REUTERS SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 2:30 P.M. ET/6:30 P.M. GMT

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

TOP STORIES

TENNIS-FRENCHOPEN/

Ruthless Nadal stays on course for 13th French Open title

PARIS, (Reuters) - It was business as usual as Rafa Nadal continued his quest for a record-extending 13th French Open title with a 6-1 6-0 6-3 crushing of American Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday to reach the third round.

ICEHOCKEY-NHL/NYR-LUNDQVIST

Lundqvist's New York reign over, Rangers buy out goalie's contract

Henrik Lundqvist's tenure with the New York Rangers has come to an end after 15 seasons as the team said on Wednesday they bought out the final year of the Swedish netminder's contract, leaving him free to sign with another NHL club.

HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/SOCCER-BRITAIN

UK Sports Minister confident Premier League will help EFL clubs

LONDON, (Reuters) - The British government is confident the Premier League will play its part in helping lower tier clubs survive the financial ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister for Sport Nigel Huddleston said on Wednesday.

UPCOMING

Athletics

ATHLETICS-LONDON/ (TV)

Athletics - London Marathon - Elite women news conference Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepngetich hold a news conference ahead of Sunday's London marathon.

1 Oct 09:00 ET / 13:00 GMT

Basketball

BASKETBALL-NBA-LAL-MIA/ (PIX)

Basketball - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Miami Heat

2019-20 NBA Season (Postseason) - AdventHealth Arena, Reunion, Florida

1 Oct 21:00 ET / 01:00 GMT

Soccer

SOCCER-AFCCHAMPIONS/

Soccer - Asian Champions League - West Asia quarter-finals

First West Asia quarter-final in the Asian Champions League at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

30 Sep 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-CHAMPIONS-PAO-KRA/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - Champions League - PAOK v FC Krasnodar

PAOK face FC Krasnodar in the return leg of their Champions League playoff tie. The match report will include highlights of the day's other two games, Midtjylland v Slavia Prague and Salzburg v Maccabi Tel Aviv.

30 Sep 15:00 ET / 19:00 GMT

SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/DRAW (PIX) (TV)

Soccer - Champions League - Group Stage Draw

The draw for the Champions League group stage will take place at a ceremony in Geneva.

1 Oct 11:00 ET / 15:00 GMT

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

Soccer - England - Carabao Cup Fourth Round - Brighton

Hove Albion v Manchester United

30 Sep 14:45 ET / 18:45 GMT

SOCCER-ENGLAND/BULLETPREVIEWS

Soccer-Bullet point previews of Premier League matches

Match-by-match facts and statistics ahead of the Premier League weekend.

1 Oct 22:00 ET / 02:00 GMT

SOCCER-GERMANY-BAY-DOR/REPORT (PIX) (TV)

Soccer - Germany - DFL Super Cup - Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich face Borussia Dortmund in the DFL Super Cup at the Allianz Arena.

30 Sep 14:30 ET / 18:30 GMT

SOCCER-ITALY-BEN-INT/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - Italy - Serie A - Lazio v Atalanta

Lazio host Atalanta in a Serie A match.

30 Sep 14:45 ET / 18:45 GMT

SOCCER-SPAIN-MAD-REV/REPORT (PIX)

Soccer - Spain - La Liga - Real Madrid v Real Valladolid Real Madrid play against Real Valladolid in La Liga.

30 Sep 15:30 ET / 19:30 GMT

SOCCER-SPAIN/PREVIEW

Soccer - Spain - La Liga weekend preview

A preview of the weekend's action in La Liga.

1 Oct 06:00 ET / 10:00 GMT

Tennis

SPORT-AUSTRALIA/TRANSGENDER (PIX) (TV)

Australia federations to issue guidelines on transgender athletes

Eight peak Australian sporting bodies will release their policies and/or guidelines on the inclusion of trans and gender diverse people in their sports, including Rugby Australia, Tennis Australia and Australian Rules football.

1 Oct 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT

TENNIS-FRENCHOPEN/ (PIX) (TV)

Tennis - French Open

Round two of the French Open at Roland Garros.

1 Oct 05:00 ET / 09:00 GMT