The Olympics delivered another day full of thrills and spills as the action rolled on at Paris 2024.
Adam Peaty was beaten in the final of the men’s 100m breaststroke as his bid to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals ended in heartbreak in a close finish. Peaty claimed silver, with Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi winning gold by just 0.02 seconds and the USA’s Nic Fink sharing silver with Peaty.
Earlier, Andy Murray extended his tennis career after a dramatic comeback with Dan Evans in the men’s doubles, saving five match points in the deciding tiebreak to beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel. Defeat would have been the end of Murray’s career, but he and Evans somehow survived, and the two-time Olympics champion will have at least one more match to play in Paris before retirement.
Simone Biles made her highly-anticipated return in the women’s gymnastics after experiencing ‘the twisties’ at the Tokyo Games, delivering a stunning and historic routine in qualifying while also sparking injury concerns after she was seen limping and wearing strapping on her left leg.
But the water quality of the Seine continues to cause havoc for the triathlon, with practice scrapped on Sunday due to pollution after heavy rain in the city. Follow all the action, latest results and medals from Paris 2024 in our live blog below:
Olympics 2024 - Day 2
- Adam Peaty beaten to gold by Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi in 100m breaststroke final
- There was just 0.02 seconds between gold and silver as Peaty shares second with USA’s Nic Fink
- Andy Murray extends career with extraordinary Olympics comeback with Dan Evans
- Simone Biles dazzles in stunning gymnastics qualifying after making Olympic return
- American lands unique move but then sparks injury concern after limping
- Kimberley Woods wins bronze in canoe slalom for Team GB
- Leon Marchand wins gold for France to end hosts 12-year wait for Olympic title
- Rafael Nadal beats Marton Fucsovics to set up sensational clash against Novak Djokovic
- Olympics 2024 medal table: Who leads the count so far in Paris?
- Olympic triathlon practice scrapped due to pollution in River Seine
Adam Peaty suffers heartbreak at Paris Olympics after falling agonisingly short of historic gold treble
21:07
Jack Rathborn at La Defense Arena
It is not the fairytale ending for Adam Peaty. A joint-silver medal in Paris, behind Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi in what developed into a slow race that came down to pure timing at the wall.
Peaty must have thought he had won it, holding off world champion Qin Haiyang, only for a tight finish to snatch a victory that would have seen him join Michael Phelps as the only men to win three consecutive gold medals at the Olympics in individual events.
Disappointment, of course, but do not underestimate how the British great has seized victory from the most improbable position following the Tokyo Olympics.
Eurosport commentator removed from Olympics coverage after sexist comment
22:15
Harry Latham-Coyle
Eurosport commentator Bob Ballard has been removed from the broadcaster’s Olympics coverage after making a sexist remark.
Australia’s women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, including Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris, had just secured gold before Ballard made a controversial remark.
A clip of his Paris 2024 commentary, alongside Lizzie Simmonds, soon went viral on social media sparking outrage.
LeBron James makes Olympics return but Kevin Durant stars as USA open with win in Paris
22:00
Harry Latham-Coyle
LeBron James made his Olympics return after a 12-year absence, while Kevin Durant played for the first time this summer.
And the two most-experienced Olympians on this US team opened the Paris 2024 Games — not to mention a bid for a fifth consecutive gold medal for the Americans — with a near-perfect show.
Durant made his first eight shots on the way to 23 points in less than 17 minutes, James added 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and the US rolled to a 110-84 win over Serbia in the Olympic opener for both teams on Saturday.
They were a combined 18 for 22 from the field — 8 of 9 for Durant, 9 of 13 for James — as the US had no trouble with the reigning World Cup silver medalists from last summer in the Philippines. Jrue Holiday scored 15, Devin Booker had 12 and Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry each added 11 for the US.
Olympics 2024: Andy Murray proud of ‘mental toughness’ after comeback win
21:50
Harry Latham-Coyle
“I don’t think I’ve saved five match points in a row – in singles it’s almost impossible to do that, so I don’t think I’ve ever done that before,” Murray said after an extraordinary victory over Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori.
“It’s probably up there in terms of comebacks – probably the way we were playing to that stage would have not suggested we were able to come back.
“Certainly from my side, I didn’t think I was playing well - Evo played well at times but for both of us, we can play much better than that.
“It all clicked at the end and we played some pretty good stuff in those points.
