Nadia Comăneci keeps balance during choppy journey Sporting greats were part of Paris Olympic ceremony Carl Lewis, as a nine-time Olympic champion and the IOC’s sportsman of the 20th century, has faced down some formidable foes over the years. But at Friday’s opening ceremony for the Paris Games he nearly came unstuck against his toughest opponent yet: a rocking boat. The former sprinter joined fellow gold medalists Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Nadia Comăneci on a boat that roared down the Seine carrying the Olympic flame to the traditional cauldron lighting ceremony ..read more

I was once Ireland’s No 1 player, and tried for years to climb the global ranks. But life at the bottom of the top can be brutal. By Conor Niland ..read more

Paris Olympics doubles to be Murray’s final tournament Katie Boulter: ‘He’s going to find a way to stay’ Team GB’s tennis players have called on Andy ­Murray to remain in the sport in a coaching or mentoring capacity. Murray’s singles career came to an end on Thursday when he withdrew from the Olympic draw to focus on the doubles, where he will compete alongside Dan Evans. When the pair finish in Paris, Murray will retire from playing altogether. “I’ve taken the decision to withdraw from the singles to concentrate on the doubles with Dan,” Murray said in a statement. “Our practice has been g ..read more

Raducanu turned down wildcard for Paris 2024 Watson’s tilt at fourth Games was ‘biggest goal’ Heather Watson admitted she “can’t relate” to Emma Raducanu’s decision to skip the Olympics as she prepares to set a record by becoming the first female British tennis player to compete in four Olympics. Raducanu could have featured in Paris as one of the wildcard picks. The 21-year-old refused the offer, stating she was “prioritising my body and my health”. The impact of the switch from the grass season to Roland Garros, which has clay courts, was apparently uppermost in her thoughts. Raducanu also ..read more

The 37-year-old unlikely to feature in singles again Final push for glory will be alongside Dan Evans Andy Murray says he is happy about his approaching retirement and feels it is the right time to finish his career despite ­struggling with the decision over the past few months. “I’ll feel good,” Murray said in Paris about the emotions he expects after playing his final point. “I wasn’t sure that’s how I would feel a few months ago, to be honest. I was unsure about it. I had a lot of conversations with my family, with my wife about it ..read more

Tennis star will make her Olympic debut in Paris 20-year-old voted as flagbearer by USA teammates Tennis star Coco Gauff will join LeBron James as a flag bearer for the US Olympic team at Friday’s opening ceremony. Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, is making her Olympic debut in Paris and will be the first tennis player to carry the US flag at the Games. She and James were chosen by Team USA athletes ..read more

Briton confirms he will call time at Roland Garros Thirty-seven-year-old won gold in 2012 and 2016 Andy Murray will retire from professional tennis after this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. It had been widely expected that the 37-year-old Scot would call time on his career after the Games as he looked to go out at the top ..read more

Spaniard fights back to take victory in three sets Olympic preparations continuing well for Nadal Rafael Nadal has reached his first final since the 2022 French Open by rallying to beat Duje Ajdukovic at the Nordea Open on the clay in Bastad. The 38-year-old Spaniard lost the first set and was a break down in the second, but came back to beat the Croatian 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Nuno Borges in Sunday’s final ..read more

In the first of a new series on how to learn from the best, we look at the Olympic gold medal favourite for the women’s singles tennis at Paris 2024. Here’s how to incorporate her near untouchable forehand on clay into your own game In her short time on the WTA tour, Iga Swiatek has quickly established herself as one of the greatest players of the new generation. Her success, which includes four titles in the past five years at the French Open, the same venue at which the Olympic tennis tournament will be held, has been driven by her incredible, destructive forehand. Swiatek constantly looks t ..read more

Nadal comes through physical test to reach Bastad semis Holger Rune’s Olympic hopes in doubt over knee injury Rafael Nadal stepped up his preparation for the Paris Olympics, winning a four-hour battle with Mariano Navone to progress into the Nordea Open semi-finals. The 22-times grand slam champion has not lifted silverware since his French Open triumph in 2022, after a spate of injuries meant he missed the majority of last season. He is now just two wins away after beating fourth seed Navone 6-7 (2), 7-5, 7-5 in a marathon encounter in Bastad, Sweden ..read more