Australian Open: Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal - As it happened...

Adrenaline rush would be on an all-time high, as 17-time Major champion Roger Federer takes on World No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the second semi-final of Australian Open 2014.

==================================================================================== Zee Media Bureau/Suyash Srivastava

Melbourne: The much-anticipated clash between 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal proved to be a one-sided affair as the World No. 1 ousted the Swiss in straight sets 7-6 6-3 6-3 in the second semi-final of Australian Open at the Rod Laver Arena to book his berth for the final against Stanislas Wawrinka. MATCH REPORT» READ: Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal: Tennis can’t get any better» ALSO SEE: Our special page on Australian Open 2014» ==================================================================================== THIRD SET: Nadal wins it 6-3 Federer to serve. The Swiss wins the first point, 15-0. Nadal wins the second with an amazing down the line forehand winner, 15-15. Federer serves a quick much-needed ace, 30-15. Federer once again came to the nets for the volley after serving, Rafa slapped that for cross-court, challenged by Federer and it was in, 40-15. Rafa wins a point with an amazing shot that just landed on the line, 40-30. Federer once again tried to come and dominate from the nets, but Rafa played an amazing forehand winner, 40-40, deuce. Rafa takes the advantage as Federer's shot goes long. That gives Rafael Nadal his first match point! Federer saves it with a powerful forehand, 40-40, deuce again. Rafa once again slaps a forehand winner past Federer, who once again came the nets, only to see the ball rush past him, second match-point for Rafa! And on this occasion, a forehand from Federer goes long and Rafael Nadal has won the match in straight sets! What a player! THIRD SET: Nadal leads 5-3 Nadal to serve. Rafa wins the first point, 15-0. Good return of serve from Federer, Nadal had no chance there, 15-15. Nadal takes the lead with a good forehand winner, 30-15. Federer plays that spot one one-handed cross-court backhand for a winner, 30-30. On this occasion, Federer's one-handed backhand hits the net, 40-30. Federer once again comes to the net and smashes a volley, once again, into the nets. Rafa wins the game and Federer to serve to stay in the match. What an amazing set we have had so far. Both these greats attacking each other's serve. While it is a must-win set for Federer, Nadal currently is on the driver's seat as the Swiss continues to make plenty of unforced errors! THIRD SET: Nadal leads 4-3 Federer to serve. The Swiss starts off with a serve, 15-0. Federer came to the nets once again, hit it towards Rafa's forehand and the Sapniard slapped a winner past Federer, 15-15. Federer bounces back with a powerful forehand winner, 30-15. Federer hits a down the line forehand wide, 30-30. Federer comes to the nets and hits a backhand once again into the net, 30-40. break poimt for Nadal. And Nadal has once again broken the serve, as a Federer forehand clipped the nets and landed long! THIRD SET: Scores level 3-3 Nadal to serve. Rafa wins the first point, 15-0. Federer's forehand once again finds the net, 30-0 lead for Rafa. This time Federer tries a down the line forehand which once again hits the net, 40-0. Easy service game from Rafa. THIRD SET: Federer leads 3-2 Federer to serve. Federer wins a point off a drop shot from a volley, 15-0. Good forehand from Rafa, sent Federer to his right and he missed it, 15-15. Federer misses out on another easy forehand which he plays long, 15-30. Federer's forehand once again goes long and once again, Rafa has two break points! Federer saves the first one with a good wide serve, 30-40. Federer saves the second break point as well with another good serve, challenged by Rafa and it was long! Second serve from Federer and he brings it back to deuce with a good serve, 40-40, deuce. Federer serves and goes for the volley, hits a winner and takes the advantage in the game. Federer holds on as Rafa's return goes long. THIRD SET: Scores level 2-2 Nadal to serve. Federer wins the first point, 0-15. Good wide serve from Nadal and Federer's return hits the net, 15-15. Nadal's slice went wide as he was looking to come at the nets, 15-30. Rafa's forehand goes wide and for the first time in the match, Federer has a break point, two of them! Federer's deep return of serve was called wide and he challenged it, but it was wide. One break point saved by Rafa. And this time Federer has