NBCSN’s Olympic Games Week: What to watch on Friday

Magnificent Seven gymnastics
Getty Images
1 Comment

The Magnificent Seven’s triumph in Atlanta reairs in primetime on Friday as part of seven hours of gymnastics on NBCSN’s Olympic Games Week.

The 1996 Olympic women’s gymnastics team final airs at 8 p.m. ET, a two-hour program of the nation’s first Olympic team title.

Shannon MillerDominique DawesKerri StrugDominique MoceanuAmy ChowAmanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps thrilled 32,000 fans at the Georgia Dome in one of the highlight events of the Centennial Games. MIller and Borden will go live on Instagram during Friday’s broadcast to relive the competition.

The U.S. had a substantial lead going into their last rotation on vault. Strug was last to go, but after three straight falls from her countrywomen.

Not knowing the standings, Strug injured her left ankle on her first vault landing. She performed her second vault, a Yurchenko 1 1/2, sticking the landing but aggravating the ankle injury. It turned out she tore two ankle ligaments. It also turned out that the U.S. would have taken gold even without her 9.712 score.

The group became the first U.S. women’s team to take Olympic gold. They made a Wheaties box and inspired countless children. One example: Aly Raisman, who was given a VHS tape of the event at age 8. She watched it on a daily basis.

LIVE STREAM: NBCSN Olympic Games Week — Friday, 8 p.m.-3 a.m. ET

Later Friday, Carly Patterson becomes the second U.S. woman to win the Olympic all-around after Mary Lou Retton in the 2004 Athens final (10 p.m. ET).

Patterson, who took silver to Svetlana Khorkina at the 2003 Worlds, overtook the Russian with clutch routines on balance beam and floor exercise, her last two events. It marked the final major competition for Patterson, who was diagnosed with bulging discs in her back and announced retirement in 2006.

Four years after Patterson, her training partner Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson went one-two in the Beijing Olympic all-around (12 a.m.).

In the 1988 Olympic all-around (2 a.m.), Soviet Yelena Shushunova scored a perfect 10 on her final vault to edge Romanian Daniela Silivaş by .025. Shushunova and Silivas each tallied seven 10s at those Games, matching Nadia Comaneci‘s record from the 1976 Montreal Olympics. The top American was Brandy Johnson in 10th place.

MORE: Shawn Johnson, Nastia Liukin wear 2008 leotards for Olympic watch party

OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us!

NBCSN Olympic Games Week — Friday, April 24

Time (ET) Program Events Live Stream
8 p.m. Olympic Classics Women’s Gymnastics 1996 Team Final Stream Link
10 p.m. Olympic Classics Women’s Gymnastics 2004 All-Around Final Stream Link
12 a.m. Olympic Classics Women’s Gymnastics 2008 All-Around Final Stream Link
2 a.m. Olympic Classics Women’s Gymnastics 1988 All-Around Final Stream Link

 

2023 French Open women’s singles draw, scores

1 Comment

At the French Open, Iga Swiatek of Poland eyes a third title at Roland Garros and a fourth Grand Slam singles crown overall.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Swiatek, the No. 1 seed from Poland, can join Serena Williams and Justine Henin as the lone women to win three or more French Opens since 2000.

Turning 22 during the tournament, she can become the youngest woman to win three French Opens since Monica Seles in 1992 and the youngest woman to win four Slams overall since Williams in 2002.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Men’s Draw

But Swiatek is not as dominant as in 2022, when she went 16-0 in the spring clay season during an overall 37-match win streak.

She retired from her most recent match with a right thigh injury last week and said it wasn’t serious. Before that, she lost the final of another clay-court tournament to Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, the No. 4 seed and Wimbledon champion, are the top challengers in Paris.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula and No. 6 Coco Gauff, runner-up to Swiatek last year, are the best hopes to become the first American to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sofia Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open. The 11-major drought is the longest for U.S. women since Seles won the 1996 Australian Open.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us!

2023 French Open Women’s Singles Draw

French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw French Open Women's Singles Draw

2023 French Open men’s singles draw, scores

French Open Men's Draw
Getty
1 Comment

The French Open men’s singles draw is missing injured 14-time champion Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2004, leaving the Coupe des Mousquetaires ripe for the taking.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Novak Djokovic is not only bidding for a third crown at Roland Garros, but also to lift a 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy to break his tie with Nadal for the most in men’s history.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Women’s Draw

But the No. 1 seed is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s U.S. Open to become, at 19, the youngest man to win a major since Nadal’s first French Open title in 2005.

Now Alcaraz looks to become the second-youngest man to win at Roland Garros since 1989, after Nadal of course.

Alcaraz missed the Australian Open in January due to a right leg injury, but since went 30-3 with four titles. Notably, he has not faced Djokovic this year. They could meet in the semifinals.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, who lost in the French Open first round in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, is improved on clay. He won the Italian Open, the last top-level clay event before the French Open, and is the No. 2 seed ahead of Djokovic.

No. 9 Taylor Fritz, No. 12 Frances Tiafoe and No. 16 Tommy Paul are the highest-seeded Americans, all looking to become the first U.S. man to make the French Open quarterfinals since Andre Agassi in 2003. Since then, five different American men combined to make the fourth round on eight occasions.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us!

2023 French Open Men’s Singles Draw

French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw French Open Men's Singles Draw