Roles reversed as Nadal downs Federer on superior shotmaking

Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in four sets to advance to the Aussie Open final and improve to 18-9 against his longtime rival.

AP

2012 Australian Open

Day 14

• WERTHEIM: Fifty parting thoughts
• WERTHEIM: Aussie final for the ages
• NGUYEN: Djokovic finds another gear
• Go Figure: Epic men's final by the numbers
• Djokovic outlasts Nadal in five-set thriller

Day 13

• NGUYEN: Can Nadal solve Djokovic?
• WERTHEIM: Azarenka breaks through
• Azarenka routs Sharapova for first major
• NGUYEN: Game-by-game analysis
• Bryan brothers beaten in doubles final

SI Photos

Men's Champions	Women's Champions
Federer vs. Nadal	Australian Open Fashion

Previous Coverage

Day 12 WERTHEIM: Another Big Four classic Djokovic survives Murray to reach final NGUYEN: Game-by-game analysis Kuznetsova, Zvonareva win doubles VIDEO: Men's final preview VIDEO: Women's final preview - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 11 WERTHEIM: Different script, familiar result NGUYEN: Federer-Nadal game-by-game Nadal downs Federer again to reach final WERTHEIM: Thoughts on women's semis Sharapova, Azarenka advance to final - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 10 WERTHEIM: Big 4 dominance; mailbag WERTHEIM: New rivalry wrinkle (video) NGUYEN: Women's semifinal preview Djokovic tops Ferrer to complete semis Sharapova sets up rematch with Kvitova Back-to-back runner-up Murray advances No. 2 Kvitova rolls over Errani into semis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 9 WERTHEIM: Vintage Federer; mailbag NGUYEN: Clijsters rises, Wozniacki falls NGUYEN: Nadal survives Berdych PHOTOS: Best Aussie Open wackiness Federer rolls Del Potro, gets Nadal next Clijsters ends Wozniacki's reign at No. 1 Azarenka comes back to beat Radwanska - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 8 WERTHEIM: Serena no longer dominant Serena upset by Makarova in 4th round WERTHEIM: Berdych's classless act, mail Day 8: Sharapova survives Djokovic sends Hewitt packing Tsonga crashes out to Nishikori

Kvitova ousts Ivanovic to reach quarters

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 7 WERTHEIM: Aussie Open Midterm Grades WERTHEIM: Admiring Hewitt, Clijsters Clijsters saves 4 match points to stun Li NGUYEN: Kim escapes, Berdych booed - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 6 NGUYEN: Monfils falls, Hewitt surprises Serena, Djokovic, Sharapova advance Nalbandian to appeal water-throwing fine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 5 NGUYEN: Tomic's variety, Day 5 recap NGUYEN: Top 10 fashion hits NGUYEN: Top 10 fashion misses VIDEO: Federer's amazing lob shot Federer, Nadal move into Round of 16 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 4 WERTHEIM: Roddick's exit sadly fitting NGUYEN: Williams' milestone; Day 4 recap VIDEO: Sharapova coasts by Hampton Serena, Djokovic cruise in Melbourne - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 3 WERTHEIM: Wozniacki worthy of No. 1 NGUYEN: Day 3 Recap: Fish's ugly exit VIDEO: Baghdatis smashes four rackets NGUYEN: Isner-Nalbandian controversy Fish out; Federer, Nadal, Clijsters advance New ATP head sympathizes with players - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 2 WERTHEIM: Sharapova thumps Dulko JENKINS: Best, worst of TV coverage NGUYEN: Roundup of Day 2 happenings Djokovic, Serena cruise into Round 2 Stosur bows out early; Kvitova advances Roddick rolls over Haase into Round 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Day 1 WERTHEIM: Federer-Nadal rift, more mail NGUYEN: Roundup of Day 1 happenings Young Tomic edges Verdasco in five sets Day 1 recap: Nadal, Federer roll in openers NGUYEN: Highlights from Melbourne- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Preview Roundtable: Predictions and analysis Wertheim: Australian Open men's seed report Wertheim: Australian Open women's seed report The Toss: Contenders outside the Big Three? Australian Open TV schedule Nguyen: Under-the-radar players to watch - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

MELBOURNE, Australia -- As Roger Federer made his way through the intestines of Rod Laver Arena on the way to the court, he did not roll his head like a pre-fight boxer or perform kangaroo hops. When he arrived at his chair, he did not meticulously line up his water bottles or futz with his headband. And, just before the start of the warmup with his opponent, he did not sprint to the baseline like a T-shirt shot from a cannon, racket gripped firmly in his left hand.

