In the men's event, world number one Roger Federer was drawn against Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
World number one Roger Federer beat Chile's Paul Capdeville 6-1 6-4 6-4 in Wednesday's late match.
Top seed Roger Federer begins against Colombia's Alejandro Falla, while Nadal plays Kei Nishikori of Japan.
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Fourth seed Roger Federer was also struggling before Felix Mantilla retired when trailing 6-7 6-4 4-1.
The unquestioned top three are world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Top seed Roger Federer was playing Bjorn Phau of Germany in the night session.
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal boasted similarly advanced games at a similarly tender ages.
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Murray needed five energy sapping sets to beat 17-time major winner Roger Federer on Friday night.
And top seed Roger Federer beat Spain's Feliciano Lopez to claim his place in the last four.
In the tennis competition at Wimbledon, Andy Murray will takes on Roger Federer in the gold medal match.
Fish beat Tim Henman and Tommy Robredo at the Madrid Masters last week before losing to Roger Federer.
Elsewhere, Roger Federer returned to action with a battling 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 win over American qualifier Robby Ginepri.
Remember when, oh about five minutes ago, Roger Federer was surely the best tennis player of all time?
Michael Jordan did a fragrance, as did Derek Jeter, Roger Federer, and naturally, soccer fashion obsessive David Beckham.
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"Roger Federer really led the way, " said Eric Butorac, a doubles player and vice president of the council.
He won his first 41 matches of 2011 before losing in the French Open semifinals to Roger Federer.
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Roger Federer is no longer considered one of tennis' rising stars, after making the break through in 2002.
Put Nadal on a wet clay court with Djokovic or even Gulbis, Roger Federer, or Tomas Berdych and he could suffer.
If there's a model for the era of lower-tension tennis, it's Roger Federer.
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The reasonable person would expect Roger Federer should be ready, because Roger Federer has seen almost everything in tennis.
Meanwhile, world number two Roger Federer is looking to avenge three consecutive final defeats at the hands of Nadal.
The rivalry between Roger Federer and Nadal never had this much agony.
Roger Federer, who lost to Murray in the Rogers Cup final in Canada, is the defending champion in Cincinnati.
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Nadal's most indelible rival, Roger Federer, hovers at No. 2, at age 31.
World number one Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will all appear.
Roger Federer, speaking in Shanghai ahead of the season-ending Masters Cup, said officials should come down "very hard" on gambling.
Richard Krajicek lost to Roger Federer at the Ordina Open in his first match after a 20-month absence through injury.
Roger Federer and Tiger Woods are the names that spring immediately to mind from the current generation of sporting stars.
Fifth seed Murray will now play either world number one Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in Sunday's final.
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