Sepp Blatter won a fifth term as FIFA president on Friday in a dramatic end to an angry campaign dominated by a corruption storm that engulfed the leadership of world football.

His challenger Prince Ali bin al Hussein withdrew from the race after preventing Blatter from getting the required majority in the first round of voting.

Richard Gasquet made it seven French players into the third round of the French Open on Friday stirring hopes of a home title challenge.

The former Wimbledon semi-finalist and world top tenner finally saw off the challenge of Argentine claycourter Carlos Berlocq 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 after the match had been suspended overnight at two sets all.

Qatar's 2022 World Cup organisers said on Friday their controversial bid was conducted "with integrity and to the highest ethical standards" following allegations of widescale corruption within FIFA, world football's governing body.

A statement from Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, which oversees the planning of the World Cup in the Gulf state, also read: "We wish to reiterate that we have fully complied with every investigation that has been initiated concerning the 2018/2022 bidding process and we will continue to do so."

Napoli's bid to snatch Serie A's last Champions League place from Lazio and the battle for the remaining Europa League places top the agenda as Italy's top flight draws to a close this weekend.

While champions Juventus warm up for their Champions League final against Barcelona with an away match at Verona on Saturday, Napoli host Lazio in a must-win clash at the San Paolo late Sunday.

South Africa's former president Thabo Mbeki Friday joined government officials in denying allegations that the country paid bribes to secure the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Mbeki was president when South Africa won the bid in 2004, becoming the first African country to host the event.

Caroline Wozniacki became the third top six seed to be knocked out of the French Open when she slumped to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) loss to Germany's Julia Goerges on Thursday.

Fifth seed Wozniacki joins third-seeded Simona Halep as a second round casualty while sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard was defeated in the first round.

Kenya and other member countries of the East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) will still vote for Sepp Blatter as FIFA supremo despite the current corruption crisis, sources said Thursday.

Three Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials led by its president Sam Nyamweya are currently in Zurich for the annual general congress starting on Wednesday, and a spokesman said Kenya would not reverse the decision made collectively with CECAFA to support Blatter for a fifth term.

South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula on Thursday denied allegations that huge bribes were paid to win the right to host the 2010 World Cup, saying that public money had not been given to "criminals".

FIFA has been engulfed in a bribery scandal that includes accusations from the U.S. attorney general that FIFA officials took cash in return for awarding the tournament to South Africa.

Roger Federer advanced to the third round of the French Open on Wednesday as Maria Sharapova brushed aside fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko to also reach the last 32.

Swiss second seed Federer beat Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-2, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 in front of a packed crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen that included Angus Young, the guitarist of veteran Australian rock band AC/DC.

Venus Williams has been fined $3,000 by tournament organizers for not showing up at a news conference following her first-round exit at the French Open.

After the 15th-seeded Williams lost 7-6 (5), 6-1 to Sloane Stephens on Monday, she snubbed the media, instead issuing a short statement to the press.