Rafa Nadal looks to hold on to his No. 1 ranking.

It will once again be the best rivalry in sports renewed when Roger Federer takes on Rafael Nadal in a battle between the now No.2 13-time slam winner versus the No.1 ranked five-time slam champion.

Plenty will be on the line with the 27 year-old Federer aiming to match American Pete Sampras by winning his 14th grand slam. Nadal, who spoiled the party dethroning Roger at Wimbledon in a memorable five-set epic will again be standing in the way trying to win his first ever slam on a hard court.

Can the 22 year-old Spaniard who’s made life miserable for Federer add to an impressive 12-6 career record including 4-2 at slams by beating him on a neutral surface?

The bigger question is what will Rafa have left in the tank after outlasting fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the longest ever men’s match at Melbourne Park winning it 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-4 with it lasting five hours and 14 minutes?

The amazing aspect is the 14th seeded Verdasco who had the best slam result of his career ousting No.4 Andy Murray in five and last year’s runner-up No.5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four somehow lost despite a ridiculous 95 winners while Nadal countered with 52.

Unfortunately, he double faulted on match point concluding the dramatic semifinal.

Nadal committed just 25 unforced errors while Verdasco made 76 in a match people are still talking about for the quality of play with neither Spaniard giving an inch during lengthy rallies.

So, can Nadal bounce back from a shorter recovery with a well rested Federer having more than a day extra to prepare after taking down Andy Roddick in straights needing just over two hours?

The pressure will squarely be on Federer when they take the court with  legend Rod Laver in his arena looking on.

The big match is set for 3:30 AM Sunday morning on the East coast or 12:30 AM Pacific. That’s 7:30 PM Australian time. So, get out the caffeine and tune into ESPN2. If you can’t stay up, they’ll replay both women’s and men’s finals at 3 ET Sunday afternoon.

Roger’s still got it. Not that the 13-time slam winner ever lost it.

Pitted against America’s best Andy Roddick renewing a one-sided rivalry though last year in Miami proved different for only the second time in 17 meetings, Roger Federer rose to the occasion again ousting the No.7 seed in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 advancing to his fourth Australian Open Final- one huge win away from matching American great Pete Sampras for the most grand slams won by a male tennis player.

It was the 27 year-old Swiss former No.1 who ceased early control breaking Roddick in the third game producing the kind of tennis fans have grown accustomed to passing the game’s biggest server with ease to the tune of 51 winners.

Even after Roddick saved a couple and looked in position to fight off a third straight, a hustling Federer slid across in time ripping a forehand winner down the line. It was that kind of night with the No.2 seed even having success with challenges winning consecutive points on his serve while already up two breaks.

Normally, the man known as The Maestro doesn’t like the challenge system preferring to leave it up to the linesmen and chair umpire for overrules. But on a night he could do little wrong, Federer was even perfect on challenges getting more than half a dozen right to Roddick’s chagrin.

When he wasn’t having challenge success, he was deliberately daring Roddick to come in by using short low spinning backhand replies so he could set him up for the kill. In a brilliant opening set, Federer’s forehand was on producing 11 winners while his opponent struggled early.

However, this wasn’t like Juan Martin Del Potro as Roddick ratcheted up the serve nailing five of eight aces in a much more competitive second set. He even dug out of triple break point during the first game serving large and coming up with the right stuff to keep the pressure on Federer.

The problem was Federer was having even an easier time holding winning 83 percent (52 of 63) on his first serve along with a respectable 58 percent (19 of 33) on second serve for the match. While Roddick struggled during service games facing 13 break chances, the efficient Federer only gave him three cracks and each time they were only one in a game which wasn’t enough given the three-time Australian Open winner’s penchant for serving aces to climb out of trouble.

Still, a more aggressive Roddick continued to press on attacking the net though without great success (21 of 42). The second set remained tight with the 26 year-old Austin, Texas resident holding for 4-3. With a couple of big returns setting up winners in the next game, he was two points from breaking and getting a chance to serve it out and level the match.

