Melbourne Highlights - Day 11
It may not have had the hallmarks of some of their most classic encounters, but the 27th edition of the Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal rivalry remained three hours and 42 minutes of high-octane drama, guts, grit and determination as the Spaniard out-hit his long-time foe and friend to win 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4 and reach the final of the 2012 Australian Open.
Competing against each other in the more unusual surroundings of a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time since the 2005 French Open, it was Federer that made the early moves, as his wont, replicating some of the drubbing shot-making that crushed Nadal in under an hour when the pair last met at London's O2 Arena.
Accelerating 3-0 up only to see his lead re-couped, Federer took just the one mini-break in the first set tie-break, and converted, an affirmative yell as he went up on Nadal.
But the Spaniard came tearing back as the crowd too-ed and fro-ed in their support of the famous pair, scorching through the second set 6-2, and aided by a break for Australian Day fireworks that saw Federer lose 11 points in a row after the break.
The crucial third set, the defining factor whenever these two have split the first two sets of their five-set battle, was poised between the two, Federer going a break up, Nadal taking it back, and leading, inevitably, to another tie-break. But this time it was the Spaniard who made his move, setting up five set points to take a two-set- to-one lead. He needed all five, eventually converting with a hammerhead forehand.
The fourth, like the third, went neck and neck, both players given, and missing, opportunities. But in the end it was Nadal who made the break to lead 5-4 and serve his way into the final. Federer had two break back points, but they were snuffed out, the Spaniard forcing the error on his second match point.
Nadal now leads the duo’s head-to-head with 18 wins to nine with Federer failing to win a Grand Slam encounter against the Spaniard since the 2007 Wimbledon final. But that does not mean their every meeting remains some of the most absorbing competition the modern game has to offer.
Nadal thus advances to his second Australian Open final, where he awaits either Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic.
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There was a lot of talk about the need for earplugs as Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova advanced to what will be a women's singles final for the decibels, both winning three-set battles, both in exactly two hours and 12 minutes.
Azarenka, fighting for the chance to compete in her first Grand Slam singles final, had to do battle against defending champion Kim Clijsters. In an absorbing contest, the Belarusian closed the first set clinically after taking an early break, but went off the boil as Clijsters' level improved, the Belgian roaring through the second set 6-1 to send it into a decider.
Exchanging breaks like hot potatoes at the beginning of the third, the roof almost came off Rod Laver Arena as Clijsters broke back in the crucial seventh game, but then surrendered serve again immediately. With Azarenka serving for her place in the final at 5-3, this time there was no Clijsters' comeback, the Belgian sending her backhand wide on Azarenka's second match point.
But Azarenka will have her work cut out in the final against Sharapova, champion at Melbourne Park in 2008. Facing Petra Kvitova in a re-match of the Wimbledon 2011 final, the Russian scorched through the first set 6-2 as the Czech took time to find her range, only for Kvitova to go on a rampage through the second set, and, like in the earlier semi-final, send things into a decider.
With break points to lead 3-2, it looked like Kvitova would hand Sharapova another crushing defeat, but the Russian worked her way back into the game, held serve, and then broke when she needed to, to make her way into the final.
Not only is the Daphne Akhurst Trophy on the line, the winner of the title will also succeed Caroline Wozniacki as the new world No.1.
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Congratulations to Peter Norfolk and Andrew Lapthorne, who triumphed in the quad wheelchair men's doubles at Melbourne Park, a result that bodes well in the year of the Paralympics.
Meanwhile Liam Broady, boys' doubles champion at Wimbledon two years ago, is through to his second junior Grand Slam doubles final, alongside Josh Ward-Hibbert. The British pair came through their semi-final 3-6, 6-4, 10-5.
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For all the reports and results from Melbourne Park, visit the Official Australian Open website
