Rivalry rekindled as Federer sets up Rafa clash
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Roger Federer rekindled his dominance over Andy Murray in grand slam matches and advanced to his 11th consecutive Australian Open semifinal with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 win yesterday in Melbourne.
Federer clinched it on his third match point with an ace to set up a showdown with top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who beat Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7), 6-2.
Two of the leading men survived on a day when two-time defending champion Victoria Azarenka was beaten 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 by Agnieszka Radwanska in the women’s quarterfinals.
Both Nadal and Federer certainly had nervous moments.
Murray, who saved two match points in the third-set tiebreaker, has an 11-10 edge over Federer in head-to-head matches and won their last match in five sets in the Australian Open semifinals last year, but Federer has won four of five matches in majors.
After spending three months off the circuit following minor back surgery, Murray appeared to be in discomfort at times, clutching at his lower back.
“I was proud of the way I fought,” Murray said.
After Federer won the opening game of the fourth set, the two played a 10-deuce game in which Murray saved six break points before Murray leveled. But Federer finally broke Murray in the eighth game then held serve to win the match in 3 hours, 20 minutes.
“I’m probably one of the guys who misses more break-point opportunities than other guys so I’m kind of used to it,” Federer said. “You stay positive — give yourself a chance.
“Andy played well and put the pressure on me so I’m happy to get the win.”
Federer said he looks forward to playing Nadal again.
“It’s going to be a good match, it’s going to be brutal and all those things ... Looking forward to slugging it out with him in a couple of days,” Federer said.
Nadal received treatment several times for a nasty-looking blister on the palm of his left hand — his racquet hand.
Nadal won on his fourth match point on Dimitrov’s serve in 3 hours, 37 minutes.
“I was so lucky,” Nadal said.
No. 5-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska stopped Azarenka’s 18-match winning run at Melbourne Park with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 win earlier in the day.
Radwanska next plays No. 20 Dominika Cibulkova, who won 6-3, 6-0 against No. 11-seeded Simona Halep.
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