BBC Sporttennis

Australian Open

Semi-final result:

R NADAL Spa v F VERDASCO Spa

6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

By Caroline Cheese

1419: That's it then. Time we found something else to occupy our minds before tomorrow's blockbuster. You can listen to Laura Robson's bid for a second Grand Slam junior title at 0200 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live. Then UK people, press your Red Button, log onto this website or switch on BBC 5 Live sports extra for coverage of the women's final between Serena Williams and Dinara Safina from 0830 GMT. It's been a pleasure. Thank you and goodnight.

1415: "I knew he was playing well. It was very tough. I didn't think I played so bad but he was so aggressive all the time, served unbelievable. I don't know about the final. It's going to be a little bit tough. Roger is going to have a little advantage with one day's rest and only three sets so he's for sure the favourite but I'm going to try my best to recover."
Rafael Nadal

1413: Roger v Rafa it is on Sunday, for the first time since the 2008 Wimbledon final. That was unquestionably the greatest match I have seen, but this match goes straight into the top 10.

1409: A deserved standing ovation for Fernando Verdasco as he trudges off Rod Laver Arena. He fell just five short of a century of winners today. Five hours and 14 minutes is the official match time. Rafa won 193 points to Verdasco's 192. It gets no closer than that.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 Verdasco
Gruelling, gruelling rally to start the game - one which takes this incredible encounter past the previous mark for the longest men's singles match at the Aussie Open. Nadal wins it as Verdasco's backhand flops into the net. A big return from Nadal forces the error before a double fault gives Nadal three match points. He can't come back from this surely... But Verdasco saves one with an effortless smash and then plucks a drive volley out of the air as he saves the second. The match ends on a sad note as Verdasco double-faults again, Nadal falling to his knees before jumping the net to hug a disconsolate Verdasco.

1402: "Total points won: Verdasco 190, Nadal 189. It will never end."
philosophicalarfster on 606
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Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 5-4 Verdasco
Time for Verdasco to get that adrenaline pumping again, throwing his body at some fearsome forehands, eventually drawing the error. But the 30-0 lead quickly evaporates as he throws in a couple of errors and Nadal survives the test. He is one game away from the final.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 4-4 Verdasco
Verdasco's drop volley attempt sits up invitingly for Nadal and he duly powers the forehand winner down the line. Verdasco slaps the net with a forehand that's another break point for Nadal... The 14th seed comes up with an unbelievable inside-out forehand winner which clips the sideline, but then follows it with a wild backhand. Nadal still can't take advantage though, a forehand floating disastrously over the baseline.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 4-3 Verdasco
Coming up to 1am in Melbourne and still no sign of a winner. No tie-break in the fifth set either. Easy for Nadal there.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 3-3 Verdasco
Rafa grimaces as he marches across the baseline after just going long. But you can't keep him down for long, the top seed battling back to 30-30. Verdasco chooses the worst possible moment to send down only his second double fault - but saves the break point with a brutal first serve.

1340: "This is getting to the point where you are kind of sad one of them has to lose. Amazing, amazing tennis."
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1339: "Nadal looks a bit more aggressive in this set. He seemed to drift off a bit in the fourth. He wasn't going for it as much as he had been."
BBC's John Lloyd

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 3-2 Verdasco
Rafa's coach Uncle Toni looks on with approval as Nadal races through that service game. No sign of either man blinking.

1337: "Just cancelled my 2pm meeting for this. C'mon Tabasco!"
Ross in Glasgow via text on 81111

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 2-2 Verdasco
Verdasco stands tall and holds for the loss of one point, ending it with his fastest serve of the night. I know what you're wondering. The longest men's singles match at the Australian Open? That's B Becker (Ger) bt O Camporese (Ita) - a marathon five hours and 11 minutes. We're on four hours and 40 minutes...

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 2-1 Verdasco
Another easy hold for Nadal as this match ticks towards the five-hour mark.

1328: "As much as I'd hoped to be watching Murray today, I'm glad I could come to work and watch the battle of Spain for most of my working day.Oops, is that the phone again? Never mind."
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Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 1-1 Verdasco
The crowd are still right behind Nando, roaring their approval as he correctly challenges a call on the baseline. But the 14th seed can't win the replayed point and then sees a Nadal forehand winner fizz crosscourt. That's 0-30 and though Verdasco gets back to 30-30, Nadal bounces a smash over his opponent's head to earn a break point. The world number one has his head in his hands as his forehand pass misses the line by millimetres, but then threads a backhand down the line - celebrating with a guttural roar. An 18th ace from Verdasco gets him out of trouble.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) 1-0 Verdasco
Nadal settles himself for a one-set shoot-out, holding to love. That was almost boring in comparison to the last few games.

