyn Herman and Julien Pretot)

IOC MEETING

IOC mulls Games awards report, Bach to holds news briefing

GENEVA - The International Olympic Committee discusses a report on the possibility of awarding the 2024 and 2028 Games at the same time when it holds a one-day executive board meeting, with President Thomas Bach expected to give a news briefing. (OLYMPICS-2024/ (PIX, TV), by Karolos Grohmann, 400 words)

SOCCER

World Cup qualifiers

Europe (1845 unless stated)

Group A

Belarus v Bulgaria

Netherlands v Luxembourg

Sweden v France

Group B

Andorra v Hungary

Faroe Islands v Switzerland

Latvia v Portugal

Group H

Bosnia v Greece

Estonia v Belgium

Gibraltar v Cyprus

European World Cup qualifying resumes

Sweden host France in top-of-the-table clash

STOCKHOLM - Leaders France visit second-placed Sweden, who are three points off the pace, in a much-anticipated clash between the Group A favourites. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-SWE-FRA/ (PIX), by Phil O'Connor, expect at 2045 GMT/4:45 PM ET, 400 words)

Sneijder to become most capped Dutchman, Advocaat takes over

ROTTERDAM - Netherlands should get their qualifying campaign back on track against Luxembourg after a terrible start as Dick Advocaat takes over again as coach with Wesley Sneijder set to become the country's most capped player. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-NLD-LUX/ (PIX), expect at 2045 GMT/4:45 PM ET, 400 words)

European champions Portugal travel to Latvia

RIGA - European champions Portugal visit Latvia needing a win to keep pace with Group B leaders Switzerland. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-LVA-POR/ (PIX), expect at 2045 GMT/4:45 PM ET, 400 words)

Unbeaten Belgium welcome Estonia with goals on their mind

TALLINN - Belgium beat Estonia 8-1 at home in November and should have little trouble securing another win to extend their unbeaten run in Group H even without captain Eden Hazard who broke his ankle in training at the weekend. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP-EST-BEL/ (PIX), expect at 2045 GMT/4:45 PM ET, 400 words)

US host Trinidad as CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers resume

The United States need a win when they host Trinidad and Tobago in Colorado, while leaders Mexico host Honduras and Costa Rica host Panama as the CONCACAF Hexagonal resumes in the race for places in next year's World Cup. (SOCCER-WORLDCUP/CONCACAF (PIX), expect by 0400 GMT/12 AM ET, 400 words)

Argentina start Sampaoli era against Brazil

Jorge Sampaoli makes his debut as Argentina coach and welcomes back Lionel Messi for a mouth-watering 'Superclasico' against Brazil at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (SOCCER-FRIENDLY-ARG-BRA/, expect by 1000 GMT Friday/6 AM ET, by Ian Ransom, 400 words)

European football struggles to find right balance

ZURICH - The days when Irish semi-professional side Cork City could host German giants Bayern Munich appear to belong in the past as European club football becomes more and more exclusive. (SOCCER-EUROPE/INEQUALITY (SPORTS FEATURE, PIX), moving at 0200 GMT/10 PM ET, by Brian Homewood, 800 words)

European club news

We will bring all the latest transfer news from around Europe as teams begin improving their squads for next season. (SOCCER-COUNTRY-TEAM/ expect throughout)

MOTOR RACING

Canadian Formula One Grand Prix

Vettel and Hamilton limber up for another big battle

MONTREAL - Ferrari's championship leader Sebastian Vettel and closest rival Lewis Hamilton, whose once-dominant Mercedes team are now casting themselves as underdogs, take to the track for first practice. (MOTOR-F1/CANADA (PIX), expect by 1600 GMT/1200 PM ET, by Steve Keating, 400 words)

CRICKET

Champions Trophy

New Zealand v Bangladesh - Group A

New Zealand face Bangladesh in must-win game

CARDIFF - New Zealand take on Bangladesh in their third Group A match knowing the winners will stay in contention for a semi-final place if on Sunday hosts England beat Australia or that match is washed out. (CRICKET-CHAMPIONSTROPHY-NZL-BGD/(PIX), expect by 1700 GMT/1 PM ET, 400 words)

GOLF

PGA Tour: St. Jude Classic (to 11) Memphis, Tennessee

Berger defends as players tune up for U.S. Open

Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson and defending champion Daniel Berger head a field at TPC Southwind that includes 32 U.S. Open-bound players keen to get in a final tune-up before next week contesting the second major championship of the year. (GOLF-STJUDE/, expect by 0100 GMT/9 PM ET, 350 words)

