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We take a look at the big things to watch on Day 3 (July 29) of the Paris Olympics read more
 "Nadal vs Djokovic, Titmus eyes more golds on Day 3")
Rafael Nadal (L) will face Novak Djokovic (R) in the second round of men's singles tennis at the Paris Olympics. AP
Monday’s schedule 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.
LIVE: India at Paris Olympics on Day 3
Gold medals are up for grabs in archery, canoeing, mountain biking, equestrian, fencing, judo, shooting and skateboarding.
Here’s the big things to watch on Day 3 of the Paris Olympics:
Nadal vs Djokovic - Chapter 60
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will battle once more when they meet on Monday. It will be the hottest ticket in town with fans expected to pack the Philippe Chatrier Court at Roland Garros in what is going to be the 60th meeting between the two stalwarts. Djokovic, from Serbia, leads the rivarly 30-29 over the Spaniard.
Nadal has had a clear edge on the clay in the French capital down the years, but after more injury concerns and with his career winding down, the 38-year-old Spaniard said Djokovic was “clear favourite” this time.
“Of course it’s beautiful to play against one of the two biggest rivals that I had in my career, especially on this court,” Nadal said.
“But situations are completely different for him, for me. He’s being very competitive. I was not being very competitive for the last two years.”
Titmus goes for second gold
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus is hotly tipped to win her second swimming gold of the Games. She had started the Games with a demolition show in women’s 400m freestyle.
The last race of the night will see Titmus attempt to add the 200m freestyle crown to her dominant 400m triumph, when she blew away rivals Summer McIntosh and Katie Ledecky to retain her title.
The 23-year-old Titmus is the favourite at 200m – she is the reigning champion and world record-holder.
Her biggest threat is fellow Australian Mollie O’Callaghan, who boasted the fastest time ever until Titmus smashed it in June.
Following her emphatic victory over 400m, when she led from start to finish, Titmus, who hails from Tasmania, said it was hard to take it all in.
“I’m just the same old goofy Tassie girl out here living out her dream,” she said.
“I hope it goes to show: anyone can do what they want to do if they work hard and believe in themselves.”
The other swimming finals on Monday are in women’s 400m individual medley, men’s 200m freestyle, men’s 100m backstroke and women’s 100m breaststroke.
Daley vs China
China are the unparallelled force in diving and at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games they hoovered up seven of the eight golds.
The one they did not win went to Daley and Matty Lee in the men’s synchronised 10m platform.
It was gold at last for Daley, who also has three bronze medals, the first coming at London 2012. He made his Olympic debut as a 14-year-old at Beijing 2008 and has been in the public eye ever since.
One of Britain’s highest-profile Olympians, he was the country’s male flag-carrier at the opening ceremony.
The 30-year-old said the pressure is on the Chinese.
“On paper you would consider them to win every single event, but it is the Olympic Games,” Daley, who will team up with Noah Williams, told the BBC.
“I know every single one of the Chinese divers knows it is their competition to lose, which brings a lot pressure and expectation.”
China scooped the first diving gold in Paris with victory ahead of the United States and Britain in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard.
China vs Japan in men’s gymnastics
China and Japan rolled through qualifying on Saturday in the men’s gymnastics. China are the favourites to win their fourth Olympic team title after posting a total of 263.028 at qualifying. Japan are seven-time Olympic champions 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 are ineligible due to the war in Ukraine.
Team USA women’s basketball begin quest for eighth straight gold
The US women’s basketball team open their pursuit of a record eighth straight gold medal. Team USA will face Japan in the opener at Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
The US 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 US 90-75.
The US 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.
Elsewhere
In other sports, Yuto Horigome defends his men’s skateboarding street title. The event was postponed on Saturday because of rain.
Japan could snatch all three medals, with the 2023 world champion Sora Shirai and 14-year-old Ginwoo Onodera also strongly fancied.
The legendary American Nyjah Huston will have something to say about that.
Japan’s women skateboarders took gold and silver in street on Sunday.
In sabre fencing, Olga Kharlan of Ukraine, a four-time individual world champion, is chasing a second Olympic gold and fifth medal overall of her career.
The Italy-based fencing great told AFP in Paris that another gold will be an achievement against all the odds, following Russia’s invasion of her homeland.
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English (US) ·