broken Rafa's serve for the first time in the match as Rafa's shot went wide. The crowd likes that, so does Federer. THIRD SET: Nadal leads 2-1 Federer to serve. Federer once again came to the nets after serving but Rafa came up with a deep powerful return and Federer couldnt do much about that, 0-15. Federer wins a point with forehand winner, 15-15. Federer's shot goes wide, 15-30. Federer goes for a cross-court forehand, it clips the nets and goes wide, 15-40. Two break points for Rafa! And Nadal breaks Federer's serve in the early part of this third set as Federer once again went for the volley winner and hit it into the nets. Federer is looking under serious pressure at the moment. THIRD SET: Scores level 1-1 Nadal to serve. Federer's return of serve goes long, 15-0. Federer charged down once again and slaps a forehand winner, 15-15. Good cross-court backhand from Federer, after which the Swiss came to the nets and missed out on an easy volley winner which hit the nets, 30-15. Federer looked annoyed with himself there. Good serve from Rafa, 40-15 lead. Federer hits another backhand into the net as Rafa wins the game. Federer is still to get a break point against Rafa in this match. THIRD SET: Federer leads 1-0 Federer to serve. Federer wins the first point, 15-0. Federer once again serves and goes for the volley, wins the point with a volley winner, 30-0. Good serve from Federer, 40-0. Easy game for Federer so far. Federer wins the game with four straight points. ==================================================================================== SECOND SET: Nadal wins it 6-3 Nadal to serve for the set. Superb rally between the two and after playing a lot of shots with top spin, one of Rafa's forehand went long, 0-15. Must win game for Federer this. Another forehand from Nadal goes way too long, 0-30 lead for Federer. Big chance for the Swiss! Another superb rally between the two, and after playing a series of superb strokes, Federer hits one forehand into the nets, 15-30. Rafa replied to a good one-handed backhand from Federer with an even better down the line forehand winner, 30-30. Both the players have been at their best in this game. Federer's forehand crashes into the nets, 40-30, and now Nadal has a set point! Federer's backhand hits the nets and Nadal now has a 2-set lead! SECOND SET: Nadal leads 5-3 Federer to serve to stay in the set. He wins the first point from the nets, 15-0. Federer wins another point with a wide serve and follows it with a forehand winner, 30-0. Federer wins another point as Rafa's forehand finds the net, 40-0. Federer wins the game with another ace. SECOND SET: Nadal leads 5-2 Nadal to serve. Rafa wins the first point as Federer's shot finds the net, 15-0. Good wide serve from Nadal, 30-0. Double-fault from Nadal, his first of the match, 15-15. Rafa wins a point, 30-15. Rafa hits another powerful forehand and Federer's return hits the net, 40-15. Federer's return of serve goes wide, Nadal wins the game and is just one game away from taking a 2-set lead. SECOND SET: Nadal leads 4-2 Federer to serve. Federer serves wide and then hits one down the line forehand wide, 0-15. Federer hits another shot wide, challenged by Federer but it's wide, 0-30. Federer goes for his volley winner again after the serve and gets it, 15-30. Federer once again came to the nets again and misses it on this occasion, 15-30. Two more breakpoint for Nadal. Federer saves the first one, 30-40. One break point remaining for Nadal. And Nadal finally hits a forehand winner, BREAK's FEDERER'S SERVE to take a 4-2 lead. SECOND SET: Nadal leads 3-2 Nadal to serve. Rafa wins the first point, 15-0. Federer once again hit one from Rafa well wide, 30-0. Rafa hits another magnificent two-handed cross court backhand winner to take a 40-0 lead in the game. Rafa wins the game with his second ace of the match. SECOND SET: Scores level 2-2 Federer to serve. Federer once again came to the nets and this time Rafa slapped a two-handed backhand for a winner, 0-15. Federer's shot goes long, 0-30 lead for Rafa. This time Rafa wanted to hit one down the line winner, but ended up hitting wide, 15-30. Good off-forehand from Federer, Nadal couldn't connect, 30-30. Another good rally, good defense from Nadal and Roger finally hits one into the nets, break point for Rafa! Good serve from Federer, 40-40, deuce. Rafa forces Federer to go to his right-corner of the court and then smashes one down the line winner, advantage Nadal. Second break point of the game for Rafa! Federer saves another break point with a forehand and comes to the net, waits and slaps one winner to take the advantage. Federer