Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic has demolished Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.
Former champion Jelena Ostapenko reaches third round after beating second-seeded Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-2 at Roland Garros French Open in Paris.
Svetlana Kuznetsova pulled out of Auckland Classic due to a viral illness, while Jelena Ostapenko withdrew for "personal reasons."
On 20-match winning streak at Wimbledon, Williams will face German world number 10 Angelique Kerber on Saturday in a repeat of the 2016 showpiece won by Williams.
Nadal and Djokovic have played each other 50 times, but their last meeting came more than a year ago, when Nadal won in the Madrid Open semifinals. Djokovic leads Nadal 26-24 overall, but Nadal holds a 13-7 advantage on clay.
Serena will make a surprise comeback at the Mubadala exhibition event in Abu Dhabi next Saturday, as she gears up for her Australian Open title defence in January.
Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko won her first Grand Slam after beating world number 3 Simona Halep 4-6 6-4 6-3 at Roland Garros in Paris.
Simona Halep beat Karolina Pliskova 6-4 3-6 6-3 to reach the final. If she wins, the third seed will become world number one.
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