Melbourne: Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer to reach the Australian Open final on Thursday, extending his command in the personal duel between two of the best tennis players of all time.
Only the trophy and the tears were missing from this latest Grand Slam installment of Rafa vs Roger.
Nadal and Federer were on opposite sides of the net on Thursday, meeting in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
And Nadal was the winner again - for the eighth time in their 10 Grand Slam match-ups.
Though the stars who have met in eight Grand Slam finals were on the same side of the draw, they played as if the title were at stake.
The Spaniard won 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4, covering the baseline with incredible speed and hitting forehand winners from almost impossible angles.
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 cross-court 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 tie-breaker. But Federer made three unforced errors in the tie-breaker 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."
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 cross-court forehand winner from well behind the baseline, then watching as Federer hit a backhand wide to give Nadal a 5-4 lead.
Serving for the match, Nadal moved two points away from the win when Federer sent a backhand long. He won on his second match point when Federer floated forehand long.
At the end, Nadal smashed a ball up high in the stadium, almost clearing the roof. He applauded as Federer started to leave the stadium, then ran back onto the court, dropping onto his haunches and pumping his arms in triumph. All that, three days before the final.
Defending champion and No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic will take on Andy Murray on Friday for a spot against Nadal in Sunday's final.
The latest Grand Slam meeting between Nadal and Federer - who've won 26 Majors between them - was a semi-final worthy of a final.
Nadal didn't excuse his celebration, but explained it as letting off steam.
"It's a fantastic victory for me. Very, very happy playing against the greatest player in history in the semi-finals, big match on Rod Laver (court)," he said. "It's one of the victories that's going to stay in my mind forever. It's a fantastic way to start the season. Very happy for everything."
Apart from the 11 consecutive points Federer lost after a 10-minute delay near the end of the second set - while the Australia Day fireworks display was in progress - the match was tightly contested. Nadal led 5-2 at the time, and Federer lost his serve in the next game to give the Spaniard the set.
"It's tough, it's not helpful, that's for sure," Federer said of the break for the fireworks. "They told us before, so it was no surprise. But I knew it was a lot of points in a row that I lost."
Nadal has labored with injuries since losing the US Open final, and he'd talked about having time off next month to let his sore shoulder heal. On the eve of the tournament, he hurt his knee while he sat in a chair at his hotel - and thought for a while that he wouldn't be able to play at the Australian Open. He has played with his right knee heavily strapped, but has still won six straight matches.
"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 10th Grand Slam meeting between Nadal and Federer equaled the record for individual Major match-ups since the Open era began in 1968. Ivan Lendl beat John McEnroe in seven of their 10 meetings. Nadal now leads Federer 8-2.
Federer said it feels like Nadal plays his best tennis against him.
"I thought Rafa played well from start to finish. He's also got a winning record against me, which maybe gives him extra confidence. I think he has a clear plan and he follows that one very well," Federer said. "It was a tough match physically as well. I'm disappointed, but it's only the beginning of the season. I'm feeling all right, so it's OK."
Nadal said, though, that it was not the case.
"I don't play my best tennis because it's Roger in front, I play my best tennis because I am ready to play my best tennis," Nadal said. "It's true I played a lot of good matches against him during my career ... but I believe that he played a few fantastic matches against me too."
Last time the pair met in Australia, Nadal won the 2009 final in five sets. He had to console Federer as he sobbed during the trophy presentation.
"For me it didn't feel any different, you know, a finals or a semis against Rafa," Federer said of Thursday's match. "It's always an occasion ... yeah, it was the same."
"It was easier to handle walking off the court immediately, though, and not having his emotions broadcast to millions of people."
"It's nicer," Federer said. "I prefer to walk off this way than having to go through the trophy ceremony after losing."
Nadal has won the last five Grand Slam matches they've played - four of them in finals. The last time they met in a Grand Slam semi-final was at the 2005 French Open, where Nadal beat the then No. 1-ranked Federer en route to his first Major title.
The 25-year-old Spaniard won the 2009 Australian title but lost in the quarter-finals 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.
"We have had good matches over the years. I enjoy playing him. The crowd really gets into it, which is nice," Federer said. "We have a lot of respect for each other, which is good, too, I think."
For No. 2-ranked Nadal, the celebrations were more about his progress to the final rather than another win over Federer.
"Twenty-four hours before my first match, I was in my room crying because I believe I didn't have the chance to play in Melbourne, he said. "So it was a very, very tough situation for me, these hours. Two weeks later I am playing well. I am in the final."
For his part, Federer thinks his rivalry with Nadal is still good for tennis.
"I hope it inspires future generations or other players, being nice to each other on the court and all that stuff ... works as well at the highest of levels," he said. "We also kind of play well against each other. I always think he plays a bit better against me than against other players, but that's good for him."
Even so, Federer didn't hang around to watch Nadal's celebration.
"I mean, I was slightly disappointed, obviously, leaving center court, because I felt like my game was good and I could have done something in the finals potentially," he said. "But I don't have to worry about that now anymore. It's fine. I feel OK now. You know, it's in the past already."
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