1315: I can hardly believe what I am seeing. A pumped-up Fernando Verdasco has just played a near-perfect tie-break, celebrating by turning to his supporters and thumping his chest as he roars his delight.

1313: "This is a classic."
BBC analyst John Lloyd

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (1-7) Verdasco
Lordy. Incredible start as Nadal scrambles out wide and somehow returns a viciously angled forehand before Verdasco nails the winner into the corner behind Nadal. A massive cheer goes up as Verdasco's return forces Nadal to net. Verdasco's 85th winner of the match makes it 3-0 before another dazzling rally ends with a courageous drop volley from the 14th seed. Nadal nets a forehand - and a fifth set is beckoning. A forehand winner down the line later and they change ends with Verdasco leading 6-0. Un...bel...ievable. He tries an outrageous return winner on the first set point but makes no mistake on the second, hammering a first serve down the middle. Don't go anywhere.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-6 Verdasco
No question what the crowd want. They give the 14th seed a huge ovation as he jogs out to receive serve. Verdasco - who now appears to be chewing gum in a move which would never be allowed on the hallowed lawns of Wimbledon - makes two errors off the return before Nadal guides a forehand winner crosscourt. Tie-break number three it is.

1303: "This deserves five sets."
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Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 5-6 Verdasco
Verdasco choose this point to deliver his first double fault of the entire match - after more than four hours on court. No problem though. Successive aces take him to 40-15 and another massive first serve nudges him ahead. Monstrous effort from Verdasco this.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 5-5 Verdasco
Verdasco's skipping about the court now, having shrugged off the shin splints in a miraculous 10 minutes. He runs around gleefully as he forces Nadal to miss with a backhand. The top seed pummels a forehand right onto the baseline to get out of a bit of trouble at 30-30. Still no breaks.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 4-5 Verdasco
Incredible passage of play now, which the crowd are absolutely loving. Verdasco digs out an amazing sliced backhand drop shot and holds to love. He heads to his chair, thumping his chest, as well he might. Steely focus from the Madrileno. This is officially now the best match of the Australian Open 2009. As decided by me.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 4-4 Verdasco
Nadal delivers a second serve right into Verdasco's forehand - and sees the inevitable winner come flying past him. When will he ever learn? Well, he may not need to, because he's winning, but this could have been a much more comfortable evening for the world number one... A swinging ace down the middle takes Nadal to 40-30 and there follows the most ridiculous point I have seen in my entire life. Probably. Verdasco lashes away a short ball, but Rafa guesses the right way and somehow scrambles it back. Surely Verdasco will put this away... no, he won't, because Nadal again punts a fierce forehand back into court before whipping a forehand pass past a bemused Verdasco.

1246: "Re 1223: A scale model of the Rod Laver Arena hidden beneath a trick snooker table. Stroking his cat. Mine, all mine!"
Anon via text on 81111

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 3-4 Verdasco
It's a miracle! Verdasco is up and running again, moving beautifully to put away the smash. Let's just say the pain seems to be coming and going though, because he's looking accusingly at his left leg once again as he runs down a drop shot but puts it long. Verdasco holds to 15 though.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 3-3 Verdasco
This will infuriate Nadal. The umpire calls time, he is ready to serve but is left waiting for Verdasco. Just to rub it in, Verdasco begins the game with a ferocious return winner - but that's as good as it gets for Nando. The older Spaniard continues to hobble about and look anxiously at his support camp as Nadal wins the next four points.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 2-3 Verdasco
Despite the apparent injury, Verdasco rattles through his service game and returns to the chair for some more massage on that shin. The BBC's Chris Bailey diagnoses shin splints.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 2-2 Verdasco
Nadal finally begins to pepper the Verdasco backhand and it duly breaks down, giving the top seed a 30-0 lead. Verdasco does appear to be struggling physically now, hardly running for a Nadal backhand out wide. A hold to love.