“In my career I’ve turned around a lot of matches I’ve looked unlikely to win or people thought I shouldn’t have won - at times I’ve had that mental toughness, strength that was at times early on in my career was questioned.”
Andy Murray extends career with extraordinary Olympics comeback with Dan Evans
21:43
Jamie Braidwood
There is no perfect way to call time, no method of looking into the future to see the end of the script that has been written for you. Except, in a way, there is: “The final match of Andy Murray’s career came in a painful defeat in the Olympics men’s doubles, alongside Dan Evans on a half-full court at Roland Garros,” wrote a certain reporter, sitting in the stands at Suzanne-Lenglen. “Despite a late rally to force a deciding tiebreak, Murray and Evans were an inexperienced doubles pair and it showed in a 6-2 7-6 10-4 first-round defeat to Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel,” the draft continued, waiting to be sent.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan set up all-Australian duel
21:29
Harry Latham-Coyle
One last swimming event to tidy up, the women’s 200m freestyler semi-finals caught up in the wake of the breaststroke final. We’re expecting this to be a duel in the pool between two outstanding Australians: Ariarne Titmus is looking to defend her title, just as she did in the 400m last night, but faces stiff opposition in the form of compatriot Mollie O’Callaghan.
The pair’s race at the Australian trials earlier this year was spectacular, and they’ve warmed up rather nicely for another ding-dong battle, qualifying fastest and second fastest into the final some distance clear of the rest. Titmus just pipped her rival and will have lane four in the final. 17-year-old American starlet Claire Weinstein and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey lead the rest of the medal contenders.
Olympics 2024: Swimming
21:22
Harry Latham-Coyle
Adam Peaty will of course have two more medal opportunities at these Olympics, Great Britain with every chance of challenging in the men’s and mixed medley relays. He finds his young son in the crowd before being wrapped in a tight hug by his mum.
Four medals now for Team GB - though a gold still eludes the Brits in Paris.
Olympics 2024: Adam Peaty presented with silver medal by Princess Anne
21:16
Harry Latham-Coyle
The Princess Royal, a former Olympian of course, is on hand to present the medals to the breaststrokers, hanging a medal around Adam Peaty’s neck as the pair share a smile. Nic Fink steps up on to the second step beside the Brit - that’ll be a popular silver in Team USA camp, the 31-year-old a captain of the American squad and incredibly well-liked.
But it’s Nicolo Martenenghi’s night. The Italian adds Olympic gold to the world title he won in 2022.
Olympics 2024: Adam Peaty speaks to the BBC after missing out on historic treble
21:02
Harry Latham-Coyle
“It’s been a very long way back. I gave my absolute all there, executed as well as I could. It doesn’t matter what the time says on the board, in my heart, I’ve already won.” Peaty has to pause as the tears come. “I’m not crying because I came second, I’m crying because it took so much to get here.
“It’s just incredibly hard to win it once, and win it again, and win it again, trying to find new ways to do it. Everything that I’ve done until this point has happened for a reason. These are happy tears. I said to myself that I’d give my absolute best every single day, and I have. You can’t be upset about that.
“This event has changed so much. I was racing Cameron [van der Burgh] for many, many years, and now it’s different. I’m an older man, I can’t have that relentless pursuit every day without a sacrifice. It’s very hard to compete with the younger ones. My mind is on the realys and trying to do my best for the team. I was just one, two percent out. I’ve raced Nicolo for a very long time, and it couldn’t have gone to a better guy. Six Olympic medals, right? You can’t stick your nose up at that.”
Olympics 2024: Adam Peaty denied historic treble
20:57
Harry Latham-Coyle
Two one hundreths of a second between first and second. Two one hundreths of a second between Adam Peaty and a third consecutive gold.
It was a slow final, and that’s some win from Nicolo Martinenghi. Nic Fink of the USA shares silver with Peaty.
MEN’S 100m BREASTSTROKE FINAL RESULT:
GOLD: Nicolo Martinenghi (Italy)
SILVER: Adam Peaty (Great Britain); Nic Fink (USA)
Olympics 2024: Adam Peaty denied historic treble
20:54
Harry Latham-Coyle
A joint silver medal for Adam Peaty as Nicolo Martinenghi stuns the field from lane seven!
