Sunday, May 19, 2013
10:00 PM Balls TV
The pair have won 28 grand slam titles between themselves and have met 29 times during the years, with Nadal leading the head to head 19-10, which includes a 6-4 6-2 victory when they last faced off in Indian Wells earlier this year.
Sunday's meeting will be their first encounter in a final since the 2011 French Open, an encounter Nadal also won.
The Spaniard on Saturday continued his dominance over Tomas Berdych, who dumped out world number one Novak Djokovic in the last round, to reach his eighth final in a row since making a comeback from a seven-month injury lay-off in February.
Nadal had been taken to three sets in his last two matches against Latvia's Ernests Gulbis and compatriot David Ferrer respectively, but he easily outgunned Berdych 6-2 6-4.
Berdych marvellously hit back from 6-2 5-2 down against Djokovic in their quarter-final yesterday, but could not get into his stride as he slipped to his 13th consecutive loss against Nadal.
"I played at a high level and everything went well with no mistakes. I was dominating the points and following to the net. I think I played one of my best matches since I am came back," Nadal told the ATP Tour website.
"Eight finals in a row is wonderful. Four to five months ago it was impossible to think about this. I hope to play very well. Any result will be fantastic."
Federer had a rather more difficult encounter against this week's surprise package Benoit Paire before coming through 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
The world number 36 had the 17-time major winner in trouble on multiple occasions, first breaking for a 4-3 lead in the first set and then holding a mini-break lead in the tie-break on three occasions.
Federer hit back each time, though, and went on to claim the decisive break in the third game of the second set. He then managed to save two break points in the sixth game to wrap up victory in an hour and 28 minutes.
The Swiss has been beaten on 12 of 14 occasions on clay against Nadal, with the left-hander also winning their only meeting in this competition seven years ago by triumphing in five hours and five minutes - their longest encounter.
credit to espnstar
>>Dear teachers
Di porket pare pareho kami ng sagot, nagkopyahan na kami. May sagot ba na iba iba? Ano yun, originality?
----- Shin Chan
