Nadal knocks off Verdasco in exhausting Australian semifinal

It took the longest match in Australian Open history, but top-ranked Rafael Nadal finally vanquished fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco to gain the championship round.

Nadal won 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 in a semifinal that lasted 5 hours and 14 minutes, ending after 1 a.m. Saturday Melbourne time, 9 a.m. Friday ET.

Nadal will take on No. 2 Roger Federer in Sunday's men's final. The Swiss star will try to tie Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles after a straight-sets victory over American Andy Roddick a day earlier.

"It was very tough to play aggressive against a player like Fernando," Nadal said. "He played unbelievable. Only when you're playing very well can you have these wins."

There were no arguments, no gamesmanship, just great shots, with the momentum shifting on a handful of key points.

The previous longest match at Melbourne Park came in 1991, when Boris Becker needed 5 hours and 11 minutes to beat Italian Omar Camporese, with the fifth set going 14-12.

Federer's semifinal lasted under 90 minutes, a time span Nadal realized just after his marathon as he looked forward to the title ournd.

Nadal said it would be tough to recover for his first Grand Slam final on a hard court.

"Roger has a bit of an advantage over me," Nadal said. "He's resting right now. But I want to try my best. It's very important for me to be in this final. Whatever happens on Sunday, I've started the season my best ever."

With the arena's namesake, Rod Laver - a pretty good leftie in his own right - in the crowd and Spanish flags scattered around, Nadal found his renowned defense tested to the limit as Verdasco ripped 95 winners. But while he bent, he never broke, committing fewer than 10 unforced errors in every demanding set, including just four in the fifth.

The first set went 75 minutes of long rallies more associated with a match on clay than a hardcourt.

Nadal was serving at 4-3 in the tiebreaker when Verdasco ran off the last four points. The key shot was a backhand that trickled over to give him set point. A sharp volley set up an easy overhead, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

A cool change had come through during the afternoon to ease Melbourne's hottest three-day stretch on record - daytime temperatures topped 45 Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) - but the constant sprinting from sideline to sideline left both players draping ice packs wrapped in towels around their shoulders during changeovers.

The high quality of the tennis had fans - silent during play - giving standing ovations to both players for outstanding shots, and there were plenty of those.

Another tiebreaker loomed in the second set with Verdasco serving at 4-5, 40-15. This time it was Nadal, who had been looking a little puzzled and less confident than usual, running off four points in a row.

At deuce, Verdasco hit what appeared to be a volley winner on the 17th shot of a tense rally. The ball was spinning away from Nadal, but he got to it on the dead run, flicking a forehand winner that was never in until it dropped in the corner to level the match.

Verdasco managed a smile as he watched the replay on the big-screen TV suspended above the court. He sent a forehand long on the next point, and Nadal pumped his fist in celebration.

They swapped four service breaks in the third set, and the second tiebreaker quickly went Nadal's way, with Verdasco looking increasingly drained.

He called for the trainer to massage his left calf for apparent cramps twice during changeovers early in the fourth set and was clearly favoring it but worked through the pain.

The third tiebreaker was all Verdasco as he raced to a 6-0 lead while forcing a deciding fifth set. It was the first time Nadal had ever lost a Grand Slam tiebreaker while winning only one point.

Verdasco saved five break points in the fifth set before finally faltering. Serving at 4-5 he fell behind 0-40 to set up three match points for Nadal. He saved two with swinging volley winners, then double-faulted - only his fourth of the match. Both players dropped flat on the surface before Nadal got up, jumped over the net and gave his friend a hug.

Also in Melbourne, second seed Serena Williams and third-seeded Dinara Safina make up the women's final that will begin Saturday, local time. The winner of that match will take over the No. 1 ranking from Jelena Jankovic.

The women's doubles title goes to Serena and Venus Williams, who beat Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama 6-3 6-3.

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Williams sisters crowned Aussie Open women's doubles champs

Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Grand Slam women's doubles title Friday, beating Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 6-3 in the Australian Open final.

The Williams sisters, seeded 10th, were untroubled as they served out the first set in just 38 minutes under a closed roof on center court.