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Adam Peaty goes for gold in men’s 100m breaststroke
20:53
Harry Latham-Coyle
And they are off, Peaty getting a decent start but behind Qin and Nic Fink outside him. Can Peaty wind it up towards the wall in trademark fashion? He can, on to Qin’s shoulder. They touch first and second at the turn.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Adam Peaty goes for gold in men’s 100m breaststroke
20:51
Harry Latham-Coyle
Adam Peaty has the 14 fastest men’s 100 breast times in history - if he’s close to his best, no-one will get near him.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Adam Peaty goes for gold in men’s 100m breaststroke
20:50
Harry Latham-Coyle
Right - it’s go time. Here’s your line-up in lane order for the final. Peaty and Qin Haiyang are the favourites, but very little separated this octet in the semi-finals.
1 Lucas Matzerath (Germany)
2 Caspar Corbeau (Netherlands)
3 Arno Kamminga (Netherlands)
4 Adam Peaty (Great Britain)
5 Qin Haiyang (China)
6 Nic Fink (USA)
7 Nicolo Matinenghi (Italy)
8 Melvin Imoudu (Germany)
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Men’s 100m backstroke semi-finals
20:48
Harry Latham-Coyle
Xu Jiayu leads the second semi-final out, under the world record split by a distance at the turn. Can he hold it? This a fantastic swim from the veteran, tying up slightly but still recording a scorching 52.02. Good news for Team GB’s Oliver Morgan, who was one lane to the outside and finished third in 52.85 to book his place in the final.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Men’s 100m backstroke semi-finals
20:42
Harry Latham-Coyle
First, though, the men’s 100m backstroke semi-finals. Usually dominated by the Americans and Russians, it’s Italy’s Thomas Ceccon who has emerged as the leading protagonist over the last couple of years, and he takes the first semi in 52.58, a little way down on his world record but suggesting there may be more in the tank. France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard is second and will be in the final, to the delight of the home fans.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Almost Adam Peaty time
20:38
Harry Latham-Coyle
Right, the moment is almost upon us. Adam Peaty is bidding to become only the second male swimmer to win three consecutive Olympic golds in the same event. He’s already the best breaststroker of all-time - but after all of the ups and downs since Tokyo, has he got one more history-making night in him?
Olympics 2024: Leon Marchand arrives at Paris Olympics with gold medal confirming new era
20:30
Jack Rathborn at La Defense Arena
France has a new superstar and Leon Marchand has fully arrived. With gold in the 400m individual medley, Marchand has not just ended a 12-year drought, he has surely announced a new era of swimming.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - women’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals
20:25
Harry Latham-Coyle
Tatjana Smith (née Schoenmaker) gets the touch ahead of McSharry and King, a time of 1:05 dead taking the South African through to the final fastest. Ruta Meilutyte faded after a fast first 50 and was only down in seventh.
That’s a new Irish record of 1:05.51 from McSharry - an excellent swim. And Team GB’s Angharad Evans has made it through comfortably, too.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - women’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals
20:22
Harry Latham-Coyle
This semi-final could go anywhere. World record holder and 2016 gold medallist Lilly King looks confident in lane three. Ireland’s Mona McSharry has been swimming really well, too.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - women’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals
20:20
Harry Latham-Coyle
A relatively slow first semi, only two swimmers below a minute and six seconds. China’s Tang Qianting takes it ahead of AIN athlete Alina Zmushka - and that second semi-final is positively loaded, so the rest will be waiting nervously.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Next up...
20:18
Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s time for the women’s 100m breastroke semis. Loads of familiar faces in the field, from South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker to Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte, her career still going 12 years after bursting on the scene at London 2012 despite a two-year doping ban.
Olympic 2024: Swimming - Max Litchfield denied again
20:13
Harry Latham-Coyle
Poor Max Litchfield. He really is the most unfortunate man in British swimming, fourth for a third Games in a row despite producing a new national record tonight. In the end, he was two tenths of a second out, a tiny margin over such a difficult, demanding event.
“I don’t really know what to say,” Litchfield says to the BBC. “It’s my best time, it’s a British record, so it’s hard. It’s bittersweet, I’ve given my everything physically, mentally, emotionally, and it just wasn’t meant to be again. Not many people can say they’ve come fourth at three Olympics in a row. I’m upset, but I did everything I possibly could. That’s just sport.”
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Leon Marchand presented with medal
20:10
Harry Latham-Coyle
A third gold of the Games for the hosts, Leon Marchand joining Antoine Dupont and the France sevens team and mountain biker Pauline Ferrand-Prevot on the top step of the podium. Just as at the Stade de France and the cross country course earlier, the noise at the La Defense Arena is absurd as Marchand takes the garlands and glory.
