Victoria Azarenka displayed the kind of form that could lead her to a hat-trick of Australian Open titles later this month by brushing aside German fourth seed Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-1 in the Brisbane International final on Saturday.
For all their celebrated Grand Slam past, Nadal and Federer have never clashed in a US Open final.
Roger Federer returned to winning ways on Sunday by claiming the Cincinnati Masters and announced himself once again as the man to beat at the US Open.
World number two Roger Federer comfortably beat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to set up a meeting with American Mardy Fish in the final of the Cincinnati Masters. Fish had earlier pulled off a surprise turnaround win over fellow American Andy Roddick to claim a 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory and advance to his third Masters series final.
Kim Clijsters raced into the quarter-finals of the Montreal Cup with a ruthless 6-2, 6-1 demolition of Kaia Kanepi on Thursday, sending a menacing message to anyone eyeing the Belgian's US Open crown.
The female touch has brought a little more fun into the routine of former world number one Ana Ivanovic as she tries to claw her way back up the world rankings.
The 14-time Grand Slam winner said he is happy and proud to have reached the summit of the game for a fourth separate spell.
American World No 1 Serena Williams will miss three tournaments in the build-up to the US Open due to surgery on her right foot, the WTA Tour said on Saturday.
Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams face challenging early tests at the US Open following Friday's draws for the year's last Grand Slam starting on Monday.
Medvedev whips Dimitrov to enter US Open final
The match ended in 52 minutes as Williams played her forehand into the net.
World number three Andy Murray has withdrawn from next week's inaugural $5.25 million Shanghai Masters because of a wrist injury, organisers said on Thursday.
India's tennis star Sania Mirza retained her numero uno status in women's doubles for the second consecutive year, despite failing to defend the WTA Finals Singapore title with partner Martina Hingis. Defending champions Sania and Hingis had lost to Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals Singapore on Saturday.
Fiery Australian Nick Kyrgios mostly kept his cool en route to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 dismantling of Antoine Hoang in their second round clash at the US Open on Thursday. The 28th seed had a row with the umpire even before the match started but avoided a full scale meltdown to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows for the fourth time.
Abubaker Amry, who has lived in Cincinnati, Ohio for nearly four decades, said he and his neighbours do not interact much beyond a cordial "Hello," so the note someone left him, came as a surprise.
Halep's near-flawless display at the All England Club marked a spectacular return to form after her world ranking dropped from first to seventh between mid-January and July.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
Dimitrov has enjoyed the best season of his career in 2017, clinching four titles overall, including his first Masters title in Cincinnati.
Defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal and twice winner Novak Djokovic are one victory away from renewing their rivalry in the final with both expected to get through their semis on Friday.
World number one Rafa Nadal, searching for his first US Open title, says he has to improve rapidly to have a chance of glory at Flushing Meadows later this month.
World number one Serena Williams has started her clay-court season in dominant style, beating Anna-Lena Friedsam in straight sets in the second round of the Italian Open in Rome on Tuesday.
The Scotsman doesn't expect to win US Open this year
Serena Williams remains the 'queen' of women's tennis but don't be surprised if she's no longer No 1 by the end of the year, Martina Navratilova said Thursday.
The store has also lowered its forecast for the fourth quarter and full year due to heavy markdowns, a report in the Chicago Sun Times said on Friday. Shutters would be brought down on stores in 9 locations, including Los Angeles, Colorado, Hawaii, Indianapolis, St Louis, among others. The company said the closures would cost about $65 million.
The birth of twins Charlene Riva and Myla Rose was supposed to mark the moment when their dad Roger Federer lost his appetite to win titles -- at least that is what the all-conquering Swiss's rivals were hoping for.
Ask any of the top seeds at next week's U.S. Open who they would least like to play in the early rounds and there will only be one name uttered - Kim Clijsters.
Serb Jelena Jankovic has rediscovered her form in time for the U.S. Open, while compatriot and fellow former world number one Ana Ivanovic is still looking to turn her season round.
Roger Federer and Andy Murray moved towards a likely showdown at the Cincinnati Masters on Thursday while Rafael Nadal took another encouraging step on his return from injury by joining them in the quarter-finals. Fourth seed Novak Djokovic also reached the last eight with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Jeremy Chardy of France.
Roger Federer may be recently married and a new father to twin girls, but nothing can distract the Swiss 15-time grand slam champion from the business of being the world's top-ranked player.
World number one and holder Dinara Safina made an early exit from the Toronto Cup on Wednesday, shocked 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 by 39th ranked Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai.
Rafael Nadal reached the third round of the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday only to immediately write off his chances of winning the title.
Ninth seed Gilles Simon booked his place in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters on Tuesday after a 7-6, 6-7, 6-1 win over Russian Igor Andreev.
Roger Federer played down Andy Murray's elevation to the world number two ranking on Monday, saying the Scot would merely be one of many contenders for his US Open title next month. The world number one steps up his preparations at the Cincinnati Masters this week, looking to hone his game before he bids to win his sixth consecutive US Open title and claim a record 16th Grand Slam crown.
Kim Clijsters' brilliant comeback continued at the Cincinnati Open with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win over French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova on Thursday, but the Williams sisters both fell at the third round hurdle. Second seed Serena, struggling with a virus, lost 7-5, 6-4 to Austria's Sybille Bammer while in-form Italian Flavia Pennetta ended the hopes of third seed Venus with a 7-6, 6-4 victory.
Kim Clijsters's comeback gathered pace on Wednesday when the former world number one beat Swiss Patty Schnyder 6-2, 7-5 to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Open. Second seed Serena Williams, who holds three of the four Grand Slam titles, also advanced to the third round after overpowering Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-3, 6-2.
Kim Clijsters made a stunning return to tennis after a two-year absence when she beat world number 13 Marion Bartoli of France 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Cincinnati Open on Monday. The former world number one, who gave birth to her first child in February of last year, outplayed the former Wimbledon runner-up in one hour, 22 minutes.
World number one Novak Djokovic blasted past qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-2 to reach the second round of the Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.
World number one Simona Halep pulled out of next week's WTA Finals due to a lower back injury.
Federer looked more relieved than overjoyed when Tiafoe's forehand found the net on match point to keep his hopes of a 20th grand slam title alive.
An American national, who had earlier tweeted his support to ISIS, was arrested on charges of plotting to attack the US Capitol, the seat of the Congress, and kill government officials.
