TENNIS:World number one Rafa Nadal survived the longest match in Australian Open history to reach his first Melbourne Park final and earn a chance to deny rival Roger Federer a record-equalling 14th grand slam singles crown.
Nadal finally beat Fernando Verdasco 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 7-6 (7/2) 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 after five hours and 14 minutes on court in Melbourne.
Verdasco, the surprise package of this year's tournament, produced some brilliant tennis in a true classic on the Rod Laver Arena but came up just short in the deciding set as Nadal came through to reach his first hardcourt Grand Slam final.
Verdasco had already recorded shock wins over Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga this week and started the match looking to join a long list of surprise finalists at the event.
However, his tactics were no shock - his serve again firing to earn him plenty of cheap points and the big forehand unsettling the world number one throughout.
It was clear from the early stages that Verdasco, beaten in all six of the pair's previous meetings, was capable of mixing it with Nadal on this occasion.
Both players missed break-point chances in the opening set, which was settled on a tie-break.
In it, the underdog came from a mini-break down to claim the lead - the crucial point coming when Verdasco benefitted from a lucky net cord to give him set point.
It was the first set Nadal had dropped at the tournament and with the set having taken 75 minutes, he knew he was in for a long night.
Three love service games from Verdasco at the start of the second set kept the pressure on the Wimbledon champion, but Nadal finally achieved the first break of the match at 5-4.
A sensational forehand down the line played on the run gave him set point and a following error from his opponent squared the match.
Nadal twice led by a break in the third set but on each occasion Verdasco immediately retrieved it.
Another tie-break followed but this one went Nadal's way - two forehand errors from Verdasco proving decisive.
The 14th seed needed treatment in the fourth set as the clock ticked ever closer to midnight.
He got his leg massaged between games but when back on the court he showed few signs of fatigiue.
The two left-handers were creating some spectacular angles, with Nadal receiving a standing ovation after one terrific rally.
Serve continued to hold sway though and so a third breaker was required.
Verdasco played it almost perfectly, losing just the one point to take the match into a final set.
Despite the length of the match, the quality showed no signs of dipping, although it was Nadal who now looked the more likely winner.
Verdasco had to stave off break points in three of his first four service games.
However, he finally cracked when he stepped up to serve to stay in the match at 4-5.
He produced only his third double fault to fall 0-40 down and although two match points were saved the third saw him double-fault again, after which he sank to his knees in disappointment. He had hit a remarakble 95 winners, yet still ended on the losing side.
At the other end, Nadal collapsed to the floor in delight and relief before clambering to his feet and climbing the net to embrace his compatriot.
The epic encounter had wiped Boris Becker's five-hour-and-11-minute victory over Omar Camporese in 1991 from the record books.
Whether Nadal can recover in time to challenge Federer in Sunday's final remains to be seen.
That meeting will be their first since another classic match - last year's Wimbledon final which Nadal won 9-7 in the fifth set.