Nadal sets up Federer final after record Aussie semi

MELBOURNE (AFP) – Rafael Nadal survived a record five-set battle with fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco on Friday to set up a classic Australian Open final with arch-rival Roger Federer.

Nadal lost his first sets of the tournament but showed incredible resilience to win the epic 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5 (7/2), 5-7 (1/7) over five hours and 14 minutes, the longest match in the tournament's history.

"Right now I feel more happy than tired," Nadal told the crowd. "For sure it's going to be a tough final. But it was amazing for me to play that match here. It was one of the best matches of my career."

On Sunday Nadal will play his seventh Major final against Federer, who can equal the Grand Slam titles record. Nadal beat Federer in both the French Open and Wimbledon finals last year and holds a 4-2 edge in the matches.

The Open's previous longest match was Boris Becker's 1991 win over Omar Camporese, which lasted five hours and 11 minutes.

Friday's match also surpassed Nadal's epic Wimbledon final with Federer last year, (four hours and 48 minutes), and equalled his longest ever match (five hours 14 minutes against Guillermo Coria in the 2005 Rome final).

In a semi-final of remarkable quality, Verdasco looked to have thrown the first set away when he smashed a routine overhead out on his only break point at 2-2.

But he saved break points at 5-5 and edged the tie-break, helped by a huge stroke of luck when a ball which was heading out caught the net and bounced in.

Nadal was rattled but he forced break points at 4-3 in the second and broke for the set when Verdasco went long. With fatigue setting in, both were broken twice in the third before Verdasco sprayed errors to hand over the tie-break.

Nadal was in the ascendancy and Verdasco was struggling as he twice took treatment to his left lower leg, but he quickly recovered and dominated a rousing tie-break 7-1 in the fourth.

It was a fight to the finish and Verdasco saved five break points in the decider before crumbling at 4-5 as he netted on the third match point.

"It's going to be a little bit tough on Sunday. Roger had today off and only three sets in his semi-final so now, for sure, he's the favourite," added Nadal.

"But I'll try my best."

Both Nadal and Verdasco are strapping left-handers from Spain, but their careers have been vastly different.

While Nadal is seeking his sixth Grand Slam title, Verdasco had never been past the fourth round in a Major before this tournament.

Nadal added eight titles last year to take his career total to 31, while Verdasco's only successes have been in Valencia in 2004 and Umag last year.

Verdasco also has a playboy reputation, reportedly dating tennis stars Ana Ivanovic and Gisela Dulko and being linked with a string of Spanish beauties.

But he became a sensation in Spain by subduing fierce partisan crowds and Argentina's Jose Acasuso over five sets to seal the Davis Cup title, with Nadal out injured.

Federer wins Kooyong opener

Roger Federer is preparing for the Australian Open with a tune-up at the exhibition event in Kooyong. He defeats Carlos Moya in his opening match on Wednesday.

Roger Federer defeated Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-3 in his opening match of the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday. Federer, who lost to Andy Murray in the Qatar Open semifinals last week, is looking to get back on track in time for the Australian Open with this eight-man exhibition tune-up.

The second-ranked Swiss had no trouble dispatching Moya, and he felt good about his performance.

"It was still pretty hot out there but yesterday was even warmer and it was good getting used to the conditions here," Federer said. "I was a bit rusty in the beginning and I missed three or four forehands but it was a good match overall.

"I thought I played OK today. I was just feeling out...trying a few things here and there; it was just a matter of getting used to the conditions, getting my footwork right, the bounce, seeing how high it was and how the spin was."

Federer's compatriot and gold medal-winning partner Stanislas Wawrinka also got off to a winning start. He took out Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 6-2 to open Wednesday's play.

"What can I say? I didn't play very good; that's all I can say," quipped a disappointed Baghdatis.

Philippoussis won't predict his tennis future

It will be baby steps in tennis for Mark Philippoussis as the hard-luck, injury-prone former star competes in this week's exhibition in Adelaide.

After multiple knee surgeries and more than two years out of the game, the 32-year-old Philippoussis is unsure about any tennis future.

"I have no expectations", the two-time Grand Slam finalist told Adelaide media. "I don't need to prove anything to anyone or even to myself, it's just about me loving the game and getting back out and playing the game. There's no way I'm looking too far ahead".

Philippoussis is testing his knees and his body at the World Tennis Challenge, a hybrid team event at Memorial Drive where he is teaming with 1987 winning compatriot Pat Cash.

Philippoussis last took to a court in December, 2007, at the Australian Open wild card playoffs, where he again hurt his right knee. He is playing this week heavily strapped.

"It's in my heart to give it one more go and I would love to", he said, while admitting that he probably won't make it back onto the ATP.

The three-day team event with one current and one former player per side, also features team USA with Taylor Dent and Jim Courier, Sweden with Joachim Johansson and Mats Wilander and France with Gael Monfils and Henri Leconte.