Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal set to clash

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will face each other again in Sunday's final of the Madrid Masters after both won their semis in the three sets.

Nadal overcame the loss of the first set to beat Nicolas Almagro 4-6 6-2 6-2, while his great rival overcame a David Ferrer fightback to win 7-5 3-6 6-3.

Nadal, who is now 14-0 on clay this season following his recent victories in Monte Carlo and Rome, moved to within one match of winning a record 18th Masters title with a battling success against his compatriot.

However, he needed to overcome a string of early errors to edge past the unseeded Almagro, eventually pulling through in two hours and 15 minutes.


The underdog had lost all five previous clashes with the second seed but capitalised on Nadal's slow start to move ahead 4-1, before saving two break points when serving for the set at 5-4.

But Nadal's groundstrokes started to find their range and with Almagro making 15 unforced errors in the second set alone, the world number three broke twice to level the match.

And the decider ended in similar fashion, Nadal breaking in the second game and easily holding his serve thereafter to book his place in the final.

"The way I was playing at the start was the way I had to play," said Almagro. "I'll have to keep working and maybe sooner or later I can manage to beat Rafa."

Roger Federer wins 4th Australian Open and hold No. 1 ranking

Australian Open champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams will maintain
their No. 1 rankings when new ATP and WTA rankings are released Monday.




Federer, who beat Britain's Andy Murray in the Australian Open men's final
in straight sets Sunday,collected his 4th Australian Open title with
a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11) win
at Rod Laver Arena that, apart from the tiebreaker, lacked the drama and raw
emotion of his five-set loss here last year to then No. 1-ranked Rafael Nadal.


Last year, Federer sobbed when Rod Laver presented the winners' trophy to Nadal,
having missed a chance to equal Pete Sampras' record 14 career majors.


This time, Murray was on the verge of tears, drawing deep breaths as he apologized
for failing to end a 74-year-old drought for British men at the Grand Slam tournaments.

"Firstly, congratulations Roger, his achievements in tennis are incredible,
to keep doing it year after year are pretty incredible," the 22-year-old Scot said.
"He was a lot better than me tonight.



"Hopefully, one time I can come back and win here," he added, his voice breaking.
"I got great support back home the last couple of weeks.
Sorry I couldn't do it for you tonight but ..."

Murray could barely finish his thank you, explaining:
"I can cry like Roger; it's just a shame I can't play like him."