1231: Verdasco has the trainer on at the changeover. A gentle rub to his left shin is all that's required, and he doesn't take any extra time.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 1-2 Verdasco
Ball boy removing bug from court is the Australian Open equivalent of "can you switch your mobile phones off?" at Wimbledon. Round of applause guaranteed every time. Nadal's turn to work the opening as he rips a forehand down the line, but Verdasco battles back to 40-30. A backhand into the net has the older Spaniard wiping his brow. Two deuces and he holds on.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 1-1 Verdasco
Verdasco has an opening at 30-30. He seizes on a forehand down the line but it rattles the net and Nadal holds.

1223: "Re 1202: Fed does have an evil genius quality. Can't you imagine him in an Alpine fortress drawing up blueprints and plotting revenge on Nadal?
Anon via text on 81111

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 0-1 Verdasco
Go on. Who thought Nadal was going to run away with it? Well, Verdasco's not going away just yet. He opens the fourth set with an easy hold thanks to some booming serves.

1220: "Verdasco looks like he's crumbling a bit mentally now. I think he'll need to find some more mental fortitude to stop Nadal from running away from this in the fourth set."
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1219: Nice bit of psychology from Nadal there, jogging back onto the court after his bathroom break as if he go another five sets.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-2) Verdasco
Like a moth to a flame, Nadal plays to Verdasco's forehand. On the first occasion, Nando hammers the winner but then overcooks one to give Rafa a mini-break. A couple more errors from the tiring Spaniard put Nadal 5-2 ahead before he sets up four set points with a sizzling winner. An ace down the T seals it and Nadal roars with delight.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-6 Verdasco
Strangely timid game from Rafa until he's down 40-0 and hammers a return onto Verdasco's toes. He gets back to 40-30 when Verdasco nets a backhand - but a booming ace means it's tie-break time... and you know what happened last time.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-5 Verdasco
Now it's Nadal's turn to turn the air blue as he is pegged back to 40-15. He's right back on track though with a vicious, angled forehand.

1202: "If Federer were an evil genius he'd be laughing manically by now."
Ant in Derby via text on 81111

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 5-5 Verdasco
Even with my scratchy Spanish, I recognise a naughty word when I hear one. Though Verdasco gets away with some fruity language, he is two points away from losing the set at 30-30 - but brings out two enormous serves.

1157: "Great breakbackability from Verdasco!"
Anon via text on 81111

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 5-4 Verdasco
Hmm. A routine hold, and I haven't used that phrase for a while. Three hours gone now, and even Nadal is reaching for the ice towel at the changeover.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 4-4 Verdasco
Good point, bad point from Verdasco, the Madrid man burying a smash before flinging a forehand over the baseline. A game point slips by when he can't get enough air on a backhand but he holds. Rafa must be wondering when this man is going to go away. Not any time soon I don't think.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 4-3 Verdasco
History repeating. Nadal errs to give Verdasco a break-back point. The top seed plonks a lame forehand into the mid-court and Verdasco does the rest. Federer has got to be loving this...

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 4-2 Verdasco
A million apologies for the technical problems everyone. We appear to be suffering from some kind of Marat Safin-style meltdown. Rafa gets out to 30-15 by somehow chasing down a drop shot and pinging it crosscourt. Great wheels from the world number one. He earns a break point after another brutal rally, Verdasco finishing it with a tired backhand into the bottom of the net. The 14th seed belts a forehand very, very long to give up the break. Can Nadal hang onto his own serve though?

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 3-2 Verdasco
Now it's Rafa's turn to struggle. He looks horrified with himself as he goes long with a forehand to give Verdasco a break point. Fernando can't make the return though and Nadal eventually edges ahead.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 2-2 Verdasco
Easy hold. Verdasco seems to have re-focused after the trials and tribulations over the opening couple of games.

1125: "Wowsers, I said Nando was wilting. Didn't see that coming. Well played young man."
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Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 2-1 Verdasco
Did I say turning point? Forget about it. Verdasco paints the line with a backhand to earn three break-back points. Nadal tries another curling forehand but this time it drops wide and it's as you were. Rafa is fuming. But that's a fantastic response by Verdasco.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 2-0 Verdasco
Another gruelling game, and it could be the turning point. Verdasco opens a 40-15 lead but is left scuffing the ground angrily as he is pegged back to deuce. He then slaps a backhand into the net and turns to his support camp to express his annoyance. He saves that break point but another forehand finds the net to give Rafa another. Verdasco survives, this time with a delicate, angled drop volley - and we haven't seen too many of those today. Back to deuce and Verdasco again stops a rally to ask HawkEye for help. HawkEye fails to oblige, but Nadal still can't take advantage of the break point - punching his racquet in dismay. A missed volley lets the world number one back in and Nadal produces another one of those magical, bending forehand passes. Got all that?

