Organisers of this year's US and French Opens established bio-secure 'bubbles' for players, who were not allowed to leave their hotel rooms except to train and play.
Victory on Sunday would see Nadal become the first player to win the same grand slam 10 times in the modern era.
Defending champion Angelique Kerber battled her nerves and blew a match point in the second set before finally overcoming Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 to reach the second round.
'I guess I just put too much pressure on myself, aiming so high and I just have to take it step by step, not think too much about the future and be irrational'
Novak Djokovic endured a fierce challenge to his Melbourne Park reign before overhauling Dominic Thiem 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to clinch an eighth Australian Open crown and reclaim the world number one ranking. While Rafa Nadal rules Roland Garros with 12 titles, Djokovic holds sway in the title match at Rod Laver Arena having never lost a final in Melbourne Park.
The match ended in 52 minutes as Williams played her forehand into the net.
'Just six months ago, you would've been labelled mad for even suggesting the possibility of Djokovic relinquishing the top spot in men's tennis.'
Bidding for a record-extending ninth Australian Open title, the world number one and double-defending champion remains the runaway favourite at his favourite Grand Slam where he once remarked that he felt touched by the "divine".
That is Murray's 46th ATP title.
Professional sports events in Italy have been played without fans since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic but sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said fans would be allowed to attend the closing stages of the tournament on Sunday and Monday.
Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek downed Jonathan Erlich and Richard Gasquet in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Indian Wells Masters tournament.
Rafa Nadal's return to form was stopped in its tracks when he lost his opening match at the Aegon Championships to Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4 on Tuesday.
Andy Murray is within one match of securing his place in the ATP World Tour Finals after easing past local favourite Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to advance to the third round of the Paris Masters.
Former world tennis number one Andy Murray said he can finally play without worrying about his hip following career-saving surgery in January, but expects next year's Australian Open to be the biggest test of his progress.
Here is a list of athletes, some of who just turned up the heat while some created ripples with their bold photos. Scroll down to find out who these athletes are...
World number one Novak Djokovic survived a second-set blip to reach the Paris Masters final with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 win over Stan Wawrinka, his 21st victory in a row.
From potential dark horses to former champions, here are the players who were knocked out of the Australian Open on Thursday
Australian Nick Kyrgios was involved in a fresh dispute after being accused of swearing at the BNP Paribas Open in California.
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.
Opelka, Kyrgios included in Team World for Laver Cup.
Swiss second seed Stanislas Wawrinka won a hard-hitting battle with American Jack Sock on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals at the Rogers Cup with a 7-6(3), 6-2 triumph.
'It's sad that I'm here protesting the same thing that she did 50-plus years ago'
Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak at the China Open to 27 matches with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition over big-serving American John Isner on Friday.
'I think it will be environmentally very beneficial. Life is such a hustle, and you never get the time to spend with your family and connect with them'
Check out the top men's contenders at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships:
The last 10 Slams have all been won by Djokovic, Federer or Nadal. Will this Wimbledon be different, asks Dhruv Munjal.
Switzerland's Roger Federer, who has been hampered by back problems, has been named to play in the second singles rubber of the Davis Cup final against France's Gael Monfils on Friday, organisers announced on Thursday.
World number three Novak Djokovic came back from a set down to beat unseeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and claim the Rome Masters title on Sunday.
After 17 trips to Flushing Meadows and six US Open titles Serena Williams did something on Thursday she had never done before -- win a match indoors.
With 1,500 points available for an undefeated champion next week, the tournament could produce a thrilling climax with Murray and Djokovic, who have never met at the O2, facing off in the final for the year-end number one ranking.
Somdev Devvarman was handed an easy opener but a tough second round match at the Chennai Open.
Four-times champion Roger Federer took apart Mischa Zverev 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 with a clinical display of all-court tennis to reach his 13th Australian Open semi-final in 92 minutes on Tuesday.
Nadal will have the chance to claim the top spot back on Monday if he wins his third title in Acapulco
Images from the matches played at the Australian Open on Sunday.
Britain's Andy Murray has his best chance of winning the French Open this year, according to American great John McEnroe.
A Spanish left-hander moved into the quarter-finals of the French Open on Sunday. No surprise there, although his name was not Rafael Nadal but Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
The Austrian spent four days in bed with a virus after pulling out of a tournament in Doha last week.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday
World number five Alexander Zverev continued his poor recent form as he crashed out of the Italian Open in the second round while Serena Williams had to pull out of the women's draw with a recurring knee injury.
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