Tag: Paris

Rafa Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz team up for doubles at Paris Olympics

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FILE–Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal attend The Netflix Slam at Michelob ULTRA Arena on March 03, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Chris Unger/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Chris Unger / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

MADRID — Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz will play doubles together for Spain at the upcoming Paris Olympics, the Spanish tennis federation said Wednesday.

The announcement comes three days after the 21-year-old Alcaraz won the French Open for the first time — earning his third Grand Slam trophy.

The same courts used for the French Open each year will host Olympic tennis. Nadal has won the French Open a record 14 times.

Alcaraz, who will play in his first Olympics, is widely seen as the heir to Nadal in Spanish tennis, and has frequently remarked that Nadal was his childhood hero.

READ: Carlos Alcaraz hopes for dream Olympic doubles with Rafa Nadal

“Rafa and Carlos will be playing together in Paris,” said Spain captain David Ferrer while announcing the squad.

Alcaraz has set winning an Olympic medal for Spain as one of his top career goals. He said after winning at Roland Garros that this year he would prefer a gold medal at the Paris Olympics over successfully defending his Wimbledon title.

“The Olympic Games are every four years and it’s a special tournament where you’re not only playing for yourself, but for a country, representing every Spaniard,” the No. 2-ranked Alcaraz said. “I think this year I’d choose Olympic gold.”

The 38-year-old Nadal, who will also play singles, already owns Olympic gold medals in singles (2008) and doubles (2016 with Marc López) to go alongside his 22 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal, who lost to Alexander Zverev in the first round at Roland Garros this year, said this is likely his last year on tour after a series of injuries.

The other Spain players in the men’s Olympic team will be Pablo Carreño Busta, Alejandro Davidovich and Marcel Granollers.

Captain Anabel Medina picked No. 55 Sara Sorribes Tormo and No. 67 Cristina Bucsa — the top-ranked Spanish players — for the women’s team, with Paula Badosa deciding not to compete as she only has two more events to play while using her protected ranking.

Nikola Jokic on Serbia’s preliminary roster for Paris Olympics

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BELGRADE, Serbia — Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was included on Serbia’s 16-man preliminary roster for the upcoming Paris Olympics on Monday, ending doubts he would skip the basketball tournament. The three-time NBA MVP has missed some important international tournaments in the past, citing long NBA seasons. But Jokic ended the current NBA season earlier

Caitlin Clark left off USA Basketball team for Paris Olympics

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FILE–Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark ( 22) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Caitlin Clark won’t be headed to the Paris Olympics, according to a person familiar with the decision.

The person, who provided the full roster to The Associated Press, spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because no official announcement has been made.

The decision was first reported by The Athletic.

Clark does have some international experience with USA Basketball at a younger level, but she wasn’t able to make the national training camp in Cleveland after she was invited because she was leading Iowa to the Final Four. Clark finished her career as the NCAA’s Division I all-time scoring leader.

TEAM: Caitlin Clark named to Team USA training roster

Clark, now a rookie with the Indiana Fever, has drawn millions of new fans to women’s basketball in her college career and also in her young WNBA career.

While Clark won’t be headed to Paris, the U.S. is expected to take five-time gold medalist Diana Taurasi for a sixth Olympics. Taurasi will be joined by Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner.

This will be Griner’s first time playing internationally since she was detained in a Russian prison for 10 months in 2022. She said she’ll only play abroad with USA Basketball.

READ: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever hope break can help turn around season

Joining the pair will be Olympic veterans Breanna Stewart, A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, who helped the U.S. win the inaugural 3×3 gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021, will also be on the team.

A bunch of first time Olympians will be on the team with Alyssa Thomas, Sabrina Ionescu and Kahleah Copper. All three played on the American team which won the World Cup in Australia in 2022.

The U.S. women have won every gold medal in women’s basketball since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Taurasi, who turns 42 before the Paris Games begin, will break the record for most Olympics played in the sport of basketball. Five players, including former teammate Sue Bird, have competed in five.

The U.S. team will get together to train for a few days in Phoenix in July. Then its off to London for an exhibition game against Germany before heading to France.

The Americans will play Japan, Belgium and Germany in pool play at the Olympics.

Fencer Maxine Esteban wins silver ahead of Paris Olympics

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Maxine Esteban, left, poses with her silver medal at the 2nd African Fencing Championships. Photo from International Fencing Federation

MANILA, Philippines—Maxine Esteban earned a silver medal in the 22nd African Fencing Championships ahead of her upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics debut.

The Filipino-Ivorian fencer fell short against Egyptian fencer Yara Elsharkawy, 8-9, in the final of the women’s individual foil event on Thursday evening (Manila time) in Casablanca, Morocco.

The 23-year-old Olympian surpassed her bronze finish last year.

READ: Maxine Esteban off to Paris Olympics carrying PH pride

“[Silver medal] in the African Championships’ 24 [in Morocco]! Missed the gold by 1 point but I’m so grateful for this! God is so gracious. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me get this!! To God be the glory,” wrote Esteban on her Instagram.

Esteban, the World No.37, will train in Poland and Paris with the Japanese national fencing team as she prepares for the Olympics.

When Esteban had a short vacation in Manila, she expressed that she is still representing both the Philippines and Ivory Coast.

READ: Samantha Catantan’s Paris ticket draws up potential clash with Esteban

“You can really never take away the Filipino in me and I will forever be Filipino,” she told the reporters when she watched the Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Challenge Cup in Rizal Memorial Coliseum last May.

The former Ateneo star is also grateful for the continuous support of the Filipinos despite her naturalization and she is looking forward to fence with her good friend and fellow Filipino Samantha Catantan in the latter round of the Olympics.

“Everyone who qualified in the Olympics, they’re all really good fencers. Just like Sam, she would be a worthy fencer to fence against. It would be an honor to fence against her. I’m really looking forward if ever that time comes,” Esteban said. “Hopefully, hindi kami magkatapat sa early stages and you know maybe magkatapat na lang kami sa Finals.”