Melbourne: Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the Australian Open semifinal on Thursday night, the longtime rivals playing with the intensity they normally display when they meet in Grand Slam finals.
Though the stars who have met in eight Grand Slam finals were playing in a semifinal for the first time at a major since 2005, they played as if the title were at stake.
This time, though, only Nadal will have the opportunity to win another championship — on Sunday night when the Spanish left-hander plays the winner of Friday’s semifinal between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
Two weeks ago, Nadal injured his right knee and wasn't sure he'd be able to start the tournament. Now, he can barely believe he's in the final. AP Photo
Nadal, who holds a 6-2 edge in Grand Slam finals against Federer, made the key service break in the ninth game of the fourth set, making an incredible crosscourt forehand winner from well behind the baseline, then watching as Federer hit a backhand wide to give him a 5-4 lead.
Serving for the match, Nadal moved two points away from the win when a Federer backhand went long. He won on his second match point when a Federer forehand floated long.
At the end, Nadal smashed a ball up high in the stadium, almost clearing the roof. He then applauded along with the crowd when Federer walked off.
Two weeks ago, Nadal injured his right knee and wasn’t sure he’d be able to start the tournament. Now, he can barely believe he’s in the final.
“If you tell me that two Sundays ago, I really cannot imagine,” Nadal said. “For me, it’s a dream to be back in a final of the Australian Open.”
The 25-year-old Spaniard won the 2009 Australian title but lost in the quarterfinals in his next two trips to Melbourne Park. Federer hasn’t added to his record 16 Grand Slam titles since he won the 2010 Australian Open.
When the often enthralling play was suspended for 10 minutes late in the second set for an Australian Day fireworks display, Federer seemed to be affected most. Nadal led 5-2 at the time, and Federer lost his serve in the next game to give the Spaniard the set. In all, he dropped 11 points in a row.
The capacity, 15,000-strong crowd was evenly split in its support, with the names seeming to blur after the R in rival chants.
Each time somebody called out for Rafa, it was met by a response for Roger. The cheers were just as loud for Nadal’s scrambling, sometimes astonishing, passing shots as for Federer’s deft winners.
With the players on serve in the second set, Nadal went so far wide on a Federer return that he was near the side wall of the arena. Incredibly, he stretched wide and returned the ball crosscourt for a winner. That set up three break points and Nadal clinched the game to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.
Federer saved a set point in the 11th game of the third set that eventually forced a tiebreaker. But Federer made three unforced errors in the tiebreaker to give Nadal a 6-1 lead, and the Spaniard eventually clinched the set on his last opportunity of five set points.
“Please win the point, that’s all,” Nadal recalled when asked what he was telling himself. “I was very, very nervous at that moment. Losing four set points in a row is tough, especially when you play the toughest in history.”
Kim Clijsters was in the crowd, only hours after her title defense ended. And Ivan Lendl was at Rod Laver Arena for a second night, scouting opponents again as Murray’s coach. So were former Australian greats Laver and Ken Rosewall.
AP