once again came to the nets, but Rafa slapped another winner past Federer, to take advantage and get another break point. Federer slaps another forehand winner to bring the game back to deuce. Federer serves an ace to take the advantage. Federer once again comes to the net and Rafa hits a forehand winner past him, 40-40, deuce again. Rafa gets his fourth break point of the game! Good forehand from Federer once again and he takes the advantage. Federer's cross-court forehand was called wide, it was challenged by Federer and it was in which gave Federer the game! SECOND SET: Nadal leads 2-1 Nadal to serve. Incredible off-forehand from Nadal wins him the first point, 15-0. Another point for Rafa, 30-0. Roger's return of serve goes wide, 40-0. Rafa wins the game convincingly. SECOND SET: Scores level 1-1 Federer to serve. Federer wins the first point with a powerful forehand, 15-0. Good rally once again between the two and Rafa hits one quite long, 30-0. Amazing cross-court backhand from Rafa wins him a point, 30-15. Rafa hits a forehand way high and long, 40-15. Federer once again came to the nets, Rafa returned and Federer hit a drop shot for a volley winner. Game for Federer. Rafa's physio has been called on the court and Rafa's is receiving some treatment on the blister of his left hand. Nadal has been given the medical timeout. SECOND SET: Nadal leads 1-0 Nadal to serve. Federer once again hits a forehand and advanced to the nets, Rafa hit a backhand into the nets, 0-15. After a good rally, and having covered good amount of the court, Federer hits a cross-court backhand way wide, 15-15. Good serve into the body of Federer, and the Swiss hits it long, 30-15. Good forehand from Federer once again, Nadal stretches to his left and hits one wide, 30-30. After dominating yet another rally, Federer once again came to the nets and then hit a volley straight into the net, 40-30 lead for Nadal. Nadal plays some incredible forehand and then drops one short and Federer didn't even go for it. ==================================================================================== TIEBREAKER: Nadal wins it 7-4 Federer to serve. Federer tries a cross-court flat backhand, but his shot clipped the nets and landed wide, 1-0. Nadal to serve. Rafa's two-handed forehand goes wide, 1-1. Nadal to serve. Federer's backhand goes slightly wide, 2-1 lead for Rafa. Federer once again came to the net, but hit a volley straight into the net, 3-1 lead for Nadal! Federer to serve. Rafa wins another point, Federer had to stretch to his right and his return once again hit the net, 4-1 lead for Nadal! Nadal to serve. Federer's cross court hits the net once again, 5-1 lead for Nadal. Change of ends for both the players after six points. Federer has been out of form in the entire tiebreaker. Nadal showing tremendous fightback. Nadal to serve with 5-1 lead. Nadal misses a forehand on this occasion, 5-2. Federer to serve at 2-5. Federer once again comes to the net after playing a drop shot, and hits Rafa's return for a volley winner. Rafa was amazing there while covering the court. Federer to continue serving. Good serve from Federer, Rafa's return goes way long, 5-4. Rafa to serve now. Good forehand from Nadal, that gives Nadal TWO SET POINTS with a 6-4 lead! Federer's down the line goes just long and Nadal wins the first set! Federer dominated through most part of the first set but wasn't at his best in the tiebreaker. Nadal was brilliant! FIRST SET: Scores level 6-6 Nadal once again to serve, to stay in the set. RALLY OF THE MATCH – 33 shots between the two players and Federer's backhand crashes into the nets, 15-0! Rafa once again forces Federer to make an error as he once again finds the nets, 30-0. Federer's forehand goes long, 40-0. Three game points for Nadal. Federer wins a point, 40-15. Federer advances to the nets and forces Rafa to make another nets, 40-30. Nadal wins the game as Federer's return of serve goes long. TIEBREAKER! FIRST SET: Federer leads 6-5 Federer to serve. Federer won the first point which was called long, Rafa challenged it but it was long, 15-0. Federer played a drop shot and dropped Rafa's return for a volley winner, 30-0. Rafa's forehand goes way long, 40-0. Federer's forehand off the bounce goes way wide, 40-15. Federer serves another ace to win the game. FIRST SET: Scores level 5-5 Nadal to serve to stay in the set. Rafa wins the first point as Federer's return of serve is just long, 15-0. Federer's return of serve once again goes long, 30-0. Rafa's slice shot crashes into the nets, 30-15. Nadal's forehand goes long, 30-30. Federer's forehand goes long, 40-30, game point for Nadal. Federer