Andy Murray extends career with extraordinary Olympics comeback with Dan Evans
20:06
Jamie Braidwood at Roland-Garros
Not yet. Not tonight. Andy Murray produced a dramatic comeback alongside Olympics doubles partner Dan Evans to extend the final tournament of his career in Paris, saving five match points in a deciding tiebreak against Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Matt Richards joins Duncan Scott in the final
20:04
Harry Latham-Coyle
Matt Richards makes it! He’s seventh fastest through to the final tomorrow night, helped out by a couple of slower swims from fringe contenders in that second semi. The reigning world champion is out, though - it was a weaker field that Hwang Sun-woo beat in Doha earlier this year with plenty of swimmers opting to skip the Worlds, but that is a real surprise.
Here are the eight qualifiers for the final in order of times:
1 David Popovici (Romania)
2 Duncan Scott (Great Britain)
3 Luke Hobson (USA)
4 Lukas Maertens (Germany)
5 Max Giuliani (Australia)
6 Danas Rapsys (Lithuania)
7 Matt Richards (Great Britain)
8 Katsuhiro Matsumoto (Japan)
Olympics 2024: Swimming - David Popovici qualifies fastest for 200m freestyle final
20:00
Harry Latham-Coyle
David Popovici eases home, and that’s a cracking swim from Duncan Scott in lane seven, second fastest through to the final having stormed back down the final 100. Young Aussie Max Giuliani is through, too - has Matt Richards made it? Let’s check the times...
Olympics 2024: Swimming
19:58
Harry Latham-Coyle
David Popovici eases into his work, that wonderfully lithe stroke cutting so brilliantly through the water. Does he fancy a tilt at the world record, set by Paul Biedermann in the controversial supersuits at the 2009 Worlds, or will he play it safe?
Olympics 2024: Swimming
19:55
Harry Latham-Coyle
Ooh - danger for Matt Richards, touching fourth with another array of world-class freestylers to come in the second semi-final. Luke Hobson of the United States takes victory with Lukas Maertens (Germany) and Danas Rapsys of Lithuania surely safe in third and fourth, leaving Richards and reigning world champion Hwang Sun-woo down in fourth and fifth.
Favourite David Popovici leads the line-up for the second semi, with Duncan Scott the British interest. Scott may well be eyeing Richards’ time - I’d be surprised if there is a place for both in the final.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Matt Richards goes in first 200m freestyle semi-final
19:52
Harry Latham-Coyle
Now over to the men, and the positively stacked 200m freestyle semi-finals. Matt Richards is in lane three for the first of them.
Olympics 2024: Swimming - Huske takes women’s 100m butterfly gold for USA
19:47
Jack Rathborn at the La Defense Arena
Torri Huske takes a stunning gold in the women’s 100m butterfly, from fourth back in Tokyo to the ultimate redemption.
Gretchen Walsh is second for the USA too, and Yufei Zhang takes bronze for China.
That came down to four hundredths of a second! A remarkable final 25 metres from Huske to get the touch in front of her teammate.
Women’s 100m butterfly result:
1 Torri Huske (USA), 2 Gretchen Walsh (USA), 3 Zhang Yufei (China)
Olympics 2024: Andy Murray extends career with remarkable win in men’s doubles
19:44
Harry Latham-Coyle
Andy Murray, bad back and all, wraps Dan Evans in a mighty embrace. They can’t quite believe they’ve done it. Nor can Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel, who were so firmly in control for so much of that match. But how many times has Murray shown us over the last 15 years to never write him off? The final page is drawing near but his remarkable story has another extraordinary chapter.
Olympics 2024: Andy Murray extends career with opening win in men’s doubles
19:42
Harry Latham-Coyle
Somehow, someway, Andy Murray and Dan Evans have done it! They were all over the place for the first set and a half, they were five match points down in the decider - but victory, improbably, inexplicably, is theirs.
It finishes Murray/Evans 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 11-9 Nishikori/Daniel.
Olympics 2023: Swimming - Leon Marchand wins gold for France in the 400m IM!
19:38
Jack Rathborn
He’s done it, what a swim, gold for Marchand and France, 4:02.95, an Olympic record!
This place has erupted!
Matsushita won the silver, Foster won the bronze but it's heartbreak for Litchfield, a third successive fourth place in the Games.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 9-9 Nishikori/Daniel
19:38
Harry Latham-Coyle
A bit of a wobble from Daniel and Nishikori. Four match points come and go.
