AP Sports

Djokovic beats rival Nadal at the Paris Olympics in their 60th and possibly last head-to-head match

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic dominated rival Rafael Nadal at the start, and then held off a comeback attempt to win 6-1, 6-4 at the Paris Olympics in the second round. Monday’s match was the 60th — and likely last — head-to-head matchup between the two tennis greats. Djokovic claimed 10 of the initial 11 games, with Nadal nowhere near the skilled and ever-hustling version of himself that won a record 14 French Open trophies on the same red clay at Roland Garros that is hosting Summer Games matches. Then, suddenly, the indefatigable Nadal got going, making a push to turn this contest competitive. He got to 4-all in the second set, before Djokovic took the last two games.

Olympic qualifying wasn’t the first time Simone Biles tweaked an injury. That’s simply gymnastics

PARIS (AP) — American gymnastics star Simone Biles will have to navigate the rest of the Olympics with a left calf injury. Biles tweaked the injury during qualifying but finished the meet with the top all-around score. This isn’t the first time Biles has dealt with an injury during a meet. She won six medals at the 2018 world championships in Qatar while coping with a kidney stone she named “The Doha Pearl.” Biles and the rest of the five-woman U.S. squad next head to the team final, where they are heavily favored to win gold.

17-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh wins gold in 400-meter IM, her second medal of the Games

NANTERRE, France (AP) — Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh has claimed the first gold medal of her career with a dominating victory in the 400-meter individual medley at the Paris Olympics. The 17-year-old McIntosh collected her first medal on the opening night of swimming, claiming a silver in the 400 freestyle. The Americas went 2-3 with Katie Grimes taking silver and Emma Weyant the bronze. David Popovici made the teenagers 2-for-2 on the night when he pulled off a thrilling victory in the men’s 200 freestyle. The 19-year-old Romanian was among three swimmers who swapped the lead on the final lap. Britain’s Matthew Richards settled for silver and American Luke Hobson picked up the bronze.

Refugee athletes want more of them to compete at the Olympics as migration takes global focus

PARIS (AP) — South Sudanese runner Perina Lokure Nakang first ran for sport along the road near her refugee camp in Kenya. Now, the 21-year-old is among many of the 37 athletes on the refugee team who are pushing to see more refugees like her able to compete at the Olympics. They’re getting support from former refugee Olympians and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Filippo Grandi told The Associated Press that the team is “a symbol of inclusion” and achievement for the refugee community worldwide. The Paris Games have underscored themes like diversity and inclusion at a time of historic global migration.

For some Olympic men’s basketball teams, the next game has enormous stakes

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — No team has reached the quarterfinals yet in the men’s basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics. No team has been eliminated, either. That said, Tuesday and Wednesday sure seem like make-or-break days for some nations — and medal chances might evaporate very quickly for those which stumble again. With all 12 teams having been in action on either Saturday or Sunday, everyone in the men’s tournament at Pierre Mauroy Stadium gets Monday off. For some, that provides a chance to regroup and practice. For others, like the U.S., it brings a day to relax and recover.

A fired-up Aaron Rodgers gets angry after being stepped on and Jets’ offense is sloppy at practice

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers was downright ticked off. The New York Jets quarterback took the snap, started to drop back and ended up sprawled on the grass after one of his offensive linemen stepped on one of his feet. Rodgers shouted. He wasn’t hurt, but he was angry. Monday was the first practice in full pads and the Jets’ offense was sloppy. Tight end Tyler Conklin acknowledged it was a little frustrating, but said the offense can learn from days like that. Center Joe Tippmann has been struggling with some of his shotgun snaps, something coach Robert Saleh says needs to be fixed.

Wild sign NHL rookie of the year runner-up, Brock Faber, to 8-year, $68 million contract extension

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin saw more than enough potential in Brock Faber’s rookie season to sign the defenseman to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension. The Wild announced the deal doesn’t kick in until the 2025-26 season after Faber’s rookie contract expires, and comes after the 21-year-old finished second behind Chicago forward Connor Bedard in the Calder Cup rookie of the year voting. Faber is from Maple Grove, Minnesota, and led all rookies in averaging 24 minutes and 58 seconds of ice time per game last year. He also finished tied for second among rookies with 47 points in 82 games.

What to watch for the Paris Olympics: Simone Biles leads US in gymnastics final Tuesday, July 30

Simone Biles leads the United States women into the gymnastics team final as part of an action-packed slate Tuesday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Biles is in the lineup to compete in all four events of the team final despite a calf injury. The U.S. women will begin defense of their 2021 Olympic title in 3×3 basketball when the sport begins Tuesday. Katie Ledecky is back in the pool to compete in the women’s 1,500 freestyle, one of her signature events.

Verstappen to regroup during F1 summer break with McLaren and Mercedes right on his tailpipe

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Max Verstappen is still on pace for a fourth consecutive Formula One world title. But no longer is it a foregone conclusion that Verstappen will dominate the competition. Much improved McLaren and Mercedes cars have invigorated the season and made race results unpredictable for the first time since Verstappen became the motorsport’s main force. Verstappen is now four races without a win before F1 enters its summer break. The season restarts at the Dutch GP on Aug. 25.

Bears great Steve McMichael gets his Hall of Fame moment as he battles ALS

CHICAGO (AP) — Steve McMichael always had a boisterous persona and a willingness to say whatever was on his mind, so it’s no stretch to think the Chicago Bears great’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech would have been one to remember. His wife Misty says he would have “cut a scorcher.” McMichael is in the advanced stages of ALS and won’t be able to make the trip to Canton, Ohio, for his induction on Saturday. The 66-year-old McMichael is part of a seven-member class that includes former Bears Devin Hester and Julius Peppers. The two-time All-Pro defensive tackle played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993 and ranks second to Richard Dent on the Bears’ all-time sacks list with 92 1/2.