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Melbourne, Australia ? Top-ranked Rafael Nadal outlasted fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-4 yesterday to reach the Australian Open final after the longest match in the tournament?s history.
The fans were riveted as the left-handed Davis Cup teammates went at each other for 5 hours and 14 minutes.
There were no arguments, no gamesmanship, just great shots, with the momentum shifting on a handful of key points.
The previous longest match at Melbourne Park came in 1991, when Boris Becker needed 5 hours and 11 minutes to beat Italian Omar Camporese, with the fifth set going 14-12.
Nadal earned the right to try to keep second-ranked Roger Federer from tying Pete Sampras? record of 14 major titles on Sunday. Federer advanced to his 18th Grand Slam final with a straight sets win over Andy Roddick on Thursday.
Women?s doubles
Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Grand Slam women?s doubles title with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and Japan?s Ai Sugiyama.
The Williams sisters, seeded 10th, were untroubled in the Australian Open final as they served out the first set in just 38 minutes under a closed roof on center court.
The temperature topped 45 Celsius (113F) in the late afternoon and the roof on Rod Laver Arena was closed when the tournament?s Extreme Heat Policy was put in effect.
The second set proved more difficult as the pairs exchanged breaks six times in nine games before the Williams? powerful returns and superior movement around the court proved the deciding factor.
?We played a great team today. They were very tough,? Venus said. ?At the end there I think we just maybe wanted it a little more.?
Serena Williams, who returns to center court Saturday for the singles final, dominated at the net as they broke Sugiyama?s serve to take a 4-3 lead, then sealed the championship by breaking Hantuchova.
?I think we complement each other on the court because we?re both extremely positive,? Venus said. ?We know, when the other one moves, what the other one needs to do to compensate for that or to add to it.?
The sisters, who won the doubles gold medal at last year?s Beijing Olympics, held up their rackets to celebrate the win before hugging each other on court.
?I?d like to thank Serena for being the best partner,? Venus Williams, 28, said. ?I wouldn?t want to play with anyone else. She?s amazing.?
The Williams sisters now have three Australian Open doubles titles, having previously won here in 2001 and 2003. Serena won the singles title in 2003, 2005 and 2007. AP
