World number one Rafael Nadal won a battle of attrition against fellow left-hander Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 7-6(4), 6-4 to seal Spain's spot in the final eight of the inaugural ATP Cup in Perth on Wednesday. Meanwhile his long-time rival, world number two Novak Djokovic, had an easier outing in Brisbane, strolling past Chile's Cristian Garin 6-3, 6-3 to stay undefeated in the new year.
'When you don't have that confidence to play three, four hours with a good backhand against Rafa, is just matter of time to get down your game'
Rafael Nadal eased past Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-1 to reach the Barcelona Open third round on Wednesday as he began his bid for a ninth title on the clay in the Catalan capital.
'I feel happy to be part of this rivalry, but at the same time, I played even more matches with Novak (Djokovic) than with Roger in such important matches, too'
Moya, a former world number one, joined Nadal's team to work with his uncle Toni Nadal last December and has helped revitalise the 31-year-old's career.
Rafael Nadal will have his work cut out when play begins next week, not on the Caja Magica's three red dust courts, but on gaming consoles.
Victory on Sunday would see Nadal become the first player to win the same grand slam 10 times in the modern era.
Beaten in just over two hours, Nadal won barely a third of the match's points, was broken five times and conjured only a single break point in the third set, which the Serb saved.
Rafael Nadal says winning a French Open-Wimbledon double for the third time in his career will be "complicated" but is highly motivated to have a go as he prepares for the grasscourt season.
IMAGES from the matches played on Day 10 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California, on Wednesday
The 32-year-old, who has not played since retiring injured in the US Open semi-finals, cited an abdominal injury.
Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Garbine Muguruza were named as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) world champions on Friday - the first time in 19 years the awards have gone to players from the same country.
It's on! Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are set to clash in the French Open quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Following is a list of the previous matches between Switzerland's Roger Federer and Spain's Rafael Nadal ahead of their meeting in the title decider at the Australian Open on Sunday
Rafael Nadal struggled to finish off Fabio Fognini at the Barcelona Open on Friday but eventually quelled one of his most troublesome opponents 6-2, 7-6(1) to reach the semi-finals.
Thiem became the first Austrian since Thomas Muster in 1996 to reach the final of the claycourt tournament after subduing Murray for the first time in his career.
Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal on Wednesday pulled out of the Queen's club grass-court tournament, due to wrist injury.
A rampant Rafael Nadal turned on the style to beat old rival Novak Djokovic 7-6(4), 6-3 on Saturday and reach his first Italian Open final since 2014. The top-seeded Spaniard will face defending champion Alexander Zverev who overcame fourth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-6(13), 7-5 in the other semi-final.
Rafael Nadal was kept on Centre Court longer than he would have liked but that did not stop him from putting baby-faced Alex de Minaur firmly in his place with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win in the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday.
Victory meant Nadal set the record for the longest Davis Cup winning streak in combined singles and doubles rubbers with 23 matches in a row.
So by now we all know what has transpired at Court No 1 in Wimbledon on Monday.
Only one player has beaten Rafael Nadal on his beloved claycourts this year and that man, Austria's Dominic Thiem, blocks the Spaniard's path to the French Open final.
With Rafael Nadal out with injury, can Novak Djokovic go past the Spaniard and pick up a record 23rd Grand Slam title.
Federer dismisses Nadal's suggestion to play ATP Finals on clay
Rafael Nadal has played down the significance of his quarter-final defeat by Austrian Dominic Thiem at the Madrid Open
Rafael Nadal is generally a slow starter but should not have any problem getting past his first-round opponent, Germany's Yannick Hanfmann.
Images from the US Open final played at Flushing Meadows on Sunday
The 11-time champion's loss ended a series of 25 consecutive sets won on his favourite clay as Fognini set up a final showdown against Serbian Dusan Lajovic.
Rafael Nadal defeated 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the Australian Open semi-final to meet Roger Federer in dream summit clash in Melbourne.
'That's the motto: the future is bright. This year hopefully I can play better in Australian Open and go further and show some good tennis.'
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next week's season-opening exhibition event in Abu Dhabi due to ongoing fitness problems, the world number one said.
World number one Andy Murray will be ready for Roland Garros despite his poor recent form, nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal has said.
With rain having washed out Wednesday's play, Federer along with champion Rafael Nadal and top seed Novak Djokovic all face playing back-to-back matches on Thursday if they want to reach the quarter-finals.
Rafael Nadal left German qualifier Yannick Maden no hope as he booked his ticket for the third round of the French Open in ruthless fashion with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas slayed another tennis giant on Saturday, saving a match point as he toppled big-serving Kevin Anderson 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(7) in a thriller to set up a Rogers Cup final against top seed Rafael Nadal.
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.
World No 5 Rafael Nadal has ruled out joining forces with Indian tennis great Leander Paes 'anytime soon', insisting that he is focusing entirely on the singles event.
The Serbian won 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 to claim his 15th Grand Slam title.
Former world number one Novak Djokovic suffered a surprise second-round exit at the Barcelona Open when the Serb was beaten 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 by world number 140 Martin Klizan on Wednesday.
On the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Wimbledon men's final that is widely considered the 'greatest ever tennis match' it seems like the stars may be aligning for Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to meet in another mesmerising epic.