Likewise, as Rafael Nadal made his way out to his Australian Open semifinal on Thursday night, he did not emerge from the tunnel saluting the crowd, smiling at his wife, Mirka, or gently tapping the strings of the Wilson racket in his right hand.

Confused? You should be, so great was the role reversal in Federer-Nadal XXVII -- yes, the occasions are sufficiently epic to warrant busting out Roman numerals -- once the match started.

In the previous meetings, the two have performed their assigned roles, one of many reasons this is such a special rivalry, the best in sports. Federer would do his thing, pulling off shots that no other player would even conceive, much less execute. Nadal, meanwhile, would persist and resist, relying on his relentless defense and superior mental strength. It was almost a form of class warfare, the Lord against the artisan. One would win out, usually by the smallest of margins.

So what happened in Nadal's 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory Thursday? Federer came out with an early bit of mental warfare, Nadal-style, opting not to serve or receive but to play on the near side of the court. O-Kay... Federer then struck first -- so often Nadal's M.O. -- racing to a 3-0 lead with aggressive play. Nadal rallied. But it was less with his characteristic grinding than with real brilliance, a series of preposterous shots worthy of the Federer compendium. In a tiebreaker, Federer showed superior poise, marrying bold and audacious play with accuracy, to nail the first set.

In the second set, Nadal again brought the brilliance. One winner in particular demands its own paragraph. At 3-2 in the second set, Federer hit a shot to the corner that was angling into courtside signage. Nadal caught up with the ball and, on the dead run, uncorked a forehand. He didn't slap the ball around the post, a difficult but plausible shot. He hooked it crosscourt around Federer, who had taken to the net. This is as fine a piece of shotmaking as you'll ever see -- particularly given the weight of the occasion -- something to rival anything Federer has pulled off in his deep highlight reel.

And the hits kept coming. Nadal won the second set with backhand passes up the line. With half-volleys off his Nikes. With drop shots that peeked over the net like Kilroy and then died. (Nadal even got mad at Hawk-Eye, normally Federer's bugaboo.)

What kept Federer in the match? His defense and his scrambling. Time and again he won points with rally-prolonging gets worthy of Nadal. In a third-set tiebreaker, he kept the Nadal impersonation going. He scrambled, tried to neutralize his opponent's power and picked his spots. He missed shots, but it wasn't for lack of aggression. And he fought like hell. Down 6-1, facing five set points, Federer rallied and won four straight, sowing seeds of doubt -- usually Nadal's forte. Nadal finally closed it out, but he had to work for it.

The fourth set was more of the same, Nadal dictating play, serving aggressively and pulling off a welter of oh-no-he-didn't-just-do-that winners. On the other side of the net, Federer picked his spots but again often won points by grinding. After breaking Federer with still more slick shotmaking, Nadal served for the match. Like a certain tenacious Spaniard, Federer did not make it easy, staving off two match points, making Nadal win it.

Which he did. After Nadal fell to court as if he'd won a final, he was interviewed about the result. He spoke glowingly of his opponent. "Roger is the best of all time," Nadal said. But then, channeling his inner-Federer, he remembered where he was, who was on hand and gracefully added, "Him and great Rod Laver." The crowd cheered as loudly as it had throughout the match.

Beyond the Trading Places routine, there were other dimensions that distinguished this clash from others. ATP politics have done what Grand Slam finals could not, creating a rift between the two -- one I'm told is hardly resolved, despite their public statements to the contrary. While there was nothing but sportsmanship and fair play on the court, there was also a palpable absence of the usual organic warmth. (If there was ever eye contact between the two throughout the match, I didn't see it.)

More important, for the first time in nearly seven years, Federer and Nadal played a Grand Slam match without the trophy on the line. This was only a semifinal. As fine a victory as this is for Nadal, he'll have to come back on Sunday and win an additional match, perhaps against his more recent nemesis, Novak Djokovic, against whom he went 0-6 last season, all in finals.

Of course, if he can figure out how play like Nadal and Federer at the same time, he'll give himself a hell of a chance.