Make that five. Somehow, the Brits have got it back to nine-all.
Olympics 2023: Swimming - Leon Marchand goes for gold
19:35
Jack Rathborn
Marchand out like a train, Litchfield left behind a little on the fly.
It’s an impressive first stroke fro Marchand, he leads 0.60 seconds inside the Olympic record.
Daiya Seto is second and Carson Forster third as we turn in the backstroke, Litchfield bringing it back as the rest bunch up, but Marchand is storming clear.
Seto leading the chasing pack in breaststroke, and Litchfield coming up alongside Foster. Remarkable drama.
Oles ringing around the arena, the French crowd think this is in the bag, and it surely is.
Marchand is more than two seconds inside the Olympic record, the world record, his own, will surely go too!
Olympics 2023: Swimming
19:33
Jack Rathborn at La Defense Arena
We’re about to start the evening session, and what a start it will be. It’s the Leon Marchand show first up in the 400m IM!
A huge cheer for the home favourite, he soaks it in, the noise reverberating around this immense arena.
Allez Les Bleus ringing in the ears of each finalist, all of whom have now removed their giant headphones.
Max Litchfield for Great Britain is in lane four alongside Marchand.
A 12-year drought in the pool for gold, France expects!
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-8 Nishikori/Daniel
19:33
Harry Latham-Coyle
Make that two points away. Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori gather for a quick chat, the finishing line in sight.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-6 Nishikori/Daniel
19:31
Harry Latham-Coyle
A first glimpse for the Japanese pair. A tiny brush of Dan Evans’ frame as he dives across at the net, and the British serve is breached.
No problems for Kei Nishikori, and Andy Murray plants a volley long. Nishikori and Daniel are four points away.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 2-3 Nishikori/Daniel
19:28
Harry Latham-Coyle
A massive serve from Dan Evans puts the Brits in front, but Kei Nishikori finds an answer, sharp as ever at the net. All on serve so far.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-1 Nishikori/Daniel
19:25
Harry Latham-Coyle
Into a deciding tie-break, then, the first pair to ten taking the match. The first two points are split.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 7-6 (7-5) Nishikori/Daniel
19:21
Harry Latham-Coyle
Andy Murray and Dan Evans are still alive! They’ve found their energy, they’ve found their intensity and an emphatic Murray volley squares affairs on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 6-6 (4-3) Nishikori/Daniel
19:18
Harry Latham-Coyle
Both of Evans’ service points are secured by the Brits, and after the change of ends, Evans slaps an overhead winner to poke his nose in front.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 6-6 (1-2) Nishikori/Daniel
19:15
Harry Latham-Coyle
First to seven, of course, and first blood to Taro Daniel, firing another of those big smashes at Dan Evans’ ankle. The Brit’s racquet is used only for protection.
2-0 with Daniel strong on his second serve. A first sign of real emotion from him - he’s been really, really good.
But that’s outstanding from Evans! He nullifies the mini-break with a block return that is perfectly placed in the tram lines.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 6-6 Nishikori/Daniel
19:13
Harry Latham-Coyle
A sliding Kei Nishikori flashes a forehand past the noses of the two Brits, who simply wave it on by to give themselves a foothold as they look to seal this set. But Nishikori responds smartly, inch perfect with a lob over Murray that clips the corner.
A point more apiece and it’s 30-all. A Taro Daniel smash sets up game point, though, and we’re off to a tie break.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 6-5 Nishikori/Daniel*
19:08
Harry Latham-Coyle
A couple of double faults from Dan Evans, over-correcting having found the net earlier in the game and instead pushing his second long. He gets a little lucky that a simple enough lob from Kei Nishikori sails on the Japanese player with both Brits up in the service boxes.
Game, Evans/Murray. A thumping serve, a tidy volley, and they push in front again.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans* 2-6, 5-5 Nishikori/Daniel
19:04
Harry Latham-Coyle
Taro Daniel will serve to stay in the set. He’s been rock solid behind that languid motion today, and it’s soon 40-0, easing the pressure. A hold to love.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 5-4 Nishikori/Daniel*
18:58
Harry Latham-Coyle
Now, can Andy Murray’s shaky serve hold firm? Love-30 is an unencouraging start, but Dan Evans gets across at the net to avoid total disaster. Murray gets the better of a bit of net repartee with Kei Nishikori to get back to 30-all.
