Rafael Nadal Wins Australian Open 2017 Semifinal To Meet Roger Federer In Final

Rafael Nadal set up an eagerly-anticipated Australian Open 2017 final against Roger Federer by defeating Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in Friday’s thrilling second semi-final.

Rafael Nadal Wins Australian Open 2017 Semifinal To Meet Roger Federer In Final

The 30-year-old Spaniard won in nearly five hours to reach his first Grand Slam final since 2014.

Sunday’s men’s title match will mark Nadal’s 21st Grand Slam final, which ties him for second place with Novak Djokovic and puts him only behind Federer (28 finals). The Spaniard is seeking his 15th major title.

“I never dreamed to be back in the final of the Australian Open,” said Nadal. “It is a very special thing for both of us to be playing again in a major final. Neither of us probably thought we would be here again.”

Federer, 35, beat Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka in five sets in Thursday’s semifinal.

Aside from an extra day’s rest, 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer finished his semifinal in nearly two hours less than Nadal, having defeated Wawrinka in just three hours and five minutes.

Dimitrov, 25, eventually lost steam first in his match against Nadal– he lost his serve at 4-4 in the deciding set– as Nadal secured his victory with his third match point at nearly 12:45 local time.

After the Bulgarian hit a forehand long, Nadal fell to his knees at the baseline to celebrate, drawing cheers from the packed Rod Laver Arena.

Sisters Serena and Venus Williams will face off in Saturday’s women’s singles final. Thus, all four singles finalists in Melbourne this year are veterans who are age 30 or older.

Sunday will also mark the ninth time Nadal and Federer meet in a Grand Slam final. They last met in the French Open final in 2011.

The duo dominated men’s tennis from 2004 to 2010, before Djokovic came onto the scene. Neither player seemed to show excessive fatigue in his semifinal match, although both have faced several obstacles in recent years.

Federer is making his competitive return in Melbourne after six months out with a knee injury, while Nadal has also battled with both injury and form.

American great John McEnroe claimed Nadal’s victory over Dimitrov was one of the best matches he had ever seen, and two-time Australian Open finalist Pat Cash called it a “roller-coaster.”

Dimitrov received a standing ovation as he left the court. He would have been the first Bulgarian to reach a major final.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 27: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his semifinal match against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria on day 12 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)