Rafael Nadal has overcome Fernando Verdasco in an extraordinary five-set semifinal encounter that lasted five hours and 14 minutes to become the longest match in Australian Open history.
In a touching tribute, the world number one leapt over the net to warmly embrace his compatriot following his 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(2) 6-7(1) 6-4 victory that ended after 314 minutes at 1.08am – the match lasting three minutes longer than the five hour 11 minute marathon played by Boris Becker and Omar Camporese in 1991.
Astonishingly, Nadal won just one point more than Verdasco in the spine-tingling match – 193 to 192 – and in the end, that single point was the double fault Verdasco served on match point.
The first all-Spanish semifinal in Australian Open history proved to be a heart-stopping affair from the word go. Verdasco may have lost to five-time Grand Slam champion Nadal on all six previous meetings, but tonight he stepped up to the challenge, forcing a tiebreak to decide the first set.
Luck was smiling down on 14th-seeded Verdasco who, leading 5-4, struck a backhand that clipped the net. It spun high into the air and - after what felt like an age - dropped into the court. The piece of good fortune awarded Verdasco two set points, and while he lifted his hand to offer a sincere apology, he went on to claim the set with a winning volley.
Nadal’s fist pumps were coming thick and fast by the middle of the second set. By that stage, Verdasco had won all his service games to love, while the world No.1 was being tested on his. That all changed when Verdasco was made to defend four break points in the eighth game. When Nadal hit a return on the fourth, his string broke and the ball veered out. A look of disbelief crossed Nadal’s face and he looked at his racquet as if to ask ‘why me?’
Arguably, the most scintillating rally of the second set unfolded with Verdasco serving at 4-5. Both men played out of their skins, grinding each other down from the back of the court and hitting balls with increasing ferocity until Nadal blasted a winner down the line. Verdasco could only smile in admiration, and when he hit the next ball long, the second set belonged to Nadal.
Verdasco looked in danger of cracking when Nadal broke to lead 2-0 in the third. After all, he was the No.14 seed making his semifinal Grand Slam debut. But instead of crumbling, the elder of the two Spaniards simply raised his game. Just when you thought the ball could be struck no harder, along he came, whipping up winner after winner with phenomenal pace to break Nadal to love. Another set led to another tiebreak, but Nadal assumed control to take the third.
Come the fourth set, Verdasco received attention for what appeared to be a troublesome calf. It did the trick; he got his legs back and the fourth set tiebreak was his.
A nail-biting fifth set unfolded, and the pressure was on Verdasco’s serve at 4-5. Devastating groundstrokes were unleashed by Nadal, and errors began creeping into Verdasco’s game. Two double faults, the last one on match point, proved to be the Spaniard’s downfall, cruelly dashing his hopes of reaching his maiden Slam final.
Nadal, who has reached the Australian Open final for the first time in his career, will now play three-time Australian Open champion Federer in Sunday night’s eagerly-anticipated decider.
The meeting will be the 19th between the best two players in the world since 2005, with Nadal winning 12 of their previous 18 meetings, including all four times they played in 2008.
Sunday’s final will be their first meeting since their memorable Wimbledon final last year, an epic five-setter than lasted nearly five hours, Nadal winning it 9-7 in the final set.
Quick facts
Verdasco hit 95 winners to Nadal’s 52
The 14th seed had 76 unforced errors; the No.1 seed had only 25
Verdasco served 20 aces to Nadal’s 12
Nadal converted just four of 20 break point opportunities, while Verdasco was 2-for-4 on break point chances
Nadal won 193 points to Verdasco’s 192 for the match
The match lasted 314 minutes, an Australian Open record
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