Rafael Nadal swept aside Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-3 in the second round in Indian Wells.
Rafael Nadal and Ana Ivanovic, both ranked world number one, were named on Tuesday as the top seeds for the US Open which begins at Flushing Meadows on Monday. It is the first time that Spaniard Nadal, who replaced Roger Federer at the top of the men's rankings on Monday, has been the top seed at a Grand Slam tournament.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal came from a set down and 5-2 behind in the third to scrape past Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 in the Pacific Life Open fourth round. However, smooth progress was made by three-times champion Roger Federer and third-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic, Federer outplaying Croat Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-4 after Djokovic had earlier crushed Argentina's Guillermo Canas 6-2, 6-3.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will resume their burgeoning rivalry when they head a stellar field for the Montreal Masters.
The 'Big Three' of tennis world -- Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic -- won't lose much due to the suspension of professional tours since they have already created their own legacies but the real struggle is for lower-ranked players, including the Indians, says legendary Vijay Amritraj. Amritraj said the trio of Federer, Djokovic and Nadal, who have a tight grip over Grand Slam tournaments, won't feel any financial stress or the pressure of progress.
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.
David Ferrer knocked out sixth seeded Serb Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-4 in the third round.
Rafael Nadal is expected to be released from a clinic in Barcelona on Tuesday after undergoing a successful appendectomy, the world number three's spokesman said.
Novak Djokovic turned on the style to outclass old adversary Rafael Nadal and reach the final of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at the 02 Arena in London, on Saturday.
Gaudio has beaten Nadal three times out of four but the Spaniard won their most recent match in Monte Carlo this year.
The world number one is looking forward to taking revenge against Rafael Nadal later this week on the grass of the Halle Open.
Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won the last 11 Grand Slams between them and an incredible 54 since 2003.
Rafael Nadal's hopes of winning the year-ending ATP Finals for the first time live on after the Spaniard beat defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday.
Rafa Nadal's below-par season has continued with the former world number one dumped from the Rio Open semi-finals with a 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 6-4 defeat by unseeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas on Saturday. The top seed pipped Cuevas in a first set tie-break and denied his opponent two set points in the second but succumbed to his first defeat against the world number 45. "I lost an opportunity, that's it," Spaniard Nadal said after being denied his 100th ATP final by claycourt specialist Cuevas who fired 48 winners to clinch the contest. "I fought until the end. I have to accept it and keep working to try to change the dynamic. That's what's happening today and I have to work hard to change it," added the 14-times grand slam champion. "I didn't win a title, so it wasn't a positive two tournaments. I had my chances in both. I lost in the semi-finals of both tournaments and just have to look forward to Indian Wells."
Only once in 16 previous appearances has Federer not survived the group stage, back in 2008. IMAGES from the ATP Finals played at The O2 Arena in London on Sunday
The Serb was knocked off top spot by Rafael Nadal on Monday despite winning the Paris Masters last week and will need a strong finish alongside the River Thames to snatch it back.
Rafael Nadal has pulled out of next week's ATP Tour Finals in London due to injury, so Novak Djokovic will end the year as world number one having returned to the top of the rankings on Monday.
Rafael Nadal is in contention for the 'World Sportsman of the Year' award alongside six-time Formula 1 World champion Lewis Hamilton, six-time World MotoGP champion Marc Mrquez and six-time FIFA World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi.
'It's a positive start with a good result. If I do months without playing an official match, it's always a little bit more difficult.'
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.
Former world number one Rafa Nadal wasted a match point as he slipped to a surprise semi-final loss to Austrian Dominic Thiem on his beloved clay at the Argentina Open on Saturday.
Top seed Nadal extended his winning streak to 13 matches with a 6-2, 6-1 demolition of American Jared Donaldson in the Qi Zhong Stadium before World No 2 Federer, to the delight of his sizeable Chinese fan club, got the better of Argentina's Diego Schwartzman 7-6(4), 6-4.
Novak Djokovic won his fourth China Open title in five years on Sunday, prevailing 6-3, 6-4 in the final against Rafael Nadal who will replace him as the men's new world number one on Monday.
A rampant Novak Djokovic completed a stunning 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Lucas Pouille, on Friday, to storm into his seventh Australian Open final and set up a mouthwatering title match with Rafael Nadal.
Rafael Nadal will be pose a significant Grand Slam threat again next year after showing signs of returning to his best, according to two of the Spaniard's greatest rivals.
Spaniard Nadal was in all sorts of trouble, trailing by a set and 5-4 and with 69th-ranked Rosol serving at 30-0, but his Czech opponent framed a basic backhand volley at 30-15 and blew his chance, Nadal going on to win 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4).
An emotional Roger Federer wiped away tears and urged Rafael Nadal to stay with him on the tour for years to come after felling his great rival to win his fifth Australian Open on Sunday.
American Frances Tiafoe celebrated his 21st birthday by stunning Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 7-5 in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday.
A win for Djokovic would move him past Pete Sampras (14) to outright third on the list of Grand Slam title winners.
World number ones Serena Williams, aiming to complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam in 27 years, and Novak Djokovic have been named the top seeds for the US Open championships starting on Monday in New York.
Documents relating to Farah, and published on the fancybear.net website, showed that the distance runner had no active Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) at the time of the Olympics. TUEs allow athletes to take banned substances for verified medical needs and there is no suggestion any of those named have broken any rules
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal took care of business in their singles matches before teaming up in an eagerly anticipated doubles pairing to extend Europe's lead over players from the rest of the world in the inaugural Laver Cup on Saturday.
Rafael Nadal reached the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-1, 6-0, 7-5 win over Israel's Dudi Sela on Friday, avoiding the fate that befell great rival Roger Federer who had earlier lost to Andreas Seppi.
The Australian fell to the floor in celebration after clinching the victory, before sticking a finger behind his ear and asking the raucous crowd to cheer louder.
Rafael Nadal, who lost all four of his previous Miami Open finals, will be out to snap a run of three straight defeats against Roger Federer.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
Novak Djokovic came from a set down to beat Rafael Nadal for the fourth time in a row and claim his third Italian Open title with an impressive 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in Rome.
Defending champion Naomi Osaka of Japan was upset 7-5, 6-4 by Belinda Bencic in the fourth round at the US Open on Monday as the Swiss reached the quarter-finals for the second time.
World No 1 Rafael Nadal thinks Melbourne Park's resurfaced hardcourts are playing faster than ever and may not provide a good show for fans when the Australian Open begins on Monday.
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