Gritty Nadal sets up Federer clash

Rafael Nadal will renew his Grand Slam rivalry with Roger Federer in the semifinals of the Australian Open after the second seed recovered from a set down to defeat Czech world number seven Tomas Berdych. It will be the 27th match between the Swiss maestro and the Spanish matador and the first time since Roland Garros in 2005 that the pair will face each other across the net in the last four of a major.

Since that Paris afternoon, when Nadal recorded his first significant victory over Federer, both players had been ranked either one or two - until the Swiss slipped to three in July 2010 - which prevented their paths crossing until the final of Grand Slam events. In their last meeting at a major, last year's Roland Garros final, Nadal was world number one and Federer world number three. The Spaniard lost the top spot to Novak Djokovic along with his Wimbledon title a month later.

"All matches against him are special and will be special even if we are 20 against 25 [in the ranking]," said Nadal after his 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Berdych. "We know each other very well. I know he will play aggressively against me as he did in the Masters in London [a 6-3, 6-0 victory for Federer]. I have to be quicker in the legs, much more aggressive and play with more intensity. My only chance is to go toe-to-toe with him."

Federer, who has not dropped a set on his way to his ninth consecutive semifinal, crushed Juan Martín del Potro 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals and was also relishing another match against Nadal before the result was known.

"Obviously I would like to play Rafa because of the epic game we had here in the final a few years ago. I would like to have the chance to play him here again," said the Swiss, whose last-eight victory was his 1,000th career match. "I'm really happy with my tennis. I'm moving well, serving well, hitting cleanly. Against Del Potro, on a really hot day with fast conditions, I was able to control the ball. From now it will be night games and it will be even easier to feel the ball better. It will be a more athletic and tougher game, but I am ready."

In the 2009 final, a five-set rollercoaster with 13 breaks of serve that lasted more than four hours, Nadal triumphed 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. That was his ninth Grand Slam title. Federer's most recent, his 16th overall, also came at Melbourne Park, in 2010.

The winner of the match between Nadal and Federer will meet one of four players in the top half of the draw still to resolve their quarterfinal matches. Andy Murray plays Kei Nishikori in the final match of the day session before David Ferrer and defending champion Djokovic square off in the evening session. Ferrer, the fifth seed, reached the last four in Melbourne last year, defeating Nadal in the quarters.

In a case of art imitating life, the humble Ferrer's progress to the quarters has been quite unassuming. The world number five hadn't been scheduled on a show court until this stage with the focus fully aimed at the top four players and Australians Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic, who both reached the second week. Djokovic, though, recognizes Ferrer as a tough opponent.

"In my eyes David Ferrer and every player, especially the ones from the top, are great competitors and I have lots of respect towards them," said the world number one. "I think sometimes they're under-rated. Especially Ferrer, who has been so consistent and a top-five player for a long time."

"He's the number one and better than me in all aspects," said a typically self-deprecating Ferrer. "I'll have to give my best to have a chance of beating him."