Nadal's withdrawal could prove decisive in the battle to end the year as world number one, with Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals in Tokyo this week and due to defend his title in Shanghai.

The world No 1, competing in his first tournament since withdrawing from last month's US Open with a shoulder injury, secured a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Frenchman Lucas Pouille on Friday.

Novak Djokovic was forced to dig deep and lost his temper with the chair umpire and crowd in his 7-6(5) 7-6(6) win over Kevin Anderson to win a testing ATC Cup tie for Serbia in Brisbane.

MIKE DICKSON IN SYDNEY: The abolition of deciding third sets to be replaced by elongated tiebreaks will be seriously considered by the ATP Cup after the events of this week.

England face Switzerland in the Nations League third place play-off final after both sides were knocked out of contention to win. Find out KO time, channel, squads, predicted lineups and more here.

England manager Gareth Southgate plans to make some changes for Sunday's Nations League third-place play-off against Switzerland, with defender John Stones' role under scrutiny.

Jordan Pickford joked he is relieved to have escaped a Twitter battering after scoring his penalty in the UEFA Nations League shoot-out victory against Switzerland.

They have been in a war of words for weeks. 

They've been immensely loved up the past few months. 

It seems the Twitter feud between Iggy Azalea and Guy Sebastian is far from over. 

Iggy Azalea is at war with the British cartoon character Peppa Pig.

Iggy Azalea has expressed fears that Peppa Pig is going to outsell her comeback album on the charts.

Iggy Azalea made headlines last week when she released the music video for her explicit new single F**k It Up.

Nick Young, ex-boyfriend to Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, was seen having a great time with his girlfriend Keonna Green and their three children in West Hollywood on Thursday.

Fancy singer Iggy Azalea had beef with cartoon character Peppa Pig back in June.

She changed her Twitter name to 'IGGY AZALEA stream señorita,' and her profile photo to one of Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, as their single currently sits just below Truth Hurts at No. 2.

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, 29, famously claimed in 2016 that she had 'no connection' to her native country since moving to the US when she was 16. 

Iggy Azalea was seen out in Berlin as she checked out of her hotel on her way home. It was reported this week that she had a $35K diamond ring stolen from her home, among $366K in stolen jewelry.

Iggy, 29, wowed in a tartan coord featuring an oversized coat and kirt as she arrived at Capital FM's London headquarters with Alice Chater, who worked with her on new single Lola.

Iggy Azalea lent her star power to help an Australian animal hospital raise money to care for koalas and other wildlife injured by the bushfires ravaging the country.

Iggy Azalea and Playboi Carti sparked reconciliation rumours on Sunday after they were spotted at Falls Festival in Fremantle, WA.

Iggy Azalea and Playboi Carti, 23, sparked rumours they were back together last week when they were spotted catching a flight to Los Angeles from Sydney Airport.

She's the 'cash me outside' viral sensation who has gone on to become a rap star, with hits like These Heaux, Gucci Flip Flops and Babyface Savage.  

Artist DJ Akademiks told his 2.5 million Instagram followers that he'd heard word that the Australian artist, 29, whose real name is Amethyst Kelly, had a baby over the weekend with the rapper, 23.

While Barcelona's tiki-taka football steal the headlines, the work done behind the scenes certainly can't be underestimated and highlight why they are every player's dream club.

Barcelona are reportedly ready to launch a January bid for PSV wonderkid Donyell Malen as they attempt to provide competition for Luis Suarez and bolster their star studded frontline.

When Jordan Henderson leads Liverpool out at Old Trafford on Sunday to the sound of This Is The One by the Stone Roses, he finds himself in an exclusive club. He played in their last win there.

Patrice Evra admits feeling 'sad' for Luis Suarez in the wake of their racism row as Jamie Carragher apologised for the t-shirts Liverpool wore in support of the striker.

Glen Johnson has insisted that former Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez is not a racist as he reiterated Jamie Carragher's apology to Patrice Evra made earlier this week.

Neymar is refusing to give up on his dream of returning to Barcelona after the Brazilian spent time in Catalonia with former team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, according to reports.

There have been rumours that the World Cup winner is struggling to fit into life at the Nou Camp, with team-mate Arturo Vidal saying he has found it difficult to 'integrate and adapt'.

The World Cup winner swapped Atletico Madrid for the Nou Camp on a five-year deal last summer. Griezmann is continuing to adapt to life at the Catalan giants and has had to pick up a new role.

MSN linked up again Boxing Day, but only for a photo - as Neymar stoked the rumours surrounding his return to the Nou Camp by posing with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. 

The striker still has a year and a half left on his current deal but is hopeful of extending it. Suarez will turn 33 next month but is showing no signs of slowing up.

Barcelona 'may move to sign Cristhian Stuani' as they continue to search for a striker to replace the injured Luis Suarez. 

Rodrigo, formerly of Real Madrid, has scored four goals and supplied 10 assists in 23 appearances this season. On Tuesday afternoon Celades admitted discussions have begun.

After Carles Perez joined Roma on Thursday, 21-year-old Abel Ruiz now looks set to follow him out of the exit door when he signs a five-year deal at Braga before the transfer deadline.

New Barcelona coach Quique Setien could turn to the Hornets' Luis Suarez, who has scored 14 goals in 24 appearances for second division side Real Zaragoza.

Real Zaragoza striker Luis Suarez is being considered by Barcelona as a possible emergency signing to ease their injury crisis but parent club Watford are set to prevent any possible transfer.

PETE JENSON: In the big games Messi now seems to cut the same forlorn, powerless figure in the Barça shirt as he does for Argentina. There is an over-reliance on him and no one to give support.

Luis Suarez could be set for a sensational return to Uruguay, with a former team-mate claiming the striker told him he's open to a move back to Nacional as his Barcelona contract runs down.

Barcelona see the Argentine as the long-term successor to Luis Suarez and he is their priority transfer target this summer but Inter Milan are unwilling to let their prized asset leave the San Siro.

Laura Prepon and Ben Foster were every inch the happy new parents as they stepped out with their baby girl Ella in New York City on Sunday.

Nationwide News and journalist Jonathon Moran in October 2018 lost a mid-trial bid to amend their defence to Rush's defamation claim based on the evidence of Yael Stone.

Dascha Polanco was in full character while on the set of Lin Manuel Miranda's new project In The Heights on Friday.

The clip shows how the ladies of Litchfield Penitentiary navigate new feuds, old grudges, and monumental life changes.

Dascha Polanco was spotted filming In The Heights in New York on Wednesday. The star rocked a floral print Nike mini dress for the film adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda's musical.

Natasha Lyonne is the picture of dreamy glamour in a white ensemble for the cover of LA Confidential. In the cover story she shares about her struggles with addiction.

The 29-year-old actress beamed with pride in a selfie while holding a Clearblue test revealing the positive results.

The Project host Carrie Bickmore is settling back into live TV after taking eight months off on maternity leave.