Australian Open: Nadal Rides On Federer To Final

World number two Rafael Nadal came from behind to beat long-time rival and third seed Roger Federer 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 in the nail-biting Australian Open semi final at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne today.

The 10-time Grand Slam winner Nadal extended his head-to-head lead over Federer to 18-9 with this exciting victory.

Nadal will play the winner of the second semifinal between top seed and world number one Novak Djokovic and fourth seed Andy Murray in the final on Sunday. Djokovic and Murray will clash for the summit spot tomorrow.

16-time Grand Slam winner Federer took the early initiative by winning the first set in a tight tie-breaker in 56 minutes but Nadal came back strongly in the second set to level the match 1-1.

Nadal broke Federer easily in the second set to win it 6-2 in relatively quicker time of 44 minutes before taking a crucial 2-1 lead by winning the third set in another tight tie-breaker, which lasted 67 minutes.

The Spaniard wrapped up the fourth set 6-4 to register another victory over Federer after a hard-fought three-and-half hour match.

One of the great rivalries of modern tennis is being played out in the unfamiliar surroundings of the semifinals. Federer and Nadal, who have won 26 Grand Slam titles between them, are used to meeting in the finals of the four majors where Nadal holds a 6-2 record over his Swiss rival. Their only Grand Slam semi final showdown was at the 2005 French Open, which Nadal won.

The last time they met in Melbourne, Federer was left a weeping wreck when Nadal remorselessly ground him down in 2009’s nail-biting five-set final to claim his first hard court Grand Slam title.