Australian Open 2014: Federer vs Nadal semifinal clash – Another epic in the offing?

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January 24, 2014

MELBOURNE: Resurgent Roger Federer relished passing a stiff mental and physical test against a dogged Andy Murray to book his 11th successive Australian Open semi-final and a mouthwatering clash with great rival Rafa Nadal.

Federer and Nadal have always produced their best when they've faced off. Prajwal Hegde picks five classics…

January 24, 2014

MELBOURNE: Resurgent Roger Federer relished passing a stiff mental and physical test against a dogged Andy Murray to book his 11th successive Australian Open semi-final and a mouthwatering clash with great rival Rafa Nadal.

Federer and Nadal have always produced their best when they've faced off. Prajwal Hegde picks five classics…

2008 WIMBLEDON FINAL Nadal: 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7

Rafael Nadal won this battle of serve and nerve to clinch his maiden grass court Grand Slam crown. Fighting rain, wind and descending darkness, the Spaniard beat the World No.1 Roger Federer in the longest men's final in Wimbledon history, and quite possibly the greatest.

2007 WIMBLEDON FINAL Federer: 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2

This title gave the Swiss superstar his fifth Wimbledon crown, helping him equal Borg's record. The Spaniard looked to have gained some momentum when he went ahead 4-1 lead in the fourth set, but injury to his right knee, which he took a medical time out for, set him back, allowing Federer to seal the deciding set.

2009 AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL Nadal: 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2

The Spaniard's first Grand Slam title on hardcourts. He arrived in Melbourne Park as the king of clay and also the reigning Wimbledon champion, but the 22-yearold was still considered suspect on the synthetic surface. In a final where Federer gave as good as he got, Nadal had the final word, playing a solid fifth set in which resilience met rage.

2010 ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS FINAL Federer: 6-3, 3-6, 6-1

The Swiss had lost six of his last seven matches against Nadal entering the final in London, but on an indoor carpet that resembled a Formula One track, Federer sped away with it. Mixing genius with guts, he gave Nadal a lesson in fast court play.

2007 ATP MASTERS, HAMBURG FINAL Federer: 2-6, 6-2, 6-0

In some of the most attacking play seen on a clay court, Roger Federer broke through for the title, ending Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay and stopping the Spaniard from a historic sweep of the clay Masters titles.


Courtesy: PTI