The temperature topped 113 degrees in the late afternoon and the roof on Rod Laver Arena was closed when the tournament's Extreme Heat Policy was put in effect.

The second set proved more difficult as the pairs exchanged breaks six times in nine games before the Williams' powerful returns and superior movement around the court proved the deciding factor.

"We played a great team today. They were very tough," Venus said. "At the end there I think we just maybe wanted it a little more."

Serena Williams, who returns to center court Saturday for the singles final, dominated at the net as they broke Sugiyama's serve to take a 4-3 lead, then sealed the championship by breaking Hantuchova.

"I think we complement each other on the court because we're both extremely positive," Venus said. "We know, when the other one moves, what the other one needs to do to compensate for that or to add to it."

The sisters, who won the doubles gold medal at last year's Beijing Olympics, held up their rackets to celebrate the win before hugging each other on court.

"I'd like to thank Serena for being the best partner," Venus Williams, 28, said. "I wouldn't want to play with anyone else. She's amazing."

The Williams sisters now have three Australian Open doubles titles, having previously won here in 2001 and 2003. Serena won the singles title in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

They have won doubles titles at all four Grand Slams, a milestone that Sugiyama was hoping to achieve by winning here with Hantuchova.

Serena, 27, who has a chance to win her 10th singles Grand Slam title when she takes on Dinara Safina on Saturday, looked relaxed during and after the match.

The sisters laughed and chatted between sets and made an unhurried exit from Rod Laver Arena after the trophy presentations.

"I don't have to work too hard out there. Just hit some big serves," Serena said. "Venus hits some big serves, we put the ball away.

"For me it's great practice, great fun. If I'm really fit, then I like to go for the win in both events."

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Serena conquers Dementieva, faces Safina in Australian final

Serena Williams finally hit form to oust Olympic champion Elena Dementieva and move into her fourth Australian Open final.

Now one more Russian, Dinara Safina, stands between Williams and a 10th Grand Slam title.

Williams, who won the Australian title in 2003, 2005 and 2007, played her best match of the tournament in a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Dementieva on Thursday.

"I haven't moved like that for a while, so I was a little shocked," said Williams, still leaving room for improvement. "A perfect match for me? Oh, no, no, no. But it was definitely better."

She'll get her chance to extend the alternate-year sequence of titles when she meets No. 3-ranked Safina, who beat fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in the other semifinal.

The winner of Saturday night's final will also earn the No. 1 ranking.

Safina's older brother, Marat Safin, won the title here in 2005, the day after Williams had beaten then No. 1 Lindsay Davenport in the women's final.

Safina is yet to win a major, losing the 2008 French Open final to Ana Ivanovic in her best previous run. She lost to Williams in last year's U.S. Open semifinals.

The roof was closed at Rod Laver Arena for both women's semifinals, protecting the players and fans from outside temperatures topping 111 degrees.

Williams commended tournament organizers for deciding early to close the roof rather than wait, as they had Wednesday, until halfway through her quarterfinal against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"It was really, really hot today," she said, "and, uhm, it was really hot."

News updates during the semifinals reported it was the hottest January day since 1939 in Melbourne. The temperature hit 112 at 4:43 p.m.

It was almost as hot Wednesday when Williams was only a game from a quarterfinal exit, having to break Kuznetsova when the Russian was serving for the match.

Twice before, Williams has had to save match points in her semifinal en route to the Australian title.

But the reigning U.S. Open champion found her rhythm quickly against Dementieva, who has not gone past the semifinals at a Grand Slam since 2004.

"I just really wasn't playing well at all. I just wasn't bringing it," she said of her first five matches here. "I thought that I was just going to have to do whatever it takes to win.

"This is definitely not over. I have to play a really tough opponent who wants to win ... it (could) be their first Grand Slam. That's super exciting."

Williams ended Dementieva's best bid in four years for a major.

The Russian was on a 15-match winning streak, including two titles and wins over Williams and Safina at the Sydney International.

"I had a good run ...(but) I feel like today I was not quick enough," Dementieva said. "I was not maybe aggressive enough against her. She dictated points.

