Nadal, who would pass fellow Spaniard Andres Gimeno as the oldest Roland Garros men's singles champion if he wins, had to dig deep again in a three-hour slugfest in the semi-final against Alexander Zverev before the German was forced to retire mid-match after injuring his ankle.
Barty's athleticism is remarkable.
Australia's injured skipper Michael Clarke will join the Channel Nine commentary team for the Boxing Day Test match in Melbourne.
Team India, set for a gruelling tour of Australia, looked in top gear as they practiced diligently during a nets session on the eve of the first Test in Adelaide on Monday.
Winning while not at their best is a major positive to take for Mitchell Starc, after Australia made it two victories from two by beating West Indies by 15 runs.
Federer's bid for a 20th grand slam title will be aided by the absences of Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori, as well as lingering injuries to top players who are still expected to play like Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka.
An inspired Milos Raonic toppled Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4 to win the Brisbane International on Sunday and avenge his defeat to the Swiss master in last year's final.
England were scenting victory after claiming three late wickets to reduce Australia to 174 for six on a fluctuating fourth day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
Images from Day 1 of the second Test between India and Australia played at the Gabba on Wednesday
American great John McEnroe expects Roger Federer's sensational comeback season to continue in New York when the US Open kicks off on Monday.
Bernard Tomic lived up to his reputation as an outspoken player when he hit back at tennis coach Roger Rasheed who criticised his fellow Australian's behaviour. After Tomic's first-round victory over American Brian Baker at the French Open on Tuesday, Rasheed told local radio that the player should show more commitment. "To be honest I could beat Brian Baker...he couldn't hit two balls on the court," said Rasheed, who has also coached former world number one Lleyton Hewitt as well as Frenchmen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils. Tomic, the 20th seed, is not a claycourt specialist and he lost 3-6 6-2 7-6(4) 7-6(6) to Croatian teenager Borna Coric in the second round. Asked what he thought of Rasheed's comments, Tomic said: "That's why I never got along with Roger.
Tennis is like "riding a bike" for Federer, who is not worried about his game or starting with "really low" expectations, but is more interested to see how his knee reacts to the rigours of competitive tennis.
Australia ripped out England's top order to take a vice-like grip on the second Ashes Test after completely dominating the second day at Lord's on Friday.
Statistical highlights from the day's play.
Wrecking ball Mitchell Johnson laid further scars on England's battered psyche with a stunning seven-wicket haul that skittled the tourists for 172 and put Australia in complete control of the second Ashes Test after the third day on Saturday.
England completed a crushing 347-run victory over Australia with a day to spare in the second Ashes Test on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin announced his retirement from first class cricket on Wednesday, following Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Chris Rogers in stepping down from Tests in the wake of the Ashes series defeat.
Paceman Steven Finn's five-wicket haul put England on the brink of a 2-1 Ashes series lead over Australia on Thursday with the tourists facing a desperate battle to avoid a humiliating third Test defeat.
Australian opener David Warner on Tuesday said that a good pitch coupled with India's poor bowling and fielding helped Australia.
The success against India this summer has been outstanding from a team and individual point of view, said Australian skipper Steve Smith, who became only the second batsman to score four successive hundreds in a four-Test series.
David Warner hit a sparkling 145 from 163 balls before India captured a flurry of late wickets to reduce Australia to 354 for six at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test in Adelaide.
Australia's cricketers returned to their aggressive brand of cricket in the aftermath of Phillip Hughes's death as they held their first training session in Adelaide since the tragedy.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier has action-packed entertainment, raves Paloma Sharma.
World number one Novak Djokovic on Wednesday dismissed any suggestion of friction with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal as tennis politics spilled over to the Miami Open.
Images from the World Cup second semi-final between England and Australia in Birmingham, on Thursday.
Graeme Smith made three in his final Test innings as South Africa were slipping towards a heavy defeat at the close on the fourth day of the series-deciding third Test against Australia on Tuesday.
Semi-finalists six times. Runner-up in 2015. Rajneesh Gupta highlights important numbers for the New Zealand team from World Cups.
The Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese calendar, began on Sunday, January 22.
Steve Smith scored a sparkling century and put on 128 for the sixth wicket with Brad Haddin to rescue Australia and push the hosts to 326 all out shortly before close of play on the first day of the fifth Ashes Test against England on Friday.
David Warner punished a depleted and dispirited England with a brilliant century to help drive Australia to 235 for three and a dominant lead of 369 after the third day of the third Ashes Test on Sunday.
Australia's Steve Smith scored a brilliant century to help wrest control of the third Ashes Test back from a revitalised England on a sweltering opening day at the WACA on Friday. When stumps were drawn for the day, Australia were 326 for 6 after 87 overs.
The 28-year-old is expected to open the batting with Surrey team mate Rory Burns for the one-off match against Ireland starting at Lord's next Wednesday.
England's comprehensive Ashes victory over Australia was built on a purposeful and well-drilled team that combined the perfect blend of youth and experience.
Check out the lowest totals in Ashes history after England bowled Australia out for 60 in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Cricket's decision review system was further dragged through the mire on Thursday after another controversial decision in the third Ashes Test with the irate Australian board and even Prime Minister Kevin Rudd weighing in.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
With only two weeks to go for the Australian Open, tennis stars Roger Federer, Victoria Azarenka, Radek Stepanek and Garbine Muguruza were seen in a light-spirited mood in Brisbane. As part of Nickelodeon Kids Day, the tennis stars led by 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer posed for pictures with cartoon characters.
Pakistan beat England by 14 runs at Trent Bridge on Monday as the World Cup's first centuries from Joe Root and Jos Buttler were not enough to help the hosts and pre-tournament favourites overhaul the huge target of 349 set for them.
Not too impressed with Virat Kohli's outbursts on and off the field, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said the aggression could backfire badly in the ongoing third cricket Test against Australia as the tourists already have their back against the wall.
Federer and world number one Nadal won the first three grand slam titles of the season as they came back to prominence with a bang, and nothing suggests their first-round opponents, American Frances Tiafoe and Serbian Dusan Lajovic, will bother them.
