Rafael Nadal Beats Roger Federer in Australian Open semifinal

Like any other games they played against, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer played with so much intensity in last night’s Australian Open semifinal. But it was the Spanish Nadal who edged his great rival in four gripping sets, 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4.

Federer has not beaten Nadal at a Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon 2007.

“We have had good matches over the years,” Federer said. “I enjoy playing him. The crowd really gets into it, which is nice. We have a lot of respect for each other, which is good, too, I think.

“You know, works as well at the highest of levels. We also play well against each other. I always think he plays a bit better against me than against other players, but that’s good for him.”

Nadal said in an interview, “I am very happy about my result on these two weeks. I did much better than what I thought, what I dreamed for three weeks ago. So very happy for everything. It’s a fantastic victory for me. Very, very happy playing against the greatest of the history in semifinals, big match on Rod Laver. It’s one of the victories that’s going to stay in my mind forever, no? But if the opponents [in the final] play better than me and he beat me, I going to go home very happy about my tournament. I going to go home knowing that the way that I am working is working very well, and keep working on this way. Probably this way give me a good success in the next months.”