Roger Federer today equalled Jimmy Connors' record of 233 grand slam match victories by easing into the second round of the French Open.

Andy Murray will play Japan's world number 69 Tatsuma Ito in the opening round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

With six French Open titles already under his belt you would have thought that Rafael Nadal hardly needed a morale-booster going into Roland Garros, but the 25-year-old Spaniard struck a significant psychological blow with his 7-5, 6-3 victory over Novak Djokovic in the delayed final of the Rome Masters yesterday.

Rafael Nadal enjoyed the perfect fillip ahead of his French Open defence with a commanding 7-5 6-3 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in the delayed Rome Masters final today.

Maria Sharapova overcame a frustrating rain delay to defeat Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the final of the Rome Masters yesterday.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dominated tennis for five years but today's Rome Masters final will emphasise how a new duopoly rules the sport. When it comes to fighting over the major spoils Nadal and Novak Djokovic are usually the last two men left standing and the Spaniard and the Serb will meet this afternoon in a final for the ninth time in the last 14 months.

Leading pair forget their blue days in Madrid to roar into last four back on Rome's red clay

Roger Federer climbed back to No. 2 in the rankings after rallying to beat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 and win the Madrid Open for a third time on Sunday.

The world's two best players may not be there, but spectators at future Madrid Masters tournaments will at least be guaranteed some dazzling tennis.

Any possibility that Rafael Nadal might eventually become a convert to blue clay was dashed at the Madrid Masters last night as the world No 2 suffered a remarkable defeat to his fellow Spaniard, Fernando Verdasco.

Roger Federer could hardly face a tougher challenge than the one awaiting him as he makes his first appearance of the European clay-court season at the Madrid Masters today. The 30-year-old Swiss, who has not played a competitive match for six weeks, had a bye in the first round. He now faces Milos Raonic, who beat David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-4 yesterday.

'Smurf clay' may be popular with organisers – but not with the players

Rafael Nadal's assault on the history books shows no sign of slowing down. Seven days after winning a record eighth Monte Carlo Masters title in succession, the king of clay yesterday claimed the Barcelona Open for the seventh time in the last eight years. In doing so, he became the first man in the Open era to win two tournaments seven times.

Something funny has happened on the way to the squash court in the past couple of decades. For reasons difficult to divine, the game somehow slipped off the mainstream sporting radar.