World number one Nadal will meet Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's showpiece when he will target a record-extending 11th title in Barcelona a week after claiming the Monte Carlo Masters for the 11th time.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Novak Djokovic also surpassed Rafael Nadal to make a record 77 Masters 1000 semi-final appearances.
Three contenders for the men's singles title at the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday.
Move over Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, because there's a new power couple in the world of tennis -- Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa.
Frenchman Benoit lost his temper in the third game of the second set when top seed Tsitsipas halted the match to attend to a broken shoe lace.
Images from Day 5 of the French Open, at Roland Garros, in Paris.
Images from Day 1 of the French Open matches played at Roland Garros on Sunday
Images from Day 1 of the Wimbledon Championships.
Nadal produced a rich vein of form as he thrashed Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to clinch his fourth Canadian Masters 1000 title at the Rogers Cup
Zheng Qinwen saw off a spirited challenge from Diana Shnaider to secure a hard-fought 7-6(5), 6-3 win in their Pan Pacific Open semi-final on Saturday and set up a title clash against American Sofia Kenin.
Images from Day 2 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Monday.
Rafael Nadal extended his astonishing winning run on clay to 42 consecutive sets as he reached the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open with a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Slovakia's Martin Klizan on Friday. The defending champion will face David Goffin on Saturday after the Belgian beat Spaniard Roberto Bautista 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-2.
Wild card Caroline Wozniacki, another former champion and returning mother, will play 20th seed Magda Linette.
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has made it to the semi-finals on his Olympic Games debut.
While her career has featured a number of highs -- she has won two doubles Grand Slam titles and 11 WTA titles, including the Cincinnati Masters -- Garcia said she has become fixated on what she sees as her failures.
Novak Djokovic hampered by wrist issue at United Cup
Top seed Roger Federer dispatched Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Swiss Indoors championships in Basel.
Rafael Nadal last appeared in a semi-final at Wimbledon in 2022.
Novak Djokovic's erratic form, Rafael Nadal's fitness woes and untimely injuries to top-ranked youngsters have set up an uncertain French Open men's tournament
Murray must come back on Friday to earn a spot in the third round after an epic battle with Greek powerhouse Stefanos Tsitsipas
Factbox on Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Alexander Zverev
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz moved into the fourth round at Indian Wells on Sunday with a 6-2 6-3 win over Felix Auger-Aliassime.
When asked how confident he was that he would be competing at Wimbledon next year, Murray said: "I don't know."
Images from Day 2 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday.
Novak Djokovic kept his bid alive for Grand Slam No. 23 as he entered the semifinals of the French Open.
Novak Djokovic crashed to his first defeat of the season with a stunning 6-4, 6-4 loss to Alex de Minaur.
A sluggish Carlos Alcaraz was beaten 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 by Alexander Zverev on the his debut at the ATP Finals on Monday to continue his end-of-year slump with a third straight defeat.
Novak Djokovic said his victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's Australian Open final was the "biggest victory" of his career, as he claimed his 22nd Grand Slam title and won back the hearts of the home fans a year after being deported from the country.
Images from Day 6 of the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.
Swiatek is positioned to face American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Johanna Konta progressed to the Italian Open semi-finals on Friday, but Roger Federer and Naomi Osaka were forced to withdraw with injury problems. World number one Osaka pulled out of her quarter-final meeting with Kiki Bertens due to a thumb injury before 37-year-old Federer announced his withdrawal because of a problem to his right leg.
Greece's Tsitsipas battled back from 3-5 down in the third set to eliminate Medvedev with a 6-3, 6-7(11), 7-6(1) win to set up a showdown on Friday with Rublev for the Red Group's other semi-final spot.
World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz fended off in-form American Tommy Paul to reach the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals on Thursday
Indian Wells champions Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina stayed on course to complete the 'Sunshine Double' at the Miami Open.
Carlos Alcaraz swatted aside a swarm of bees and world number six Alexander Zverev to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells.
Swiss great Roger Federer is due to take to the court later in the day for the final match of his career, with the 41-year-old partnering his great rival Rafael Nadal to face the American duo of Sock and Frances Tiafoe.
Carlos Alcaraz beat Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals
Stefanos Tsitsipas said that his victory in the final of the Mallorca Championships on Saturday was a major milestone in his career as the Greek claimed his maiden grasscourt title leading up to Wimbledon next week.
Lopez was cheered on by 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal during his final event as a professional.
