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.

Rafael Nadal has been absent from the Shanghai Masters but is guaranteed to recapture the world No 1 spot next month after Novak Djokovic went down to a shock quarter final defeat in China .

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.

Rally for Relief will take place at Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park on January 15 to raise money for bushfires that have killed 25 people and destroyed nearly 1,900 homes.

Novak Djokovic showed his class in the deciding rubber to take a 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory, and book a showdown against Spain or Australia in Sunday's showpiece.

MIKE DICKSON IN SYDNEY: It was gone 1am when Novak Djokovic fell into his team-mates' arms after starring in both the singles and doubles as Serbia came back to beat Spain 2-1.

Nadal - who lost the inaugural tournament's final singles rubber in straight sets to Novak Djokovic - complained to the umpire about fans of the Serbian star.

AC Milan will face off against their old rivals Inter Milan at the San Siro while Granada host Barcelona on Saturday evening. Sportsmail's SAM McEVOY will provide live coverage for both games.

Wayne Rooney has teamed up with an array of leading stars across the world of sport, including Serena Williams and Kobe Bryant, to feature in a new advert showing off their formidable speed.

EXCLUSIVE BY RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: The heated marketing row that casts a shadow over Team GB's preparations for the Tokyo Olympics is expected to be resolved next week.

Others who got the green slime treatment on Saturday included the cast of Modern Family, Emma Stone, Nick Jonas, and more.

The Irish government and European Tour organisers are understood to have agreed a deal for the biennial clash between Europe and the USA to be staged in Limerick.

The 24-year-old winger, who was the top try-scorer at the recent World Cup with seven, suffered a nasty ankle injury in the 65th minute against France. He will now have surgery.

Wycombe have paid tribute to supporter Mark Bird, who has died after suffering a heart attack before Tuesday's home game against Blackpool.

Clooney will play a lonely Arctic scientist called Augustine who tries to make contact with an astronaut on board a spacecraft trying to return home in the post-apocalyptic tale.

ROB ROBERTSON IN SHIZUOKA STADIUM ECOPA:Scotland scrum-half George Horne scored a hat-trick as his side easily secured the bonus point win they needed against Russia.

The actress, 29, hid free copies of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women by iconic memorials around London for a global mission with The Book Fairies on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy says he is feeling more confident than at any time since 2016 as he bids to end his wretched run at the US Open.

Rory McIlroy is deliberately trying to keep his Open Championship campaign low key as expectations rocket about the possibility of him securing a home win in Northern Ireland.

15 years after Friday Night Lights first hit the big screen, Universal Pictures is moving forward with a new adaptation.

After nearly three decades since hitting theaters, Disney+ has confirmed their plans to move forward with a sequel to the cult Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus on Wednesday.

WILL KELLEHER IN BEPPU: The World Cup's top try-scorer, Wales' Josh Adams, is in record-hunting mood having fired his side into the quarter-finals.

Love Island Australia's Adam Farrugia has revealed what really happens in the Fijian villa's shared bedroom when the lights go out.

Sarah Hyland has yet to set a date for her wedding. The 28-year-old actress got engaged to Wells Adams while on vacation in Fiji in July but they are in no rush to tie the knot as they are just enjoying

On Saturday, Love Island Australia's Adam Farrugia sent fans into meltdown by unveiling his bare forehead for the very first time.

Fans were left shocked when he was eliminated from Love Island Australia last week. 

She's previously called her millionaire boyfriend 'The One'.

She's the jaw-dropping Home and Away actress who is no stranger to sharing sultry selfies on social media.

Ada Nicodemou led the celebrity arrivals at the AACTA Awards at The Star in Sydney on Wednesday.

They began dating in 2016, and even sparked engagement rumours in January during a romantic trip to the Maldives.

Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou is known for her flawless red carpet looks. 

Ada Nicodemou packed on the PDA with millionaire boyfriend Adam Rigby on Saturday. 

They've been together for three years, and even sparked engagement rumours in January during a romantic trip to the Maldives.   

Home and Away's Ada Nicodemou has opened up about delivering her son Harrison stillborn, eight months into her pregnancy in 2014.

Ada Nicodemou has been a star on soap Home And Away since 2000- despite originally signing on for a short 13-week contract.

With Christmas just around the corner, the Home and Away cast have opened up about what they have planned for the silly season.

Ada Nicodemou took to Instagram on Monday to share a smorgasbord of snaps from her lavish 'glamping' weekend away. 

Ada Nicodemou was certainly optimistic in her latest Instagram post on Monday. The Home and Away shared a throwback photo of herself looking relaxed alongside a popular Anne Frank quote.

Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou has looked back at her massive year in 2019.

She's the age-defying actress whose figure is envied by fans across the country. And now, Ada Nicodemou, 42, has revealed the simple trick she uses to maintain her incredible figure.

She is soaking up the sun in Noosa with her boyfriend, Adam Rigby, and son, Johnas.

Things are still going strong between Ada Nicodemou and her longtime boyfriend Adam Rigby.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI ON COURT ONE: Nadal is a blur. A brilliant, shuffling, fidgeting blur, such is the momentum he has acquired on his run to the semi-finals.

It ended in near darkness amid an explosion of camera flashes, and John McEnroe described it as the best match he has ever seen.

MATTHEW LAMBERT looks back at the match that defined the careers of two supreme athletes and raised the bar for an entire sport - The Rafa Nadal vs Roger Federer Wimbledon final of 2008.

Eleven years after the greatest Wimbledon final of all time, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer went face to face on Centre Court once again. Relive all the action with JAMES DUTTON.

MIKE DICKSON AT WIMBLEDON: Federer, an unlikely 37, will face Novak Djokovic after an astonishing display which saw him just about hold his nerve in a crunching climax at the end.

Roger Federer has made the Wimbledon final after beating rival Rafael Nadal in a magnificent match in the latest chapter of their historic rivalry today.

Britain's Dan Evans was left to rue missed opportunities after losing a hard-fought contest with defending champion Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Federer and Nadal have been outspoken critics of the direction in which the tour has been taken over the last year with their great on-court rival Novak Djokovic as council president.