LPGA: Manulife Classic, Cambridge, Ontario (to 11)

Henderson heads home country contingent

Thirteen Canadians, including world number 16 Brooke Henderson, are in the field as the LPGA Tour goes north of the border to Whistle Brook Golf Club in Ontario, where German Caroline Masson is defending champion. (GOLF-WOMEN/, expect by 0100 GMT/9 PM ET, 250 words)

ATHLETICS

Friend's death hangs over Bolt's final Jamaica run

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Usain Bolt is determined to go out in a blaze of glory when he runs his final race in Jamaica this weekend, even if his preparations have been disrupted by the death of his close friend Germaine Mason. (ATHLETICS-BOLT (INTERVIEW, PIX), moved, by Kayon Raynor, 638 words)

Bolt treasured by Jamaicans not only for his speed

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Usain Bolt's value to Jamaica over the last decade has gone far beyond just winning medals on the track. (ATHLETICS-BOLT/TRIBUTE, moved, by Kayon Raynor, 660 words)

RUGBY

British & Irish Lions tour of New Zealand

Lions face tough game against Crusaders

The British and Irish Lions and the Canterbury Crusaders complete their preparations for the third game of their 10-match tour of New Zealand. (RUGBY-UNION-LIONS/, expect throughout, 400 words)

Super Rugby (week 16)

Wellington Hurricanes v Waikato Chiefs, Wellington (0735)

The Wellington Hurricanes and Waikato Chiefs are the only two sides in Super Rugby action with the rest of the teams on the international break, with both looking to seal second place in the New Zealand conference with one game remaining. (RUGBY-UNION-SUPER/HURRICANES, expect by 1000 GMT/6 AM ET, 400 words)

South Africa captain addresses media ahead of France test

JOHANNESBURG - New Springbok captain Warren Whiteley talks to the media ahead of Saturday's first test against France at Loftus Versfeld. (RUGBY UNION-SAFRICA/WHITELEY, expect by 0700 GMT/3 AM ET, by Nick Said, 400 words)

NBA

Warriors and Cavs gear up for Game Four

CLEVELAND – We continue our coverage of the NBA Finals as the Golden State Warriors and defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers gear up for Game Four in the best-of-seven championship series. (BASKETBALL-NBA/FINALS (PIX), expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, by Frank Pingue, 400 words)

NHL

Penguins return home for Game Five

After the Nashville Predators won both their home games to level the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2, the series returns to Pittsburgh where the defending champion Penguins hope their spluttering offence comes to live in Game Five of the best-of-seven. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL/STANLEYCUP (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, 400 words)

MOTOR RACING

Drivers prepare for Canadian Grand Prix

MONTREAL - Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Canadian Lance Stroll are scheduled to talk to the media ahead of Sunday's Formula 1 race in Montreal. (MOTOR-F1/CANADA (PIX), expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, by Steve Keating, 400 words)

BASEBALL

Cubs and Rockies start four-game series

The National League West-leading Colorado Rockies, better on the road than at home so far this season, are slated to send right-hander Tyler Chatwood to the mound as they start a four-game series in Chicago against the defending champion Cubs, who are expected to start with Jon Lester, in one of 12 games on the Major League Baseball schedule. (BASEBALL-MLB-HIGHLIGHTS/, expect by 0530 GMT/1:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words)

NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS

Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words)

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Beijing startup tackles China with football classes for kids

BEIJING - GSG Sports, a venture-backed Beijing company, has found a winning formula selling American football to a new class of wealthy Chinese parents seeking an alternative to traditional badminton or soccer classes. Football has begun to gain a following, with the NFL making a push to spread the game through Chinese college campuses and other amateur adult leagues sprouting up. (CHINA-FOOTBALL/ (PIX, TV), by Elias Glenn)

CYCLING

Criterium de Dauphine (to 11)

De Gendt leads, top contenders set to battle out stage six

Belgian Thomas De Gendt has the overall lead heading into a sixth stage where the top contenders are set to battle in the mountains as it takes the peloton to La Motte Servolex through the Mont du Chat, a punishing 8.7-km climb.(CYCLING-DAUPHINE/(TV), expect by 1700 GMT/1 PM ET, by Julien Pretot, 250 words) (Asia Desk Editor: Nick Mulvenney)

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)