Rafael Nadal will play old rival Roger Federer in the Australian Open semi-finals after seeing off Tomas Berdych in a four-hour-plus battle.
The second seed posted a 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (8/6) 6-4 6-3 win under the lights of the Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday night but only after being full tested by the big-serving Czech.
Berdych actually held a point for a two-set lead at one stage but Nadal showed his renowned fighting qualities to keep his bid for a second Melbourne title on track.
Nadal admitted: "Both players had chances in both the first two sets but the second set was probably the key of the match for me."
In what was a stamina-sapping battle, Berdych started superbly, always looking to come forward to get stuck into his feared forehand.
He was more than able to live with Nadal from the baseline and when leading 6-5 he moved to 0-40 on the Spaniard's serve.
All three set points were saved - the second with some of the best defence you'll ever see, Nadal turning a Berdych assault around to win a 29-shot rally.
Nadal also saved a fourth break point with a forehand winner to take the set into a tie-break.
He opened a 5-3 lead but could not get over the line.
Controversy arrived when Nadal tried to challenge as Berdych crashed away another forehand winner but the umpire decided he had asked too late, prompting an angry response from the player.
An ace followed to give Berdych, who had lost his last nine meeting with Nadal. an unexpected one-set lead.
Berdych had a break point in the opening game of the second set but Nadal wrested back control and was soon 3-1 to the good.
However, he failed to serve out at 5-3 and Berdych drew level.
An untimely double fault from Berdych, his first of the match, handed Nadal a set point at 5-6 but the seventh seed saved it to ensure another tie-break.
In it, Berdych led 6-5 and had the set on his racquet but stretching to a backhand volley he pushed the ball wide. A forehand long moments later saw Nadal square the contest.
Berdych would not go away quietly though.
He moved 2-0 up in the third as he showed few signs of tiring but Nadal duly broke straight back.
Second succesive break of Berdych's serve followed and although the underdog was able to save one set point serving at 3-5, a nerveless smash in the following game pushed Nadal into a two-sets-to-one lead with the match well into its fourth hour.
When Berdych lost his delivery again at the start of the fourth, the end seemed nigh, the Czech's level having dipped.
But this time it was his turn to show resolve. He forced two break-back points in the sixth game only for Nadal to stand firm.
That proved Berdych's last chance as Nadal progressed to another clash with Federer
after four hours and 16 minutes on court.
after four hours and 16 minutes on court.
Asked about how much the contest had taken out of him with Federer lying in wait on Thursday, Nadal said: "I felt that I resisted very well in the third and fourth sets. It was an instense battle so I'm very happy with how I finished my match physically.
"I had a lot of intensity and that's important in big matches."
Thursday's match will be a repeat of the pair's 2009 Melbourne final, a thrilling showdown won in five sets by Nadal.
