With Rafael Nadal out with injury, can Novak Djokovic go past the Spaniard and pick up a record 23rd Grand Slam title.
Clearly Nikoloz Basilashvili had come to face Rafael Nadal with a plan but, like Mike Tyson said, everybody has a plan until they're punched in the face.
Federer's pullout from Cincinnati hands number one spot to the Spaniard
Federer picked French teenager Jonathan Eysseric because he is a left-hander, like world No 2 Rafael Nadal, and has a power-based game similar to the Spaniard's.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic tops the draw while new world number one Ash Barty is top seed in the women's singles.
Heavier balls to blame for slower game: Nadal
Rewarding as it was for Rafael Nadal to become the only player to win the same Grand Slam 12 times by chalking up his dozen at last month's French Open, the Spaniard arrived at Wimbledon this year like a man on a mission. In the end, however, it became mission impossible as he lost to inspired Roger Federer in Friday's blockbuster semi-final.
Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer's five-year reign as king of Wimbledon on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 victory in one of the most dramatic finals seen at the All England Club.
His great rival Roger Federer had already maintained his regal progress earlier on the showcourt and Serena Williams then followed with another thumping win.
Here's a look at Nadal's other early exits from the tournament:
Nadal's participation in the season-ending Tour finals hung in the balance when the Spaniard pulled out of the Paris Masters
Nadal will resume his fight to stay in the French Open on Thursday
IMAGES from the Australian Open final played on Sunday
Medvedev whips Dimitrov to enter US Open final
24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic looked completely powerless as he was pummeled into submission by Spain's Carlos Alcaraz.
Images from Day 9 of the 2022 Australian Open, at Melbourne Park, on Tuesday.
Rafael Nadal stayed on course for a record-extending 10th Monte Carlo Masters title when the Spaniard beat David Goffin 6-3, 6-1 in the semi-finals after the Belgian was denied a key point in controversial fashion on Saturday.
World number one Rafa Nadal's participation in the season-ending Tour finals hung in the balance when the Spaniard pulled out of the Paris Masters with injury on Friday.
The second round match against Argentine Federico Delbonis lacked nothing in quality power tennis but was almost entirely devoid of drama and the most notable incident came late in the third set when the ball flew off top seed Nadal's racket and hit a ballgirl on the head.
The Spaniard leads 23-15 on a head-to-head basis but the Swiss has won the last five encounters.
Rafael Nadal does not expect to return to play competitive tennis until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has decimated much of this year's calendar. The World No 2 said he has practically written off the remainder of the year and is looking to the Australian Open in January 2021 as the next tournament he will play.
The World No 1 told reporters on Friday that his strong performances this season -- including clinching yet another Roland Garros title in June -- have given him momentum heading into the fourth major of the year next week.
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.
The two great rivals meet at Roland Garros for the first time in eight years in Friday's tie.
Rafael Nadal continued his brilliant revival at the Australian Open to topple Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(7), 6-4 on Wednesday and reach his first grand slam semi-final in three years.
Rafael Nadal secured his first title since 2006 French Open by beating Novak Djokovic 6-2, 7-5 to win the Pacific Life Open.
"It's not even a dream to win here 11 times, because its impossible to think of something like this."
Say it quietly but some chinks are appearing in the suit of armour Rafael Nadal usually wears on a claycourt as the Spaniard sets his sights on a ninth French Open title.
The Serbian won 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 to claim his 15th Grand Slam title.
Russian fourth seed Mikhail Youzhny made a winning start to the New Year as he routed world no. 2 Rafael Nadal 6-0, 6-1 in the final of the Chennai Open on Sunday.
Austria's Dominic Thiem strained every sinew trying to cling on to the 32-year-old Spaniard and at times even gained a precarious foothold in his first Grand Slam final. But it ultimately proved a futile mission as, just like in all but two of Nadal's previous 87 matches here, the relentless Spaniard proved insurmountable, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
Fourteen-times grand slam champion Rafael Nadal has turned to fellow Mallorcan Carlos Moya in an attempt to revitalise his career, the 30-year-old Spaniard said on Saturday.
A US Open full of upsets and hungry, young contenders offered the latest sign that men's tennis has entered a new era
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.
Ashleigh Barty lifted the season-ending WTA Finals trophy and led Australia to their first Fed Cup final since 1993, while Nadal won his 4th ITF Award for winning two Slams this season.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
Stefanos Tsitsipas credited his stellar comeback win against Rafa Nadal in Wednesday's Australian Open quarter-final to his peace of mind, saying he had attained a state of "nirvana" during the match despite falling back by two sets.
Rafael Nadal's dominance on the red claycourts in Paris is unmatched, the Spaniard picking up his 13th French Open trophy last year to match Roger Federer's 20 Grand Slam singles titles.
Rafael Nadal stormed into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 demolition of former finalist Marcos Baghdatis.
The 12-time French Open champion unhappy with schedule.
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