Australian Open Day 12 - With Pictures

Nadal outlasts Verdasco in epic Aussie Open semifinal

Melbourne, Australia (Sports Network) - Rafael Nadal outlasted fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in a thrilling five-set semifinal on Friday at the Australian Open to set up a dream final with Roger Federer in the first Grand Slam of 2009.

Nadal, the top seed and world No. 1, gutted out a 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 triumph. The five-hour, 14-minute epic was the longest match in Australian Open history.

After wasting five break-point chances in the first nine games of the fifth set, Nadal won the first three points of the 10th to gain three match points.

Verdasco committed a double fault to make it 0-40, but won a pair of points at the net to stay alive. He then nearly came up with an ace to keep it going, but the ball sailed just long and his next serve found the net for another double-fault that gave Nadal the match.

"Today was one of those matches you are going to remember for a long time," said Nadal. "Fernando was playing, I think, at his best level. He deserved this final, too. His level was very good." ...Read More


Results from day 12 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Friday (x denotes seeding).

Women's doubles Final

Alona Bondarenko/Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) bt Victoria Azarenka (BLR)/Shahar Peer (ISR x12) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4

Boys' singles Semi-final

Bernard Tomic (AUS x5) bt Yuki Bhambri (IND x8) 6-0, 5-7, 6-1
Yang Tsung-Hua (TPE x10) bt Ryan Harrison (USA x4) 6-4, 7-6 (9/7)

Girls' singles Semi-final

Arantxa Rus (NED x14) bt Zhou Yi-Miao (CHN x11) 6-4, 6-0