"But I have no regrets. I had just a great time here."

While it was cooler inside than out at Melbourne Park, Williams already had soaked through her blue dress by the time the second game was over, not surprising since they had played 16 minutes.

When Williams blasted a clean crosscourt winner while serving at 3-3, she gave Dementieva a long glare. Dementieva smacked a service return winner on the next point and glared right back.

Dementieva held to start the second set in a game that went to deuce five times and lasted 14 minutes, then broke Williams en route to a 3-0 lead.

That sparked a four-game run for Williams until Dementieva broke to even the second set at 4-4.

Then nerves seemed to get the best of Dementieva. Having problems with her service toss, she double-faulted twice, the second setting up break point. Williams ripped a backhand winner down the line and pumped her fist.

Williams has had problems with her first serve throughout the tournament, but it came through when she needed it most.

Serving for the match at 5-4, she started with an ace and hit another serve that Dementieva sent long.

At 30-15, Williams followed with another ace. Dementieva squealed and bent over in frustration. Another powerful serve on match point set up an easy overhead and it was over in 98 minutes.

Roger Federer, seeking a record-equaling 14th Grand Slam singles title to match Pete Sampras' career record, was playing American Andy Roddick in the night semifinal.

No. 2 Federer, who is 15-2 against the seventh-seeded Roddick, who beat defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal set up an all-Spanish final against Fernando Verdasco when he beat No. 6 Gilles Simon 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 on Wednesday night.

Verdasco ousted 2008 runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

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Federer ousts Roddick from Australian Open

Roger Federer moved within one victory of his 14th Grand Slam title with another dominating victory, ousting Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 Thursday to reach the Australian Open final.

Roddick, who undertook a rigorous offseason training regime designed to help him beat Federer and top-ranked Rafael Nadal, was in good form.

But the second-ranked Federer outplayed him in every phase of the game. Ripping winners from all over the court and usually forcing Roddick to hit more than one good shot to win a point, he even had more aces than the hard-serving American, 16-8.

Federer, seeking his fourth Australian title, will face the winner of Friday's semifinal between Nadal and fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

The women's final matchup was set earlier in the day. Serena Williams was calm, collected and cool - with the Rod Laver Arena roof closed to keep out Melbourne's oppressive heat wave - to end Olympic champion Elena Dementieva's 15-match winning streak with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

All that stands between her and a 10th Grand Slam title is third-seeded Dinara Safina, who is hungry to take home her first major trophy to go along with the two that brother Marat Safin has earned. Safina ousted fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the other semifinal. The winner Saturday also will rise to the No. 1 ranking.

By the time Federer and Roddick were on court in the evening, temperatures had dropped to 91 degrees from 112 in the afternoon - news reports called it Melbourne's hottest January day since 1939 - so the retractable roof was open.

That would seem to have given Roddick, who grew up in the heat of Texas and Florida, an edge. Against a hot Federer, it didn't matter. A behind-the-back hit right to the ballboy after a Roddick fault in the first game was a dead giveaway.

Although Roddick won their last meeting, Federer held a 15-2 edge over him coming into the match, and this one played out like many of the Swiss star's previous victories.

Blunting Roddick's blistering serves, Federer broke twice in the first set. Adding to Roddick's frustration was a call that went against him as Federer served at 4-1.

A Federer shot was called out, but he successfully challenged. Chair umpire Enric Molina ruled that Roddick couldn't have gotten to the ball and gave the point to Federer. Roddick argued he stopped running when he heard the "out" call, and he had a running dialogue with Molina during several changeovers.

With both players holding easily in the second set, a tiebreaker loomed with Roddick serving at 5-5. Federer broke at love, then easily held with Roddick failing to get a serve return back in play.

After serving a double-fault at 2-2 in the third set, Roddick got a warning for an audible obscenity and told Molina: "I take back the apology."

Roddick served again at 5-5 in the third set, and Federer - who seems to come up with his best tennis under pressure - broke again. He easily held, finishing off the match with a forehand down the line - his 51st winner to just 15 unforced errors.

