It’s looking better for a Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal Friday meeting.

Rafael Nadal had some early trouble in Barcelona.

Roger Federer’s win streak at Cincinnati climbs to 11.

Basilashvili improved to 2-2 in career finals, also winning in Hamburg this year.

Wildcards went to Spain’s Jaume Munar, Norway’s Casper Ruud and Sweden’s Mikael Ymer…

Murray and Wawrinka square off first round, winner to meet (2) Edmund…Other openers of interest are (8) Fuchsovics vs. the grass-ready Brit (WC) Norrie, the rookie (4) Ceccinato vs. the veteran Seppi, (5) Mayer vs. Simon (winner to meet Muller), and (7) Johnson vs. Medvedev (winner to face M.Zverev)…

Interesting starts include (1) Anderson vs. the Barcelona finalist Tsitsipas if the Greek isn’t too gassed, (8) Medvedev vs. the veteran Sousa, and (4) Muller on his worst surface (although he reached the final last year) vs. the American Sandgren-Tiafoe match winner…

Cuevas, the three-time defending champion, in last year’s final defeated Ramos Vinolas from a set down.

(1) Thiem could start against Coric and (6) Edmund will start against Tomic…

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are getting closer to a semifinal showdown.

Mayer snuck into the main draw after losing to 16-year-old Rudolf Molleker in the final round of qualifying when Martin Klizan withdrew from the main draw due to a calf injury.

“It’s been a great weekend and I am at a loss for words to describe how I feel,” said Cilic. “I was really motivated for today’s match, having played with a lot of intensity all three days. I was aggressive and served very well, which I needed to in order to dictate the rallies. The crowd helped me stay focused throughout the match.”

No Top 20 players, but Istanbul you do have Bernie “The Tank Engine” Tomic! For at least a round…

Tough starts for (5) Pliskova vs. Ivanovic, (3) Kvitova vs. Lisicki, and (2) Radwanska after a bye vs. the Stosur-Vinci winner…

Federer has won the most singles titles of any player in Doha, and is a perfect 3-0 in finals…Ferrer beat Berdych in last year’s final…Nadal, who is playing doubles with Verdasco, has won the most doubles titles of anyone at the event with four (2005,’09,’11,’15)…Former singles champs in the field are Ferrer (2015), Nadal (2014), and Federer (2011,’06-05).