Rafael Nadal knows only too well what it's like to miss out on playing at the Olympics, hence he does not understand why so many of his fellow tennis professionals are turning their backs on the Rio Games in August.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic ground their opponents into dust, Andy Murray barely survives while two of the top five women's seeds make unceremonious exits.

Britain's Andy Murray qualifies for his first Rome Masters final on Saturday after cruising past Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-2, 6-1 in their rain-interrupted semi-final.

World number one Novak Djokovic fends off a resurgent Rafael Nadal 7-5 7-6 (4) in a pulsating battle on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Italian Open.

Spain's Rafael Nadal set up a likely quarterfinal clash with defending champion Novak Djokovic at the Rome Masters on Thursday after battling past Australian upstart Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-4 in the third round.

Novak Djokovic heads for Rome this week crediting an unscheduled pause in his claycourt season with helping him clinch a record 29th Masters title.

World number one Novak Djokovic racks up his 30th win of a dominant season with a 6-2, 6-1 destruction of Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the Madrid Masters quarter-finals on Thursday.

A day after he sued French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot for accusing him of covering up a failed drug test, Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal writes a letter to the International Tennis Federation requesting that the results of all his drug tests be published.

Swiss tennis great Roger Federer was honoured by a street which leads to his childhood training facilities being named 'Allee Roger Federer' in the Swiss city of Biel.

Tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams won the Laureus World Sports Awards at a gala in Berlin on Monday.

World number one Novak Djokovic has questioned equal prize money in tennis, suggesting men should get better awards as they have more spectators.

World number one Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in straight sets to win his sixth Australian Open title and condemn the Briton to a fifth final defeat.

Novak Djokovic has denied "absurd" allegations in an Italian newspaper that he "wanted to lose" a match at the Paris Masters in 2007.

More players reveal match-fixing approaches on Tuesday as the Australian Open Grand Slam tournament came under close scrutiny following claims that corruption in tennis was widespread.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are poised to become the first $100 million men in tennis in 2016, in a gripping sub-plot to the new Grand Slam season.

Barcelona star Leo Messi races against speedster Usain Bolt and American Pharoah, the first horse to win the Grand Slam of American horse racing, for the Sports Illustrated's annual prize.

Novak Djokovic clinched his third Grand Slam title of 2015 and 10th career major with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over sentimental favorite Roger Federer in the US Open final.

"Fantastic Friday" at the US Open sees Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in starring roles.

Serena Williams defeats her sister Venus at the US Open to move within two victories of her first calendar Grand Slam.

Serena Williams tries to reach the US Open fourth round while Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal also seek last-16 berths.