Williams has a history of winning the Australian Open in odd-numbered years - 2003, 2005 and 2007 - but there was nothing odd about her victory in the semis.

She followed her traditional pattern of playing her way into form after struggling in earlier matches. She benefited from fourth-round opponent Victoria Azarenka retiring sick after winning the first set, and got a chance to recuperate when the roof was closed due to the heat Wednesday after she'd lost the first set in the quarterfinals against Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"I'm excited that I'm playing really consistent," said Williams, the reigning U.S. Open champion. "This whole Australia swing, I was just really struggling with my form, for whatever reason, 'cause I definitely put in the time, but it just didn't come together."

It certainly did against Dementieva, who beat her in their last three meetings and was coming off consecutive titles at two warm-up tournaments.

"I think she was very powerful today," the fourth-seeded Russian said. "I think I was maybe not aggressive enough and maybe I was playing not deep enough, which allowed her to be very aggressive and dictate the game."

Williams later was back on court to partner with sister Venus in a women's doubles match. Seeking their eighth Grand Slam title together, the sisters routed Australia's Casey Dellacqua and Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-0, 6-2 to reach the final.

Safina has yet to win a major, losing the 2008 French Open final to Ana Ivanovic in her best previous run. She lost to Williams in last year's U.S. Open semifinals.

Her older brother won the Australian title in 2005, the day after Williams beat then-No. 1 Lindsay Davenport in the women's final.

Safina was looking forward to giving him a belated birthday present. Safin turned 29 on Tuesday.

"Maybe now I have some money to buy him a present," she joked. "It's great that I can follow his steps. He was my idol. He's still my idol."

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Verdasco advances to semis at Australian Open

Fernando Verdasco has advanced to his first Grand Slam semifinal in 23 attempts, beating last year's Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

The 14th-seeded Verdasco, who upset Britain's Andy Murray in the fourth round, beat Tsonga 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Tsonga lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 title match and was seeded fifth this year.

The 25-year-old Verdasco, a key player in Spain's Davis Cup win, has never advanced past the fourth round at any Grand Slam, and never past the second round at the Australian Open.

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Roddick looks good, but Federer still looks better

Andy Roddick has not been this close to a Grand Slam final for two years but given the size of the task he faces he may never have seemed further away.

The big-serving American has been outstanding in the Australian Open so far, cruising through to the final four and knocking off defending champion Novak Djokovic in Tuesday's quarters.

Roddick has every right to be feeling good about his game. Six weeks of intensive fitness training with coach Larry Stefanki was a punishing yet productive way to spend the end of 2008.

Fifteen pounds lighter, his physical levels are now among the strongest on tour and the 26-year-old looks primed for a big year.

When Roddick stepped off Rod Laver Arena to follow the stricken Djokovic, who retired due to severe physical discomfort as temperatures climbed more than 120 degrees on court, it was easy to feel good about his chances of adding to his only Grand Slam, the 2003 U.S. Open.

Within a few hours, though, such an outcome seemed as likely as a sudden snowstorm in the sweltering surrounds of Melbourne Park.

Roger Federer's brutal destruction of Juan Martin Del Potro under the lights of Tuesday's night session was perhaps the most pivotal moment of the tournament so far.

So much for Roddick's hopes that the Argentine youngster could keep Federer on court for an extended period of time and sap his energy reserves.

Del Potro, No. 6 in the world and tipped for future greatness, was bullied and destroyed 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 in 80 torturous minutes.

Federer might have been human in his five-setter struggle against Tomas Berdych in Round 4. But this was superhuman and it would surely have given Roddick indigestion if he watched on television over dinner at his City Center hotel.

A look at his record against Federer will have done little to soothe Roddick's stomach or boost his confidence either.

Roddick did beat the Swiss world No. 2 the last time they met, in Miami last year. That was in the middle of a Federer funk, though, and merely took the head-to-head record to 2-15. Federer won the 2007 Australian Open semifinal between the pair for the loss of only six games.

"One of the things that makes Roger great is he makes that very difficult to play on your terms," said Roddick. "I think it helps that I stopped a big streak against him last year in Miami. It's certainly not going to hurt at all."

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