Rafael Nadal, seeded one above Roger at number two, has by contrast, been called upon to produce more than just a clinical display of dominance. For four matches this proved sufficient, but against 7th seed Tomas Berdych, the Spanish number one lost the first set, and despite wanting to leave his best tennis locked away until the final - assuming he made it - the insensitive Czech player forced Rafa's hand and the best tennis of the tournament by any one male player visited us on Tuesday night in sets three and four. (arguably usurped later by Djokovic against Ferrer)
So who should be favored to win the right to play Novak in the final? (the Joker has the semi final bye against Andy Murray - ok that is unfair but someone asked me to write it)On the last official meeting criterion, Roger wins, but using the more appropriate measure of head to head contests in Grand Slam tournaments, Rafa has the edge. All that is helpful for trivia nights but has no bearing on this semi final. At this stage of Federer's career, Grand Slam singles titles are difficult to win, and Djokovic has also done no favours for Nadal who was enjoying winning most big things on offer in 2010.
On par with Federer's other matches the start was precise and no bother on the Swiss serve. The Spanish version did contain some flaws however and the surgeon opposite operated to remove Rafa's serve and take it as a reward. 2-1 and the fireworks had come early. The ones of the non metaphoric kind were due a little later in the evening designed to disrupt the tennis annually on this day.
Rafa put a score on the board and some joy in the hearts of fans, but Roger rolled on winning his serve and almost laconically piling up winners from every part. 4-1 to the Swiss great.
Rafa did not want to play lacky to the star of the show for any longer so asserted himself in games six and seven, playing tennis that was too good for everyone else even Roger at this point. 4-3 Federer but Nadal closing in.
Serve was held for the next four games, with most shots feeling they belonged in a match of this importance. At 5-6, a tiebreak appeared almost certain, but Nadal had to do the right thing first. Out of loyalty he did. 6-6.
In a tiebreak decided by mistakes rather than clean winners, it was Federer the more reliable, taking two points from the Nadal serve early, and able to surrender one of those towards the middle before winning it on his third set point seven points to five, Rafa hitting way out of court. Federer the vital first set 7-6.
Roger jumped all over the Nadal serve to give himself a set and break lead, but Rafa steeled himself to immediately turn the tables on Federer, playing an immaculate range of passing shots and forcing error to level 1-1.
Serves settled themselves back to normal for awhile and games were 3-2 to Nadal. The tennis, though was as inspiring as a paint drying championship, with lots of mistakes and little initiative. This couldn't last - one had to switch it up soon.
The one was Rafa and HOW! Breaking Roger with jaw dropping brilliance, the highlight a running forehand crosscourt winner past Roger's nose, with a backhand down the line to win the game coming in a close second - it too centimetres from Roger's none too happy countenance.
4-2 and a serve to follow. A pretty simple hold thanks to an error riddled return effort from Federer left it at 5-2 Nadal, just in time for the Australia Day fireworks, hopefully as exciting as the Nadal forehand.
The fireworks break did no favours for Federer - a double fault followed by a stunning backhand crosscourt winner conspired to ruin the Swiss service game and parcel up the second set for express post to the Nadal camp. 6-2. One set apiece.
Set three saw Federer survive a big scare, trailing 0-40 after two successive double faults - his mind appeared to have returned after its short vacation away from Rod Laver Arena, but there will be stern words within the camp over the poor performance of the remote Federer-body movement controller.
2-2 and the tennis began to resemble the kind which we had expected to be witness to for a much greater percentage of the time. But hell we have been spoilt over the years by these two.
Federer officially announced his return to the match with his break of the Nadal serve in the traditionally important seventh game. Could this short term gain be translated into a set win or could Nadal do one of his conjuring tricks and escape from the shackles?
A definitive affirmative to the latter. What were these two playing at, apart from rollercoaster tennis? 4-4 and serious time. About time for Federer to serve volley just a little more often - he risked being burnt at the baseline. A good group of serves from Roger, plus a point won at the net (following my advice) sent it to 5-5
Saving a set point, Federer forced the second tie break for the evening. Rafa tried to lose the tiebreak from six points to one but served it out 7 to 5 and now led 6-7 6-2 7-6. The point to go up five points to one was special, won with two successive backhands the first to set up Federer where he wanted him, the second to leave him there as he passed him down the line.
The fourth set went with serve all the way to 4-4 and the tennis did improve. Both players, especially Federer had to save break points, and Roger was amazing in the way he struck winners to stay ahead. However the ninth game spelt doom for the third seed as Rafa unleashed the special stuff again, and Roger could not hold back the floodgates one more time. The break came and Rafa served for the match. Roger saved one match point, created a number of break back chances, but finally Rafa was the winner in four sets in just under three and three quarter hours 6-7 6-2 7-6 6-4.
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