By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday’s slate for the Paris Olympics includes a blockbuster tennis match, a handful of the world’s biggest basketball stars, a couple of compelling swimming finals and a gymnastics showdown. Here’s a guide of what to look out for:
Nadal faces Djokovic at Roland Garros
The biggest highlight of the Roland Garros schedule is Rafael Nadal taking on Novak Djokovic in the second match of the day on Court Philippe Chatrier. It is the 60th meeting of the longtime tennis rivals, more than any other two men have played against each other in the sport’s Open era, which began in 1968.
Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia, has 24 Grand Slam titles, making him the only man in tennis history with more than Nadal’s 22.
Cheered on by an adoring crowd, Nadal beat Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round Sunday. Nadal made a last-minute decision to remain in the singles bracket, a day after he won in doubles and said he wasn’t sure if he would participate in both events.
Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff also play on Monday.
China and Japan set up for exciting final in men’s gymnastics
The men’s gymnastics team final starts at 5:30 p.m. CEST (11:30 a.m. EST). China and Japan rolled through qualifying on Saturday. China is the favorite to win its fourth Olympic team title after posting a total of 263.028 at qualifying. Japan is a seven-time Olympic champion and finished second at 260.594. Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto will defend his all-around title.
The Japanese won silver in Tokyo in 2021, while China took bronze. Defending champion Russia is ineligible due to the war in Ukraine.
Team USA women’s basketball begins quest for 8th straight gold
The U.S. women’s basketball team opens its pursuit of a record eighth straight gold medal. Team USA will face Japan at 9 p.m. CEST (3 p.m. EST) at Pierre Mauroy Stadium. The U.S. women are on a 55-game Olympic winning streak; they haven’t lost since 1992 in Barcelona. Japan took silver in Tokyo after losing to the U.S. 90-75.
The U.S. team is led by two-time WNBA MVPs A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi returns for her sixth Games.
Also, host France will take on Canada at 5:15 p.m. CEST (11:15 a.m. EST).
Swimming heats up
The women’s 400-meter individual medley final begins at 8:30 p.m. CEST (2:30 p.m. EST) at Paris La Defense Arena. Canada’s Summer McIntosh is a favorite after lowering her own world record (4:24.38) at the Canadian Olympic trials in May. Qualifying heats start at 11 a.m. CEST (5 a.m. EST).
McIntosh also will compete in the women’s 200 freestyle at 9:41 p.m. CEST (3:41 p.m. EST), the last swimming final of the night. McIntosh won her country’s first medal of the Paris Olympics when she beat out the U.S.’s Katie Ledecky for silver in the 400 freestyle Saturday night.
For the men, the 200-freestyle final starts at 8:40 p.m. CEST (2:40 p.m. EST), followed by the men’s 100 backstroke final at 9:19 p.m. CEST (3:19 p.m. EST).
Other finals around the Olympics
Britain’s Tom Daley will attempt to defend his men’s 10-meter synchronized diving title with partner Noah Williams. Competition is set to begin at 11:00 a.m. CEST (5 a.m. EST) at the Aquatics Centre.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