is making too many unforced errors today. Nadal seals the game with a wide ace serve! FIRST SET: Federer leads 5-4 Federer to serve. Rafa's return of serve goes wide, 15-0. Double-fault from Federer, his first of the match, 15-15. Rafa makes Federer play three shots off the bounce and the Swiss hits the third one into the nets, 15-30. Federer serves a quick ace, 30-30. Nadal gets a break point as he makes Federer return off the bounce again and he hits it into the nets, 30-40! This time Federer makes Rafa run to his right and his return goes long, 40-40, deuce! Rafa's two-hander backhand goes long, Federer takes the advantage! Federer wins the game after Rafa's shot sails long. FIRST SET: Scores level 4-4 Nadal to serve. Rafa wins the first point, 15-0 he leads. Federer's shot went wide, 30-0. Nadal's shot goes wide, 30-15. Rafa wins another point, 40-15 lead he takes. Brilliant return from Federer who caught Rafa on the wrong foot, 40-30. Terrific tennis once again between the two, superb rally and Nadal wins the point and the game! FIRST SET: Federer leads 4-3 Federer to serve. Good return from Rafa and Federer's forehand off the bounce hits the nets, 0-15. Federer wins a point as Rafa hits one long after he was had to stretch to his left, 15-15. Superb cross-court return from Rafa, 15-30. Another amazing forehand winner down the line from Rafa, and Rafa gets one break point, 30-40. Federer wins another point, 40-40, deuce! Federer wins another point and takes the advantage. Federer wins the game. FIRST SET: Federer leads 3-2 Federer to serve. Federer wins the first point, 15-0. Federer makes Rafa stretch to his left and Rafa's backhand finds the net, 30-0. Rafa's return of serve hits the net, 40-0. Rafa tries to dominate the serve, hits a forehand wide, game for Federer! FIRST SET: Scores level 2-2 Nadal to serve. Federer once again comes to the nets, shows amazing control and wins the point, 0-15. Rafa this times tries to come at the nets, Federer smashes a return that hits Rafa's racket and goes way wide, 0-30. Federer once again comes to the nets, but this time Rafa delivers a backhand winner past him, 30-15. Rafa wins another point, 30-30. Federer's forehand crashed into the nets, 40-30. Good comeback from Rafa from 0-30. Superb return of serve from Federer, Rafa had no clue there! 40-40, deuce! Federer tries a cross-court backhand off the bounce and hits wide, Rafa takes the advantage. Rafa comes to the net and hits a volley winner, Rafa wins the game! FIRST SET: Federer leads 2-1 Federer to serve. Good cross-court forehand from Federer, Nadal's return lands long, 15-0. Federer wins another point, 30-0. Rafa wins a point, 30-15. Good wide serve from Federer, the Swiss wins another point, 30-15. Federer comes for the volley against, but it was a quick return from Rafa and Federer's shot went out, 30-30. Good forehand from Federer, 40-30. Federer once again dominated at the nets, wins the game with a drop shot winner. FIRST SET: Scores level 1-1 Nadal to serve. Good serve from Rafa, Federer's return is just long, 15-0. Federer tried to attack with a cross-court backhand, but found the nets, 15-15. Good serve from Rafa and Federer's return of serve goes long again, 40-0. Another of Federer's backhand hits the nets, Nadal holds his service game. FIRST SET: Federer leads 1-0 Federer to serve. Federer wins the first point as Nadal's shot goes long, 15-0. Another point for the Swiss, 30-0. Good serve from Federer as Nadal's return goes wide, 40-0. Good return of serve from Nadal, as Federer advanced for the volley, 40-15. Federer seals the first game as Nadal's return goes long. ==================================================================================== While Roger Federer is seeking his 18th Grand Slam title, Rafa is also seeking to become the only man to have won all the four Grand Slams at least twice. It is a much-awaited day for the tennis fans, as the Swiss and the Spaniard are up against each other after quite some time. Of late, tennis has witnessed new rivalries – Nadal vs Djokovic, Djokovic v Murray, Djokovic vs Wawrinka, but there is nothing like a Nadal vs Federer rivalry. Roger Federer has played some incredible tennis right through the tournament, where he first defeated Jo Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth-round match and then demolished Britain`s No. 1 Andy Murray in their quarter-final outing. Rafael Nadal on the other hand was seen struggling in his quarterfinal match, as a result of a blister on his palm which he said affected his serve against Grigor Dimitrov, who gave a tough fight to the Spaniard before being knocked out.