Sport news update, what you need to know

Fairfax Media have reported gambling identity Eddie Hayson allegedly claimed he paid six NRL players $50,000 to fix a game last year.

He was alleged to have bet up to $500,000 in cash on South Sydney defeating Manly by more than eight points in a round 16 fixture, and that he also instructed an unnamed jockey to make separate bets of $120,000 and $100,000 on the same outcome.

TENNIS - Red-hot favourites Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic have advanced to the French Oopen semi-finals.

Williams had to work to overcome Yulia Putintseva 5-7 6-4 6-1, while Djokovic beat Tomas Berdych 6-3 7-5 6-3.

BOXING - Boxing great Muhammad Ali is in hospital with a respiratory issue, a family spokesman said on Thursday.

Bob Gunnell said in a statement that Ali's condition was fair. A brief hospital stay was expected.

SOCCER - Alex Gersbach or Jason Geria are set to make their Socceroos debut in the first friendly with Greece, as part of a starting line-up also featuring Trent Sainsbury and Nathan Burns.