Djokovic’s exploits on clay came after several months of patchy form following his January triumph at the Australian Open in Melbourne where he beat Nadal in straight sets. read more

Djokovic -- winner at the Madrid Open last weekend -- has had to battle through his last two matches in Rome. read more

Konta, ranked 42, came through 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 against sixth seed Bertens, winner of the Madrid Open last week, after almost three hours on the red clay of Rome. read more

The 20-time Grand Slam winner has not played on the red clay in the Foro Italico since 2015 when he finished runner-up for the fourth time, losing to Novak Djokovic in the final. read more

Halep broke the unseeded Bencic in the first game of the first set, the Swiss’s errant backhand flying out, but she broke back to tie at 2-2. read more

Nadal will play Stefanos Tsitsipas, a winner over defending champion Alexander Zverev 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, for a place in Sunday’s final. read more

Simona Halep reached her fourth Madrid Open final with a 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-0 win over Belinda Bencic on Friday. read more

The Serbian, who triumphed in the Spanish capital in 2011 and 2016, beat Taylor Fritz and Jeremy Chardy in the second and third rounds. read more

Nishikori needed just over two hours to win 7-5, 7-5 after Dellien saved seven set points during an impressive fightback from 5-1 down in the opening set. read more

The 20-time Grand Slam champion needed just 52 minutes to brush Gasquet aside in the second round, but confessed he had to control his emotions during afternoon match strategy sessions with his team. read more

The second seed will get his campaign for a sixth Madrid title under way with a first-time meeting with Canada’s fast-rising teenager Felix Augur-Aliassime, in the second round. read more

Djokovic won the Madrid title in 2011 and 2016, He will be chasing a fourth straight Grand Slam trophy at Roland Garros next month. read more

The 42-year-old Gimelstob stepped down from his post amid controversy after pleading no contest in a Los Angeles courtroom to felony assault charges reduced by a judge to a misdemeanour. read more

Naomi Osaka beat Cibulkova 6-2, 7-6 (8\/6), Simona Halep brushed past Russian qualifier Margarita Gasparyan 6-0, 6-4 in Madrid open. read more

Osaka has struggled since splitting with her coach Sascha Bajin in February while an abdominal injury forced her to withdraw in Stuttgart eight days ago, creating doubts about her challenge at the French Open later this month. read more