Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal on Friday came out with a spirited performance to overcome Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria to enter the finals of the Australian Open.
Nadal defeated Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 in a hard-fought semifinal contest that lasted for almost five hours here at the Rod Laver Arena.
Today's victory over Dimitrov was Nadal's eighth in nine career meetings with the Bulgarian.
Nadal, the 2009 Melbourne Park champion, will play Swiss legend Roger Federer in a Grand Slam final for the ninth time on Sunday, after the 17-time Grand Slam champion beat 2014 Melbourne Park victor Stan Wawrinka in five sets on Thursday night.
If going by the recent past, Nadal, who leads Federer 23-11 in their head-to-head rivalry, and has won their past three meetings in Melbourne, at the semifinal stage in 2012 and 2014, and in the 2009 final, holds the upper hand going into the summit clash.
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