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MIAMI, June 11 (UPI) -- The finals of the 2021 French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament and the NBA and NHL playoffs fill the schedule of sports events this weekend. Three NASCAR races at Texas Motor Speedway, two UFC title fights and the MLB and MLS regular seasons are also on tap Friday through Sunday.
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But the clay courts of Roland Garros are the main attraction, as tennis' second Grand Slam of the season concludes Sunday in Paris.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal is the men's defending champion and is still in play to win a record-extending 14th title at Roland Garros.
Poland's Iga Swiatek won the women's title in 2020, but is one of the many top players no longer in the singles circuit.
Nadal has won the last four titles in Paris and can set the record for overall Grand Slam titles (21) with another French Open crown.
"The numbers are just amazing, but I can't think about that now," Nadal told reporters Wednesday. "Let's talk about that when I finish my career."
French Open tennis
The finals matchup for the men's singles circuit is to be determined, as Nadal, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Germany's Alexander Zverev enter semifinal matchups Friday in Paris.
Nadal and Djokovic meet in the second semifinal and should provide one of the most entertaining matchups of the Grand Slam. That match is expected to start at 11:30 a.m. EDT Friday and airs on the Tennis Channel.
Djokovic is 29-28 against Nadal, but Nadal beat Djokovic in the 2020 French Open final. The clay-court expert owns a 7-1 career record against Djokovic at the French Open.
"We know each other well," Nadal said of Djokovic. "Everyone knows that anything can happen in these kinds of matches. The player who is playing better that day has a better chance. ... It's the semifinals, it's not the final.
"The winner of that match needs to keep going and has a lot of work to do."
Zverev takes on Tsitsipas in the first men's semifinal at 8:50 a.m. EDT Friday on Court Philippe-Chatrier. That match also airs on the Tennis Channel.
The women's singles semifinals took place Thursday at Roland Garros. Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Slovenian Tamara Zidansek in straight sets to advance to her first career Grand Slam final.
Czech Barbora Krejcikova beat Greece's Maria Sakkari to advance to the women's finale. Krejcikova will also make her Grand Slam final debut Saturday on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The 2021 French Open women's singles final airs at 9 a.m. EDT Saturday on NBC. The men's final airs at 9 a.m EDT Sunday on NBC.
NBA playoffs
The NBA playoffs continue with the Western Conference Semifinals and Eastern Conference Semifinals from Friday through next week.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks are tied at 1-1 in their series. Game 3 is at 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday in Atlanta. The Phoenix Suns looked to carry momentum into Game 3 of their series against the Denver Nuggets, which they lead 2-0. That game tips off at 10 p.m. EDT Friday in Denver.
Friday's games both air on ESPN.
Game 3 of the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers series airs at 8:30 p.m. EDT Saturday on ABC. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks host the Brooklyn Nets in Game 4 of that series at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday on ABC.
The Nuggets host the Suns in the final playoff game of the weekend at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday in Denver. Game 4 of that Western Conference Semifinals series airs on TNT.
Friday
Tennis
French Open men's semifinals: Alexander Zverev vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas at 8:50 a.m. EDT on the Tennis Channel
French Open men's semifinals: Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic at 11:30 a.m. EDT on the Tennis Channel
Golf
Palmetto Championship: Second round from 3 to 6 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel
MLB
Cardinals at Cubs at 2:20 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Padres at Mets at 7:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
NBA Playoffs
Game 3: 76ers at Hawks at 7:30 p.m EDT on ESPN
Game 3: Suns at Nuggets at 10 p.m. EDT on ESPN
Saturday
Tennis
French Open women's final: Barbora Krejcikova vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 9 a.m. EDT on NBC
Golf
Palmetto Championship: Third round from 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel; from 3 to 6 p.m. on CBS
NASCAR
Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 220 at 1 p.m. EDT on FS1
Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 250 Powered by Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen at 4 p.m. EDT on FS1
Soccer
MLS: Austin at Kansas City at 3 p.m. EDT on ESPN+
MLB
Yankees at Phillies at 4:05 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Cardinals at Cubs at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox
Giants at Nationals at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox
Astros at Twins at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Fox
Rangers at Dodgers at 10:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
NHL Playoffs
Game 7 (if necessary): Golden Knights at Avalanche at 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBCSN
NBA Playoffs
Game 3: Jazz at Clippers at 8:30 p.m. EDT on ABC
UFC 263 on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View
Paul Craig vs. Jamahal Hill at 10 p.m. EDT
Demian Maia vs. Belal Muhammad after first fight
Leon Edwards vs. Nate Diaz after second fight
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno after third fight
Israel Adesanya vs. Marvin Vettori after fourth fight
Sunday
Tennis
French Open men's final: Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexander Zverev 9 a.m. EDT on NBC
Golf
Palmetto Championship: Final round from 1 to 3 p.m. EDT on Golf Channel; from 3 to 6 p.m. on CBS
NBA Playoffs
Game 4: Nets at Bucks at 3 p.m. EDT on ABC
Game 4: Suns at Nuggets at 8 p.m. EDT on TNT
MLB
Yankees at Phillies at 1:05 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Rangers at Dodgers at 4:10 p.m. EDT on MLB Network (Out of market only)
Cardinals at Cubs at 7:08 p.m. EDT on ESPN
NASCAR
Cup Series NASCAR All-Star Open at 6 p.m. EDT on FS1
Cup Series NASCAR All-Star Race at 8 p.m. EDT on NBCSN
NHL Playoffs
Semifinals: TBD
