TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS:IT WILL BE the finish to the Australian Open that many wanted though Fernando Verdasco played the match of his life as he fought to be the Spanish left-hander who would face Roger Federer tomorrow evening here.

Verdasco, who had never gone beyond the last 16 of a major, battled to his limits in the longest match in the history of the tournament at five hours 14 minutes, but it was Rafa Nadal who reached his first ever hard-court grand slam final 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4.

Remarkably, at the end of an astonishingly intense game only a single point separated the two (193-192), Verdasco hitting a remarkable 93 winners: “I was taking more risks than him, and being more aggressive.”

He also served superbly and it was cruel that his challenge ended with two double faults in his last game, including the point that gave his fellow Spaniard the match. Such is the pressure Nadal exerts.

And so there will be a repeat of last year’s French Open and Wimbledon finals. The first of them produced a straight-sets drubbing of such severity for Federer that many felt the need to shut their eyes.

The second was a classic, with Nadal winning 9-7 in a final set of extraordinary tension and overwhelming brilliance from both men. Nadal won his first Wimbledon, Federer lost his five-year hold on the title and the public were enraptured.

Nadal went on to claim the number one spot, though it was Federer who won in New York. This showdown, their 19th, will not decide who is top of the rankings – Nadal remains assured of that – but victory for Federer would be colossal in terms of his confidence and status.

The three-times Australian Open champion would not only equal Pete Sampras’s record of 14 major wins; he would also gain some redemption for that Wimbledon defeat.

No Spanish man has won a hard-court major; Federer has won eight. But Nadal is a phenomenon, as he proved on grass, and has wheedled his way inside Federer’s head.

In terms of preparation the Swiss will obviously have a distinct advantage. He rattled through his quarter- and semi-finals in straight sets and will have had an extra day’s rest.

Any normal player would be certain to feel the after-effects of such a titanic five-setter. Nadal is not normal. Of their 18 meetings Nadal has won 12, including all four last year. In major finals – three on clay, three on grass – Nadal leads 4-2, while Federer holds a 3-2 advantage on hard courts. It has developed into a classic rivalry.

Verdasco questioned the scheduling of the semi-finals and expressed the hope that Nadal will have recovered in time to play his biggest rival.

“For sure, the semi-finals are supposed to be the same day for both because I think it is the most fair for everybody,” the 25-year-old 14th seed said.

He added: “I want Nadal to be 100 per cent to play that final and to try to win. I lost against him but he’s a big friend. I wish him the best of luck in the final and I hope that he will win.”

Nadal agreed it would be fairer for the men’s semi-finals to be played on the same day but accepted it was the luck of the draw.

The Spaniard said: “You still have one day off. Last year it worked out well for me, this year it has for Roger. Last year I played on Thursday. I lost and didn’t play the final. Roger played on Friday.

“It’s a bit unlucky to play a match like this today so for sure Roger will be in a better state physically than me for the final. But at the same time, I will try to be recovered for the final and try to play my best.”

Despite losing, Verdasco had plenty of reasons to be cheerful after playing the match of his life against the top seed and world number one.

Unfortunately for him, two of his four double-faults came in the last game and turned the match his opponent’s way.

“Tennis is like this sometimes. What can I do? I was trying the same like in all the other games in the match. But just to try a good second serve, I played two double-faults,” he said.

Verdasco repeatedly dug himself out of trouble with his serve until he faltered at the end.

But he also showed some wonderfully deft touches around the net, outfoxing Nadal with some lovely drop shots, including one that had so much spin on it Shane Warne would have been proud.

But Nadal produced some magic too, curling in a couple of beauties that looked as though they were going out, and both blitzed the lines for all they were worth with punishing ground strokes – forehand and back.

• GuardianService