MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in an Australian Open semifinal on Thursday night, the longtime rivals playing with the intensity they normally display when they meet in Grand Slam finals.
Though the stars who have met in eight Grand Slam finals were on the same side of the draw for the first time at a major since 2005, they played as if the title were at stake.
This time, though, only Nadal will have the opportunity to win another championship - on Sunday night when the Spanish left-hander plays the winner of Friday's semifinal between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.