A double fault brings a screamed Scottish expletive, though. Break point, and surely a must have for Murray. Centre serve...just wide. On the money with the second...and Evans puts the volley away. Deuce.
A backhand lob from Nishikori is a foot wide. And a wayward Taro Daniel forehand gets Murray’s fist pumping.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans* 2-6, 4-4 Nishikori/Daniel
18:53
Harry Latham-Coyle
A perfect return from Andy Murray, trapping Kei Nishikori in a predicament in the left corner from which the server cannot extricate himself. A double fault - three break points. And a lunging Dan Evans pouches the first of them. The British flags fly with Evans properly into the contest, punching the air as he bellows in delight.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 3-4 Nishikori/Daniel*
18:50
Harry Latham-Coyle
A brilliant inside-out forehand from Dan Evans, somehow opening up wide enough to guide it past Kei Nishikori, who seemingly had anticipated the shot well at the net. An ace up the centre, the first of the match, keeps the British heart beating.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans* 2-6, 2-4 Nishikori/Daniel
18:46
Harry Latham-Coyle
A sore one for Dan Evans, taking a ball to the wrist and then the chest with Taro Daniel producing a bullet that even Neo might have struggled to avoid.
Lovely from Andy Murray, showing off impressive flexibility to get out to his left and carve a backhand winner from virtually the first row. Deuce. And another. And another! The Brits are scrapping hard, but eventually the dam breaks. Daniel and Nishikori take another step closer to the second round.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 2-3 Nishikori/Daniel*
18:39
Harry Latham-Coyle
The longest rally of the match is somehow won by Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori, behind at virtually every stage but scrambling superbly, allowing Daniel to hop up an blast a backhand winner down the line. Their second point of the game is achieved rather more swiftly, and the third swifter still, Nishikori producing a dagger of a return.
0-40. Dan Evans volleys well to save one of the break points. But Nishikori bisects the Brits, clipping the back of the chalk to break Andy Murray’s third for a third time.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans* 2-6, 2-2 Nishikori/Daniel
18:35
Harry Latham-Coyle
Now then. A first double fault from Kei Nishikori gives his opponents 0-30, and an apparent ace that is overruled by the chair umpire provides a second serve for Dan Evans to attack. He can’t make much of it, but his partner can, forcing Nishikori into a hurried half-volley that balloons beyond the baseline.
Two break points...and the first of them is taken. Back to level pegging in the set.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 1-2 Nishikori/Daniel*
18:32
Harry Latham-Coyle
A roar from the modest crowd on Suzanne Lenglen as the Brits get on the board in the second set, Dan Evans crouching down like a snooker player assessing the angles before planting a forehand winner between his opponents. Can they find something to change the momentum of this match?
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans* 2-6, 0-2 Nishikori/Daniel
18:30
Harry Latham-Coyle
Another hold from the Japanese pair. Six games in a row their way with the Brits needing to stop the rot.
LeBron James makes Olympics return but Kevin Durant stars as USA open with win in Paris
18:28
Harry Latham-Coyle
LeBron James made his Olympics return after a 12-year absence, while Kevin Durant played for the first time this summer.
And the two most-experienced Olympians on this US team opened the Paris 2024 Games — not to mention a bid for a fifth consecutive gold medal for the Americans — with a near-perfect show.
Durant made his first eight shots on the way to 23 points in less than 17 minutes, James added 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and the US rolled to a 110-84 win over Serbia in the Olympic opener for both teams on Saturday.
They were a combined 18 for 22 from the field — 8 of 9 for Durant, 9 of 13 for James — as the US had no trouble with the reigning World Cup silver medalists from last summer in the Philippines. Jrue Holiday scored 15, Devin Booker had 12 and Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry each added 11 for the US.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-6, 0-1 Nishikori/Daniel*
18:25
Harry Latham-Coyle
Taro Daniel’s extra height helps him out as he arches back to contort in an overhead having been seemingly beaten. Deuce on Andy Murray’s serve...and a forehand dragged wide offers up a break point.
Double fault. Oh dear. Andy Murray grimaces, dropping to fix a shoelace and compose himself again.
