REUTERS SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 6.30 p.m. GMT/2.30 p.m. ET

World number two Rafa Nadal dropped a set at the Barcelona Open for the first time in four years before advancing to the last 16, beating Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-7(7) 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday.

FOOTBALL-NFL-OAK-LYNCH/ Raiders running back Lynch to retire again

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch plans to retire for a second time, according to a report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. ICEHOCKEY-NHL-CBJ/

Columbus eager to get back to business after stunning hockey world The Columbus Blue Jackets are through marveling at their stunning sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning as they set their sights on a second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs clash with the Boston Bruins.

UPCOMING SOCCER

SOCCER-GERMANY-SVW-BAY/REPORT Soccer - Germany - DFB Pokal - Werder Bremen v Bayern Munich

Werder Bremen play Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal semi-finals. 24 Apr 14:45 ET / 18:45 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-WLV-ARS/REPORT Soccer - England - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal

Arsenal chase a win at Wolves to boost their top four hopes 24 Apr 14:45 ET / 18:45 GMT

SOCCER-ITALY-MIL-LAZ/REPORT Soccer - Italy - Coppa Italia - AC Milan v Lazio

AC Milan host Lazio in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final following a 0-0 draw in the first match. 24 Apr 14:30 ET / 18:30 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND-MUN-MCI/REPORT Soccer - England - Premier League - Manchester Utd v Manchester City

Struggling Manchester United host title-chasing Manchester City in a huge derby 24 Apr 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-ITALY/PREVIEW Soccer - Italy - Serie A preview

Preview of the weekend's Serie A games 25 Apr 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

SOCCER-ITALY-ATT-FIO/REPORT Soccer - Italy - Coppa Italia - Atalanta v Fiorentina

Atalanta host Fiorentina in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final which is evenly-poised after a 3-3 draw in the first leg. Apr 25

SOCCER-ENGLAND/PREVIEW Premier League preview

Preview of the upcoming Premier League weekend. 25 Apr 03:30 ET / 07:30 GMT

Motor racing MOTOR-F1-AZERBAIJAN/ (PIX) (TV)

Motor racing - Formula One - Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Media Day Formula One drivers meet the media ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

25 Apr 09:00 ET / 13:00 GMT MOTOR-RALLY-DAKAR/ (PIX) (TV)

Rallying - Dakar Rally news conference in Saudi Arabia Organisers of the Dakar Rally hold a news conference in Al Qiddiya to explain the full details for the race moving from South America to Saudi Arabia from next year.

25 Apr ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS-SEMENYA/ (PIX) Athletics - South African Championship

Caster Semenya and Wade van Niekerk are due to participate in the national championship as South Africa select their team for the World Athletics Championship in Doha later this year 25 Apr 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

ATHLETICS-LONDON/PREVIEW (PIX) Athletics - London Marathon preview news conferences

The elite women athletes look ahead to the 2019 London Marathon. 25 Apr 05:30 ET / 09:30 GMT

TENNIS TENNIS-STUTTGART/

Tennis - WTA Premier - Stuttgart Tennis Grand Prix Action from the last-16 of the Stuttgart Tennis Grand Prix.

25 Apr 05:30 ET / 09:30 GMT TENNIS-BARCELONA/ (TV)

Tennis - ATP 500 - Barcelona Open Action from the last-16 of the Barcelona Open - an ATP World Tour 500 event.

25 Apr 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT GOLF

GOLF-ZURICH/ Golf - PGA Tour - Zurich Classic of New Orleans

TPC Louisiana hosts the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 25 Apr 07:00 ET / 11:00 GMT

RUGBY RUGBY-UNION-WORLDCUP-JPN/LEITCH (PIX)

Rugby Union-No settling for second best, Japan want to win World Cup: Leitch A wide smile breaks across the face of captain Michael Leitch as he delivers his "outrageous statement": Japan are aiming to win the Rugby World Cup on home soil later this year.

25 Apr 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL-NBA-DEN-SA Field Level Media - PREVIEW: Nuggets have Spurs on ropes in Game 6

Denver clocked the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 and the Nuggets bring a heavy dose of momentum and a 3-2 series lead into the AT&T Center in San Antonio on Thursday. 24 Apr 19:00 ET/ 23:00 GMT

ICEHOCKEY ICEHOCKEY-CBJ-BOS/DAL-STL

Field Level Media - PREVIEW: Blue Jackets-Bruins, Stars-Blues open second round Previews of second-round Stanley Cup Playoff games.

24 Apr 19:00 ET/ 23:00 GMT FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL-NFL-NOTEBOOK Field Level Media - NFL notebook

News and notes from around the NFL. 24 Apr 20:00 ET/00:00 GMT