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-0 Verdasco
Or maybe Nadal will just run away with it. Verdasco's game continues to be peppered with unforced errors and a backhand clatters the net to give Nadal the opening game. Huge game coming up.

1101: Verdasco takes time out to go for a "comfort break". Not surprising. We've already gone past the two-hour mark. This could yet be the classic we've all been hanging out for...

1100: "WOW! That was point of the championship."
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Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 Verdasco
At 40-15 up, Verdasco almost destroys the net with a big forehand and then is caught in no-man's land by a Nadal return. Deuce. Incredible, incredible rally. Verdasco sends a curling backhand onto the sideline but Rafa responds with an astonishing forehand which bends from the tramlines and onto the line. Verdasco can only smile. He's not smiling now though. He overcooks a backhand and all of a sudden, we're one set all.

1055: "Caroline, my third text! I told everyone this would be a five-set thriller but you never printed me! The V-man has been underestimated!"
The 'V-man' via text on 81111
It's not a five-set thriller yet though is it?

1052: "Can Nadal break out of this? Or is he going to hang in there, grind it out and hope Verdasco burns out? I'd like to see him change something but he hasn't done so far."
Pat Cash on BBC 5 Live sports extra

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 5-4 Verdasco
Nadal has a steely look about him as he powers down a smash, but he delivers the first double fault of the day to get Verdasco back to 15-15. Rafa takes the next points with a couple of big serves but then lofts a strange-looking backhand over the baseline. Big serve comes to the rescue again.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 4-4 Verdasco
Epic, epic game - and one that's got to hurt Rafa. Having failed to win any points against serve so far, he rifles a forehand winner crosscourt to earn a break point. He punches the air with delight - but Verdasco brings out a deadly serve out wide. A backhand into the net gives Nadal a second bite of the cherry - but Verdasco sends a massive, massive, massive first serve down the middle, his fastest of the day. A mis-hit backhand from Verdasco follows and this time he can't find a first serve but Nadal leaves the return perilously short, and Verdasco dispatches the winner. Rafa earns a fourth chance with a sensational backhand pass but he mis-hits the return and breaks a string. A Sampras-style slam-dunk smash takes Verdasco to game point and against all the odds, a brave inside-out forehand gets him out of trouble.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 4-3 Verdasco
The world number one seems to be all over the shop. Off a short ball, he opts to play a drop shot - a poor one which Verdasco duly dispatches down the line. Rafa looks at the ground in disgust and he faces 0-30. Two fabulous serves get him back on track and an ace - which HawkEye shows is in by only a hair's-width - takes him to game point. That is what you call coolness under pressure.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 3-3 Verdasco
At the changeover, it looks like the umpire gives Rafa Nadal a warning for receiving coaching. Nadal then points at Verdasco, as if to suggest that he's not the only one. Hmm. Verdasco races into a 40-0 lead and then as Nadal waits for the serve out wide, he slams an ace down the middle. Rafa will not be pleased about that.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 3-2 Verdasco
Nadal is feeding off scraps here, pumping his first when Verdasco fires a forehand over the baseline when in control of the rally. Another wild forehand gives Nadal a 40-15 lead and the world number one comes through.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 2-2 Verdasco
They say these level out in the end... Verdasco's forehand smacks the top of the net and dribbles over on the first point. Signs of anxiety from Nadal as he first smacks his leg and then mutters to himself as he allows Verdasco to take a 40-0 lead. A perfectly-judged lob means Verdasco is yet to drop a point on serve in this set.

1020: "Nadal is struggling to read the Verdasco serve. He seems to be using a variety of serves the slider, the medium pacer out wide and the fast one down the middle and Nadal is giving him a lot of free points."
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Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 2-1 Verdasco
It's very much the calm after the storm. Verdasco holds Nadal up with a forehand return winner before the top seed goes long. But Nadal closes out in the end.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 1-1 Verdasco
Verdasco's serve out wide is called out and just as he goes to challenge, Nadal concedes the point. Two backhand winners in a row - one down the line, one crosscourt - see Verdasco hold to love.

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) 1-0 Verdasco
Two aces in a row allow Nadal to hold to love. A bit of calm settles on Rod Laver Arena after the incredible intensity of that first set.

