Andy Murray's illustrious career finally came to an end as he and doubles partner Dan Evans were beaten 6-2, 6-4 by American pair Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul in the Olympics quarter-finals at Roland Garros on Thursday.
Zverev will have a chance to spoil the birthday party for Nadal, who turns 36 on Friday
With Roger Federer and 2018 champion Novak Djokovic having already made exits, Nadal's path to a fourth US Open trophy has been cleared of familiar hurdles.
Rafael Nadal survived a difficult start to see off Chung Hyeon of South Korea in straight sets and reach the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open for a 10th time on Friday.
Nadal is bidding for his second title in his 15th appearance at Melbourne Park
Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal believes his call for all his anti-doping tests throughout his career to be released to the public is the only way to end the scourge of doping accusations in tennis. Nadal filed a lawsuit against former French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot on Monday after she accused him of covering up a failed drugs test. The Spaniard then requested that the International Tennis Federation release the results of his anti-doping tests throughout his career and in the future. "My philosophy is easy to understand. I believe in my sport, that is the most important thing, I believe my rivals are clean, our sport is clean and I believe in our anti-doping programme and it is independent one," Nadal said on Sunday. "The sport should be clean and must look clean. In my opinion it is much better for the transparency of the sport in general to say Rafa Nadal is doing an anti-doping control today, the result will be in two weeks and in two weeks you publish the results, the anti-doping control is negative. "That will be much easier for everybody, it should be much easier for the world of sport and for sure will be easier for you guys (the media).
The Spaniard, who has won a men's record 22 Grand Slam titles, will return for the the Masters 1000 event in Bercy, which the world number two has never won, as part of his preparations for the ATP's finale in Turin from November 13-20.
With Rafael Nadal out with injury, can Novak Djokovic go past the Spaniard and pick up a record 23rd Grand Slam title.
World number one Rafa Nadal will face Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final of the Qatar Open after surviving a tough test against German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk in Doha.
Nadal said the two-week gap between the French Open and Wimbledon was not enough time for him to recuperate
World number one Novak Djokovic said his win over Rafa Nadal in Friday's epic French Open semi-final was one of the top three matches he had played and he would remember it forever.
'What a heart, what a mindset, what guts, what everything, what a REFERENCE you are! I'm at your feet!'
Rafael Nadal's absence from Indian Wells saw the 22-times Grand Slam champion slip out of the top 10 for the first time since 2005.
'I don't see him in any way stressed. He won't be completely destroyed if Rafa makes the 20'
'A very special day for me with the unveiling of this statue @rolandgarros #muchasgracias #merci,' Rafa posted alonside a picture of the statue.
Djokovic has refused to take the vaccine and appears set to miss out on the year's last Grand Slam
The untroubled advance of the heavy hitters at Wimbledon was spectacularly halted on Thursday when twice champion Rafa Nadal was bundled out by German qualifier Dustin Brown who played the match of his life.
Novak Djokovic etched his name into Olympic history, capturing the gold medal in a thrilling victory over Carlos Alcaraz.
World number one Novak Djokovic and number two Rafa Nadal set up a mouth-watering men's singles final at the US Open with victories in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows on Saturday.
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.
Images from the men's singles quarter-finals at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
IMAGES from the Australian Open matches played on Wednesday.
Simona Halep will take over as the new number one in the WTA world rankings after progressing to the China Open final with a dominant 6-2 6-4 victory over Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko in Beijing on Saturday.
Tennis is on hold until at least the start of August because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while there have been positive noises about the prospects of the US Open taking place, followed by the French Open, Rafael Nadal served a dose of reality.
The winners of the season's first three grand slams Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal put on a masterclass at the Western and Southern Open on Wednesday, strolling into the third round with straight sets wins.
French Open organisers defended their security arrangements after protesters, one letting off a flare and running on court, briefly interrupted the final between Rafa Nadal and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Sunday.
Spain's Rafa Nadal handed Novak Djokovic another semi-final defeat when he beat the world number one at the Rogers Cup on Saturday to set up a title decider against local favourite Milos Raonic.
Roger Federer saw his men's record haul of 20 Grand Slam singles titles matched by Rafael Nadal on Sunday and the Swiss great was quick to offer his congratulations to the Spaniard.
'He told me that (I had) a great run, and I told him again, 'bravo'.'
'I physically need to get a little better and hopefully over time I get a little bit faster... I think I will'
Twice finalist Ruud overcomes Davidovich Fokina test
Jannik Sinner has sprinted past opponents at the Australian Open in his quest for a maiden Grand Slam but could end up running a marathon in the final against Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, when Melbourne Park will crown a new king.
Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka and compatriot Roger Federer suffered contrasting third round defeats at the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday.
IMAGES from the Australian Open final played on Sunday
Jannik Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Sunday.
Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic rallied to see off Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4 in the Shanghai Open quarter-finals on Friday and world number one Rafa Nadal also booked his place in the last four.
24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic looked completely powerless as he was pummeled into submission by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz.
Mats Wilander said it was a 'miracle' that Nadal won two majors during the year.
Kyrgios, who opted out of Australia's Davis Cup team this year, later posted a video on Instagram where he was seen out in the sunshine at a harbour with the caption 'Beautiful day'.
Nadal was leading the match 6-1, 2-0 when Correno Busta decided he had had enough.
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