Rafael Nadal Into Final After Epic Match

9 months ago 30th Jan 15:38

Rafael Nadal will meet Roger Federer in the final of the 2009 Australian Open after battling past fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in an epic five set match that lasted into the early hours of the morning.

The world number one was expected to be relatively untroubled by the number fourteenth seed but Verdasco, the conqueror of Britain’s Andy Murray had other ideas.

Twenty five year old Verdasco was playing in his first Grand Slam semi final but you wouldn’t have known it as he brought the match to the number one seed taking the first set in the tie break, over coming a mini break in the process.

It was more of the same in the second set until Nadal stepped it up a gear to take it 6-4. It looked as if the French and Wimbledon champion was going to dominate early in the third with a break of serve but within moments Verdasco had broken back and the set was back on serve.

With another break of serve a piece the third set also went into a tie break and Nadal put his foot on the pedal taking it 7-2 to take a two sets to one lead.

But Verdasco’s new found confidence and belief, which many put down to him emphatic win in the Davis Cup at the end of last year, didn’t waver as he fought his way through the fourth to take it to another tie break.

Here Verdasco dominated taking six points in a row eventually sealing the fourth set 1-7 to take the match to a final set shoot out.