1011: "Whatever the final result, Federer has got to be feeling optimistic - Nadal is showing his lack of hard-court expertise, Verdasco the level of unforced errors. Whoever wins this round, Federer seems on a different level this tournament."
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1009: The stats for the set - the first Rafa has lost in Melbourne - make for interesting reading. Verdasco has 25 winners to 20 errors. Rafa is eight and five. Nadal, who has been strangely tentative, has got a lot to think about...

Nadal 6-7 (4-7) Verdasco
Lovely start from Verdasco, powering a forehand into the corner and putting away the volley at the net. Rafa bangs down a big serve and is then pumping his fist as he feathers a brilliant drop volley just over the net. A wild backhand over the baseline from Verdasco gives Rafa the first mini-break. Verdasco stays in touch with an ace, and then breaks right back with some adept net play, punishing Nadal for again hitting too short. Nadal edges ahead with an angled backhand, but a clinical overhead from Verdasco makes it 4-4. A huge first serve from Verdasco forces Nadal to balloon his return over the baseline. Danger time for Rafa - and he gets a massive dose of misfortune, Verdasco's backhand rattling the net and dropping just over. Two set points. He only needs one, reaching a drop shot and then putting way the easy volley.

Nadal 6-6 Verdasco
Verdasco even looks a touch surprised himself as he flings himself at a backhand return down the line. Clean winner to open the game. At 30-15 down, Verdasco scrambles across the baseline and manages to flick a forehand onto the baseline. Rafa - the king of the counter-punchers - can do nothing with that. But Verdasco can't take advantage and an ace from Nadal takes us into the tie-break.

Nadal 5-6 Verdasco
Verdasco allows himself a smile after stopping mid-rally to challenge a call. HawkEye shows it is in - by a nanometre. It puts him in all sorts of trouble at 0-30 and he's soon facing a break point when he nets a big forehand. The Madrileno uncorks a big serve to save it but then errs on the forehand again. A wicked second serve out wide earns him the point and just as you think Rafa is about to stamp his authority on this match, Verdasco comes through.

Nadal 5-5 Verdasco
The BBC's very own John Lloyd is almost speechless as Verdasco wraps his racquet around a forehand and bends it onto the baseline. "That is just tremendous shotmaking," Lloyd eventually splutters. Another forehand - this time off the return - makes it 0-30. He has a chance to earn two break points but slaps an easy backhand into the net and though he is twice pegged back to deuce, Rafa hangs on.

Nadal 4-5 Verdasco
Big serve and the Nadal return floats long to allow Verdasco another easy hold. The older Spaniard still yet to face a break point and he almost struts back to the chair.

0935: "Nice to see someone come on the court and show that have the belief, at least to this point, that they can win against Nadal. Hopefully no choking if he gets the opportunity to! Rafa wins this set, it's all over though."
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Nadal 4-4 Verdasco
Verdasco feathers a lovely backhand volley into the space to make it 30-30. Nadal is in danger of falling into the same trap Andy Murray did, waiting for Verdasco to make mistakes that never come. Well, just as I type that, a mistake does come and it allows Nadal to serve out.

Nadal 3-4 Verdasco
This is warming up nicely. Verdasco holds to 15 and sits with an ice towel round his neck at the changeover. The Madrid man doesn't need it. He's been super cool so far.

Nadal 3-3 Verdasco
I wonder if Rafa is confused by playing a fellow lefty. He can't seem to keep away from Verdasco's forehand - by far the stronger side. As if to prove the point, Verdasco nets two backhands in a row to give Nadal a 40-15 lead as the world number one holds easily.

Nadal 2-3 Verdasco
Classic Rafa. Verdasco seems to be on his way to the chair as he races into a 40-0 lead. Nadal refuses to give in though. He pegs him back with a rasping backhand return and then Verdasco overcooks a forehand before being forced into a mis-hit. That's deuce, but Verdasco hangs on without facing a break point.

Nadal 2-2 Verdasco
Verdasco earns a break point, a brilliant defensive forehand almost shocking Nadal into the error. A barrage of bludgeoning groundstrokes allow him to take control of the point and Nadal is forced to put up a defensive lob - but with the court gaping, the 13th seed sends his smash over the baseline. Gasps of horror from the crowd. Massive let-off for Nadal.

Nadal 1-2 Verdasco
Verdasco flirts with the line on a crosscourt forehand - but kisses it - and that's 40-0. Another ace gets him a hold to love. Excellent start from the first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist.

