Iron-willed Czech Tomas Berdych ended eight years of tyranny under nemesis Rafa Nadal to storm into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday before his next opponent Andy Murray restored British colonial rule to the floodlit centre court.
Rafael Nadal's win over Novak Djokovic in the US Open final not only earned the Spaniard a 13th major but also helped take the rivalry between the two to an altogether new level. The match was the 37th encounter between the Spaniard and the Serb, a new world record. Here's a look at the other major rivalries over the years in men's tennis.
Nadal, is known to have a superior win-loss record over most top players (including Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic), but believe it or not, there are players on the circuit who have an edge over Nadal.
Surprise package Davidovich Fokina, who knocked out top-ranked Novak Djokovic and Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz in the earlier rounds at Monaco, drew first blood by breaking Tsitsipas to take a 2-1 lead in the opening set.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic was handed a tough opening round at Wimbledon when Friday's draw paired him with Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Novak Djokovic, who has won a record nine titles at Melbourne Park including the last three, has repeatedly declined to reveal whether he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, with Australian Open organisers Tennis Australia confirming that all players would have to be vaccinated to compete in Melbourne.
Penpix of the top men's contenders at the 2021 French Open which begins on Sunday:
Rafael Nadal ended his four-year wait for a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title by defeating Gael Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 on Sunday in his 100th career final.
Nadal thrashes Nishikori; Federer downs Wawrinka
Fabio Fognini pulled off a huge upset, stunning top seed and holder Rafael Nadal 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the Rio Open semi-final on Saturday.
Predicting Rafael Nadal's downfall as he prepares to try and win a record-extending 10th French Open title is disrespectful to the Spaniard, double Roland Garros champion Maria Sharapova said on Friday.
Sticking to a limited schedule has helped Roger Federer enjoy a renaissance late in his career but the Swiss says rest time is now over and he is looking forward to returning to action at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart.
Roger Ferdrer came up with a solid all-round display to beat world No 1 Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-3 in the final and win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday.
With professional tennis tours closed down until mid July at the earliest because of the coronavirus pandemic, an esports version of the claycourt event is being staged online. Nadal showed impressive fingerwork to beat young Canadian Denis Shapovalov in his opening round-robin match on a digital representation of the Spanish capital's Manolo Santana Stadium.
Roberto Bautista Agut predicted a great future for Jannik Sinner after going down to the Italian teenager
Rafael Nadal's Australian Open quarter-final curse struck again on Tuesday, an injury forcing the top seed to retire in the fifth set against Croatia's Marin Cilic.
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka advanced to the Rogers Cup quarter-finals on Thursday to set up their first meeting since the American's infamous row with an umpire overshadowed last year's US Open final.
Describing Rafael Nadal as his greatest rival, Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer has admitted that he could never maintain a complete stranglehold over the Spaniard at the French Open, which is considered as the former's stronghold.
Kazahk Bublik powers past Zverev in straight sets to reach Halle final
Nadal has turned back the clock to sweep through the European claycourt season with titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid and is a daunting obstacle for anyone with genuine title ambitions.
Images from Day 3 of the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Roger Federer is no longer chasing the top ranking and would rather be a contender at Grand Slams than battling Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal to be world number one, the Swiss tennis great said.
Seven-times grand slam champion John McEnroe called Nadal's latest injury "extremely disappointing". "We've seen him play for many years and it's always been a concern about how his knees would hold up," the American told Eurosport in his daily spot. "After last year, we all hoped he would be able to get his health and fitness back and get his game together and it looked like that was happening. "We all know how much he wanted (title) number 10 and we were looking forward to seeing play Novak in the semis." Former French Open champion Mats Wilander said the decision had been a no-brainer for Nadal.
It was a clearly deflated Rafa Nadal who admitted he has no idea whether he can ever reproduce the form that helped him win two Wimbledon titles after maverick Dustin Brown inflicted a fourth successive embarrassment.
Images from Day 3 of the French Open matches played at Roland Garros on Tuesday
Australian great Rod Laver is as impressed as anyone while watching Rafael Nadal tear into the fourth round of Wimbledon on Saturday to stay on track for a third title.
Rafael Nadal has to overcome a lot of hindrances if he is to win the US Open, the lone major missing from his trophy cabinet, for a first time.
Novak Djokovic praised American Tim Smyczek's act of sportsmanship in his second round marathon against Rafa Nadal as "greater than sport itself" at the Australian Open on Thursday.
Friday's showdown will be the 40th meeting between the duo with Rafael Nadal leading 24-15 and 10-3 in Grand Slams.
Serena will not be in the US team for the Tokyo Olympics
Defending champion Andy Murray eased into the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the 10th successive year with a 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Benoit Paire on Monday.
Images from Day 7 of the 2024 French Open.
'I really don't think much about these kind of things. I do my way, he does his way'
The 31-year-old becomes world number one for a sixth time ahead of the French Open.
Images from Saturday's action at the Australian Open.
A summary of the matches from Day 9 at the French Open.
IMAGES from the French Open matches played on Thursday
'I know earlier in the tournament I said something in kind of a bad way and now I'm saying it in a good way: That it's because of your energy that I'm in the final'
Since returning in January Rafael Nadal looks a man reborn. No wonder it is hard to find anyone not backing him to claim 'La Decima' in Paris.
Spaniard David Ferrer produced one of his finest performances to edge world number one and compatriot Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-5 in the Paris Masters semi-final on Saturday and keep alive his hope of retaining his crown.
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