Australian open
Nadal to play in Barcelona ahead of French Open
Rafael Nadal will be looking to win his 13th title on the clay courts in Barcelona after first lifting the trophy in 2005.
The 34-year old admitted that the Australian Open fiasco might have left a mark, but that he is aiming for glory again.
Novak Djokovic was asked in an interview with the BBC, published on Tuesday, if he would sacrifice taking part in events such as Wimbledon and the French Open over his stance on the vaccine.
The world number one's visa was cancelled last month ahead of the season-opening Grand Slam over his COVID-19 vaccination status, and he has kept a relatively low profile since returning to Serbia -- making just a handful of brief appearances.
The 34-year-old was unable to play in the first Grand Slam of the year after being deported from Australia over COVID-19 vaccination issues but he extended his record-breaking run as number one to 358 weeks.
The world number two looked destined to clinch a second Grand Slam title after his US Open breakthrough last year when he held three break points against Nadal's serve in the third set after winning the first two at Melbourne Park.
After the chaos that preceded the tournament, Tennis Australia couldn't have dreamt of a happier ending - and it was one they desperately needed, after a competition riddled with unforced errors on the organisers' parts.
The world number one was 5-1 down in the second set against fearless American Danielle Collins but came storming back to win on a tiebreak and sweep past the 27th seed 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) and be crowned Australian Open champion.
World number two Medvedev beat fourth-ranked Tsitsipas 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach his second straight Australian Open final.
The 35-year-old Spanish great, seeded sixth, was too solid for the Italian seventh seed, winning 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in 2hr 55min, and will face either Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday's final.
Barty is the first Australian woman into the decider of her home Grand Slam since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the first winner since Chris O'Neil two years earlier.
Nadal raced to a two-set quarterfinal lead against Denis Shapovalov but then began to feel unwell, needing medical attention for a stomach complaint before surviving a four-hour thriller 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3.
It took the tetchy Russian world number two 3hr 30min to subdue the unseeded American serve-volley specialist Cressy 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 to set up a quarter-final against Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Daniil Medvedev is stepping up his march towards the Australian Open men's title as former finalist Simona Halep sweeps into the second week in Melbourne.
World number one Barty and defending champion Osaka can set up a mouth-watering last-16 showdown if they win their matches in the night session, while Rafael Nadal is also in action as he targets a 21st Grand Slam title.
The 120th-ranked Taro Daniel ambushed the former world number one 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in 2hr 48min on John Cain Arena to reach the third round of a major for the first time.
The Russian world number two took all that the mercurial Australian and the Melbourne spectators could throw at him to march into the third round.
Third seed Muguruza and sixth seed Anett Kontaveit both suffered second-round upsets in straight sets, opening up the bottom half of the women's draw.
Rivals Barty and Osaka, who share six major titles between them, are now one victory away from a last-16 showdown at Melbourne Park.