Claycourt maestro Rafael Nadal shrugged off a knee problem and saved three match points to beat Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in a dramatic semi-final at the Madrid Open on Saturday.
The world No. 1 was a whisker away from his fifth defeat in 154 matches on his favorite surface since the beginning of 2005, but rallied superbly to set up a final against Roger Federer.
At almost four hours, three minutes it was the longest three-set match in a Masters Series event and it thrilled the Spaniard’s partisan home crowd at the new Magic Box stadium.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Federer’s clash with Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro failed to touch the same heights later, with the second seed coasting to a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Nadal, 22, and Djokovic, 21, were meeting for the 18th occasion and the third time in five weeks after the Spaniard beat the Serb in the final in Monte Carlo and Rome.
Djokovic was in inspired form in the first set and Nadal appeared to be hampered by his right knee, committing more errors than usual and dropping his serve in the second game with a double fault.
The Serb confidently held his serve to take the first set and, after fighting off a break point and holding for 2-1 in the second, Nadal had the knee heavily strapped.
Djokovic failed with two chances to break serve in the ninth game and missed another in the 11th before Nadal took the tiebreak 7-5 on his third set point.
The world No. 1 was in trouble at 3-1 down in the decider, but broke back and it was Djokovic’s turn to call for treatment for what looked like a leg cramp.
In a deciding tiebreak, Nadal produced some stunning shots to save the three match points and converted his second when Djokovic netted a weak forehand.
A shattered-looking Djokovic could not hide his agony.
“I’m very disappointed I can play this well and still not win a match,” he said. “I don’t think you need my comments. You could see everything. A couple of points decided the winner.”
Nadal said he struggled with his knee but an anti-inflammatory and some hot cream under the strapping helped.
“I love these matches,” he said. “It’s really special to play with the atmosphere here and fighting all the time. You have to play very, very well to beat Djokovic in that situation and that’s what I was doing at the end.”
Nadal is bidding to become the first player to win all three claycourt Masters events in the same year.
He has a 13-6 winning record against Federer and has won their last five encounters, most recently two epic five-setters in the final at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
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