REUTERS SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 6:30 p.m. GMT/ 2:30 p.m. ET

Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 6:30 p.m. GMT/ 2:30 p.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect.

TOP STORIES

TENNIS-MADRID

Nadal outclasses Blanch in Madrid first round

MADRID, April 25 (Reuters) – Rafael Nadal thrashed 16-year-old wild card Darwin Blanch 6-1 6-0 in the first round of the Madrid Open on Thursday and will face Australian 10th seed Alex de Minaur next.

PREVIEW-Arsenal enter enemy’s den as title race reaches boiling point

LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) – One fixture lurking like a troll in Arsenal’s Premier League title run-in has probably consumed the thoughts of the club’s fans more than any other — Sunday’s short trip down the road to arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

MOTOR-F1-NEWEY

Red Bull respond to reports Newey wants out

LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) – Red Bull said Formula One’s most sought after designer Adrian Newey was signed up until at least the end of next year amid reports on Thursday he was seeking to leave the reigning champions.

UPCOMING

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

BASEBALL-MLB-CHC-HOU/ (PIX)

MLB – Chicago Cubs v Houston Astros

2024 MLB Season (Regular Season) – Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

25 Apr 14:20 ET / 18:20 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-TEX-SEA/ (PIX)

MLB – Texas Rangers v Seattle Mariners

2024 MLB Season (Regular Season) – Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas

25 Apr 14:35 ET / 18:35 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-COL-SD/ (PIX)

MLB – Colorado Rockies v San Diego Padres

2024 MLB Season (Regular Season) – Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

25 Apr 15:10 ET / 19:10 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-WAS-LAD/ (PIX)

MLB – Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Dodgers

2024 MLB Season (Regular Season) – Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia

25 Apr 16:05 ET / 20:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-NYY-OAK/ (PIX)

MLB – New York Yankees v Oakland Athletics

2024 MLB Season (Regular Season) – Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York

25 Apr 19:05 ET / 23:05 GMT

BASEBALL-MLB-DET-KC/ (PIX)

MLB – Detroit Tigers v Kansas City Royals

2024 MLB Season (Regular Season) – Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan

26 Apr 13:10 ET / 17:10 GMT

OLYMPICS

OLYMPICS-2024/NEWZEALAND-ADAMS

NZ shot put great Adams hopes other sports follow athletics’ prize money plan

The decision of World Athletics (WA) to reward Olympic champions with cash prizes is a sign of progress and can spur other global sports federations into doing the same for their athletes, New Zealand shot put great Valerie Adams said on Thursday.

25 Apr 14:30 ET / 18:30 GMT

OLYMPICS-2024/BOAT (TV)

Boat captains prepare for Olympics opening ceremony in the Seine

Boat captain Khalid prepares his electric boat for the Olympics opening ceremony in the Seine

26 Apr

OLYMPICS-2024/FLAME-HANDOVER (PIX) (TV)

Olympic Flame handover ceremony

Olympic Flame handover ceremony in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens

26 Apr 11:30 ET / 15:30 GMT

OLYMPICS-2024/FLAME-HANDOVER MORE (PIX) (TV)

Flame leaves stadium after handover ceremony

The Olympic Flame leaves the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens in a lantern after being handed over to Paris organisers.

26 Apr 12:45 ET / 16:45 GMT

SOCCER

SOCCER-ENGLAND-BRH-MCI/REPORT (PIX)

England – Premier League – Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City

Brighton & Hove Albion play Manchester City in the Premier League.

25 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-SAUDI-ALH-FAT/REPORT (PIX) (TV)

Saudi Arabia – Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Fateh

Al-Hilal play Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League.

26 Apr 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-TBL-FLA/ (PIX)

NHL – Tampa Bay Lightning v Florida Panthers

2023-24 NHL Season (Postseason) – Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida

25 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NYI-CAR/ (PIX)

NHL – New York Islanders v Carolina Hurricanes

2023-24 NHL Season (Postseason) – UBS Arena, Elmont, New York

25 Apr 19:30 ET / 23:30 GMT

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

BASKETBALL-NBA-ORL-CLE/ (PIX)

NBA – Orlando Magic v Cleveland Cavaliers

2023-24 NBA Season (Postseason) – Kia Center, Orlando, Florida

25 Apr 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-PHI-NYK/ (PIX)

NBA – Philadelphia 76ers v New York Knicks

2023-24 NBA Season (Postseason) – Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

25 Apr 19:30 ET / 23:30 GMT

BASKETBALL-NBA-LAL-DEN/ (PIX)

NBA – Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets

2023-24 NBA Season (Postseason) – Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California

26 Apr 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

GOLF

GOLF-LIV-ADELAIDE/ (TV)

LIV Golf League – Adelaide

Round one of LIV Golf Adelaide from The Grange Golf Club in South Australia.

26 Apr 22:15 ET / 02:15 GMT

GOLF-CHAMPIONS-MITSUBISHI/

Mitsubishi Electric Classic

Day one of the Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Georgia.

Coverage provided by Field Level Media.

26 Apr

GOLF-PGA-NEWORLEANS/

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Day two of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Los Angeles.

Coverage provided by Field Level Media.

26 Apr

GOLF-LPGA-LACHAMP/

JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro

Day two of the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles.

Coverage provided by Field Level Media.

26 Apr

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