Nadal 1-1 Verdasco
Nadal pummels a forehand onto the line to make it 40-0. Verdasco responds with a big forehand of his own, and a second one down the line makes it 40-30, but Nadal comes through. Encouraging signs for Verdasco though. Good news, chat fans, 606 has opened its doors...
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0900: "Fed has got his edge back. Nadal, your era was deserved but will soon be over."
Sancha from Surrey, via text on 81111

Nadal 0-1 Verdasco
Shaky first point from Verdasco but he's quickly up and running, winning a baseline rally to post a small early victory. At 30-30, Verdasco unleashes a big serve and puts away the short ball but then a backhand error lets Nadal back in. Verdasco rattles down an ace to take the game and give his confidence a big boost. News reached me that the girls' singles final - featuring Britain's new darling Laura Robson - is scheduled to begin at 0200 GMT tomorrow. One for the night owls then.

0852: We're ready to go. Rafa jogs back to the baseline ready receive the Verdasco serve.

0851: I thought I just saw a text with the words "bored of Federer-Nadal". Seriously? Are you kidding me? No offence Fernando, but a Federer-Nadal final would make my January/February.

0849: "Woohoo I'm on the net - hello Mum. Nadal in three."
Tony in Aberdeen via text on 81111

0848: "Has to be Nadal, wish it was Murray though..."
Martin in Dumfries, via text on 81111

0843: "Travelling to London on my way to work in these arctic conditions [not a whingeing Pom] waiting for the game to begin. I predict Verdasco to repeat the feat of Tsonga last year and blow Nadal away in four. Go Verdasco!"
Bob via text on 81111

0842: "This one should be wrapped up in three by Nadal. Players will have left the court in under two hours."
Jamie, Berks, via text on 81111

0841: "I've been up all night on shift as a doctor but I'm still staying up to watch Nadal hopefully squeeze past the pretender so Federer doesn't have it all his own way!"
Deepika in York, via text on 81111

0840: "Can you phone in sick for me so I can stay at home to watch it? Go on I'll buy you a beer!"
Mac via text on 81111
No, but I can offer you live streaming via this website (if you're a UK resident) instead.

0839: "If I was Fed I would be desperate for Nadal to lose."
Anon via text on 81111

0838: "Interesting match up due to improved serve of Verdasco but I think the 6-0 record in favour of Nadal makes this one-way traffic."
Jon, Stafford, via text on 81111

0837: Here they come. Verdasco is first to face a grilling from our tunnel interviewer: "I'm feeling so happy, the first time in semi-finals and beating good players. I'm enjoying the moment and I try to keep playing the same way." And then Rafa: "Today going to be very tough. Fernando is playing very well, he's coming with big confidence. I hope to play my best tennis."

0835: Some fans inside Rod Laver Arena hold up a banner reading "My darl Nadal". Anyone speak Australian?

0834: "Trying to get out of work to watch it, hopefully be good game! Come on Tabasco!"
James, via text on 81111

0832: You guys... I'm being overwhelmed by texts now. I'm going to try to get through them all...

0831: Verdasco has a shocking record against fellow Spaniard Nadal, losing all six of their previous meetings. That includes a rather humiliating 6-1 6-0 6-2 thrashing at the French Open last year. Still, Verdasco had a terrible record against Andy Murray until five days ago...

0826: I never break a promise, so here's Huw in Bridgend: "Verdasco in four sets - mark my words!"

0824: Not a single text so far, which means that if you do decide to get in touch via 81111 you're almost certain to be published. Unless you swear.

0820: Despite the so-called heatwave, the lid is off Rod Laver Arena for tonight's semi-final. The stadium is almost completely in shade, save for a small square of sunlight at the top. There are - or at least there were until recently - still tickets remaining for tonight's match...

0815: Is it me or are the Australians giving the Brits a run for their money with their obsession with the weather. It's a bit hot. We get it. Britain is currently suffering the coldest winter for 13 years. Do you hear us complaining? Er, yes, you probably do actually. Brrrr.
UK cold snap brings winter backSouthern Australia feels the heat

0811: Our Robbo will face Russian third seed Ksenia Pervak in the final on Saturday (not sure what time, trying to find out). Pervak is 17, two years older than Robson, and tried to qualify for the women's draw in Melbourne. She lost to 38-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm, who is literally old enough to be her mum.

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