Olympics 2024: Andy Murray and Dan Evans lose first set
18:18
Harry Latham-Coyle
Kei Nishikori races through a hold and that’s that for the first set! Clinical, clean tennis from the Japanese pairing to take it 6-2 in half an hour. If it continues in this vein, Andy Murray’s career in tennis is a set from ending.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-5 Nishikori/Daniel*
18:15
Harry Latham-Coyle
Bad to worse for the Brits. A double fault from Dan Evans gifts Daniel/Nishikori 0-30, and Evans then needlessly plays a poor low volley with the ball seemingly set to land beyond the bounds of the court. I’m not sure he’s quite moving at top speed, either, which is a worry.
A Nishikori exocet up the line and another break is secure.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans* 2-4 Nishikori/Daniel
18:12
Harry Latham-Coyle
This is excellent tennis from the Japanese duo. Their opponents are trying to muddy the picture with plenty of court movement, Murray still keen to come in, but Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori are finding good depth with their strokeplay. A couple of piercing volleys from Nishikori ensure that they build upon the break.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-3 Nishikori/Daniel*
18:09
Harry Latham-Coyle
Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel break! They are just playing the more consistent tennis at the moment, nailing their returns and putting Dan Evans in a predicament at the net with a couple of fierce forehands.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans* 2-2 Nishikori/Daniel
18:05
Harry Latham-Coyle
Kei Nishikori was pretty far from his best against Jack Draper earlier, blown away in the first set by the young Brit to exit in the first round of the singles. Nishikori does have an Olympic bronze back at home, procured in Rio de Janeiro in the singles.
He and Taro Daniel square things up, getting a helping hand as Dan Evans and Andy Murray each leave a benign return for the other to strike, opening the doors like porters at a posh hotel.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 2-1 Nishikori/Daniel*
17:59
Harry Latham-Coyle
A ferocious forehand up the line from Kei Nishikori gets him and Taro Daniel going in Dan Evans’ first service game, and a scooped volley that floats wide from the server provides the match’s first break point. Some good work at the net from Andy Murray ensures it isn’t taken.
Deft! That’s delicious from Murray, dropping it down at his feet to leave neither Japanese player with a chance and secure a hold.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans* 1-1 Nishikori/Daniel
17:54
Harry Latham-Coyle
The tall Taro Daniel serves first for the Japanese duo, Dan Evans slapping a slicing forehand beyond him and the baseline. A few signs of rust from Murray as he flaps a volley into the net and then pushes a return wide. It’s all a little bit scratchy from him so far - his next return buries itself in the bosom of the net having never appeared likely to lift enough to get over it.
Olympics 2024: Murray/Evans 1-0 Nishikori/Daniel*
17:50
Harry Latham-Coyle
A miscue early in the opening rally from Andy Murray, but Dan Evans squares affairs at 15-all by bopping away a simple volley. Kei Nishikori finds the net with a rather tame forehand return as the Brits nudge in front.
A first approach to the net from Murray, serving and not volleying as he watches it sail long with approving eyes. Nishikori pounces, though, when Murray comes in on the next point, lifting a lovely lob just inside the baseline to beat both the Scot and a retreating Evans. But the Brits make sure of the next point and the opening game is theirs.
Olympics 2024: Andy Murray begins farewell tournament
17:47
Harry Latham-Coyle
Here we go then. Andy Murray and Dan Evans vs Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori. Murray will serve first - perhaps for the final time...
Olympics 2024: Andy Murray begins farewell tournament
17:47
Harry Latham-Coyle
Dan Evans looks to be moving relatively freely in the warm-up, testing out his serving motion and hopping about on that slightly sore knee. Andy Murray isn’t at all at full fitness, of course, that back problem limiting him to only a doubles participation in Paris.
Eurosport commentator removed from Olympics after sexist comment
17:42
Jack Rathborn
Eurosport commentator Bob Ballard has been removed from the broadcaster’s Olympics coverage after making a sexist remark.
Australia’s women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, including Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris, had just secured gold before Ballard made a controversial remark.
A clip of his Paris 2024 commentary, alongside Lizzie Simmonds, soon went viral on social media sparking outrage.
Ballard could be heard saying: “Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.”
Olympics 2024: Andy Murray begins farewell tournament
17:41
Harry Latham-Coyle
Out they come on to Court Suzanne Lenglen, the Japanese pair in red shirts, the British duo in dark blue with red accenting under the arms. It’s a gorgeous evening in Paris, the sun just starting to dip down to leave most of the court cast in shadow, yesterday’s rain long forgotten.
Olympics 2024: Dan Evans back in action after earlier fall
17:38
Jamie Braidwood
Dan Evans was in the wars earlier as he came through his singles match against Tunisia’s Moez Echargui.
