What year are we in, again?
Rafael Nadal set up an Australian Open final against his great rival Roger Federer to turn the clock back for tennis fans. Nadal edged out Grigor Dimitrov in a classic five-set semi-final which stretched for nearly five hours on Friday.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion pulled off one of his toughest victories in denying Bulgaria’s Dimitrov, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 in four hours and 56 minutes in front of a rocking Rod Laver Arena crowd.
“It’s special to play with Roger again in a final of a Grand Slam. I cannot lie, it’s great,” said Nadal, after setting up his ninth major final against his old rival.
“It’s exciting for me and for both of us that we are still there and we still fighting for important events. So that’s important for us, I think. I hope to be ready to compete well again. I need to go back to the hotel, to rest well, and to recover from now.”
Nadal, who downed Federer in the 2009 final, is now into his fourth Australian Open decider and his 21st Grand Slam title match. He leads Federer leads 6-2 in their major finals. This will be their 35th overall meeting.
The world is waiting with bated breath as #Fedal35 will unfold on Sunday.
Federer and Nadal through the years.
The two best tennis players of all time. #AustralianOpen final is gonna be awesome!! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/RHDIt2Tst6— Leo Messi (@messi10stats) January 27, 2017
Women’s Finals: Serena Williams vs Venus Williams
Men’s Finals: Nadal vs Federer 2017 or 2007? A trip down memory lane! #OldWarhorses— Srini Mama 💲 (@SriniMama16) January 27, 2017
Murray and Djokovic are the top two in the rankings.
Nadal and Federer are the last two at the #AusOpen.And they say there’s no Big Four.— Ed McGrogan (@EdMcGrogan) January 27, 2017
And the best of all:
With AFP inputs