Melbourne – Rafael Nadal needed three match points and nearly five hours of battle to beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 on Friday and set up a classic final at the Australian Open with Roger Federer.
The old-school throwback title shootout on Sunday will pit the dominators of the last decade in the sport in an unexpected late chapter in their iconic rivalry.
The Spaniard leads the series 23-11 overall; and 6-2 in grand slam finals with the last dating back to the 2011 French Open decider Nadal won in straight sets.
Federer will be aiming for an 18th title at the majors on Sunday, Nadal for a 15th.
Rafael Nadal of Spain in action in a quarter-final match against Milos Raonic of Canada at the Australian Open on January 25, 2017. Rafael Nadal needed three match points and nearly five hours of battle to beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 on Friday and set up a classic final at the Australian Open with Roger Federer. Sydney Low/Cal Sport Media(Credit Image: © Sydney Low/CSM via ZUMA Wire) Photo: Sydney Low/dpa
Nadal battled and scrapped with Bulgarian Dimitrov for 4 hours 56 minutes in an effort that ended in the early hours of Saturday. He saved break points in the eighth game of the final set and then broke Dimitrov in the next game en route to victory.
Nadal, who won the event in 2009, will be playing in his first grand slam final since he won 2014 Roland Garros.
“It’s difficult to describe the emotions,” Nadal, who managed 45 winners to the 79 of Dimitrov, said. “I was tired in the fifth and Grigor was playing unbelievable.
“This was a great match, I feel very happy, I enjoyed it a lot. These have been two unforgettable weeks for me. To reach the final means a lot.”
He and Federer both took time off in late 2016 to heal injuries, with the Spaniard concentrating his a problem left wrist.
When he and the Swiss met up in late autumn to dedicate Nadal’s new tennis academy on Mallorca, neither was fit enough to play even a light exhibition.
Federer booked a spot in his 24th grand slam final on Thursday, beating Stan Wawrinka in five sets.
Än emotional Nadal was thinking of little more than starting recovery to try and be ready for his date with his top rival.
“Last year tough for me, it is taking awhile to come back to my level. But I never dream to be in this final after a lot of months of not competing.
“I hope I can recover well, playing the final against Roger is a privilege, it will be special for both of us to be in another final of major, with the chance to compete after a couple of years of problems.”
Nadal will be playing in his fifth Melbourne final.
Dimitrov, whose ranking sank to 40th last year after reaching number eight, won the Brisbane title this month and began the season 10-0.
Earlier, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova won a second women’s doubles title, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3 win over Andrea Hlavackova and Peng Shuai.
-dpa