But a resilient Federer dug out of trouble without facing a break point eventually reversing the pressure and then breaking Roddick at love in the 11th game to lead 6-5. He served it out for a commanding two set lead.

Unlike the one sided match they had two years ago in the same semifinal, Roddick didn’t go away playing even better in the third set holding more easily and hitting even bigger during rallies with some success to the capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd’s delight. His best moment came midway through the set when during a great rally, he surprised Federer with a topspin backhand drop shot winner out of his reach smiling even remarking that he got him with the kind of shot Roger can pull off.

Still, Roddick couldn’t capitalize with Federer going down the tee for aces even doubling up in that department by a 16-8 margin.

It continued to be a test of wills with each player protecting their serve as if it were a game of chess. Roddick had a slight opening up 5-4 and two points away from the set but Federer saved his best serving for those moments winning challenges and taking the next three points to hold for five all.

Sensing the kill, he turned on the switch nailing a backhand and forehand pass in succession taking the first couple of points on Roddick’s serve to groans from the crowd. He’d eventually setup two break points but a game Andy wouldn’t crack just yet coming through with a couple of winners including a putaway.

However, Federer finally converted on another chance ripping a backhand pass which Roddick could only get a stab at the net helplessly watching it sail long giving Roger his fourth break of the match.

After Roddick took the first point, Federer won the next three setting up two match points. During an extended rally, he finished it in style slugging a forehand winner up the line to clinch victory with a pump of the fist before being congratulated by a classy Roddick at the net.

With legendary Rod Laver in the building, Federer moved one step closer to tying Sampras’ 14 slams. Could his next opponent be No.1 ranked Rafael Nadal which would elevate their rivalry even further setting up the first ever battle for a major on a hard court?

We’ll just have to wait and see. Nadal will take on fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco later tonight with the improving No.14 seed playing the best tennis of his career ousting last year’s runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets the day before 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Roger Federer continued his one-sided rivalry with Andy Roddick. (Dave Saffran/NYSD)

Roger’s still got it. Not that the 13-time slam winner ever lost it.

Pitted against America’s best Andy Roddick renewing a one-sided rivalry though last year in Miami proved different for only the second time in 17 meetings, Roger Federer rose to the occasion again ousting the No.7 seed in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 advancing to his fourth Australian Open Final- one huge win away from matching American great Pete Sampras for the most grand slams won by a male tennis player.

It was the 27 year-old Swiss former No.1 who ceased early control breaking Roddick in the third game producing the kind of tennis fans have grown accustomed to passing the game’s biggest server with ease to the tune of 51 winners.

Even after Roddick saved a couple and looked in position to fight off a third straight, a hustling Federer slid across in time ripping a forehand winner down the line. It was that kind of night with the No.2 seed even having success with challenges winning consecutive points on his serve while already up two breaks.

Normally, the man known as The Maestro doesn’t like the challenge system preferring to leave it up to the linesmen and chair umpire for overrules. But on a night he could do little wrong, Federer was even perfect on challenges getting more than half a dozen right to Roddick’s chagrin.

When he wasn’t having challenge success, he was deliberately daring Roddick to come in by using short low spinning backhand replies so he could set him up for the kill. In a brilliant opening set, Federer’s forehand was on producing 11 winners while his opponent struggled early.

However, this wasn’t like Juan Martin Del Potro as Roddick ratcheted up the serve nailing five of eight aces in a much more competitive second set. He even dug out of triple break point during the first game serving large and coming up with the right stuff to keep the pressure on Federer.

The problem was Federer was having even an easier time holding winning 83 percent (52 of 63) on his first serve along with a respectable 58 percent (19 of 33) on second serve for the match. While Roddick struggled during service games facing 13 break chances, the efficient Federer only gave him three cracks and each time they were only one in a game which wasn’t enough given the three-time Australian Open winner’s penchant for serving aces to climb out of trouble.

Still, a more aggressive Roddick continued to press on attacking the net though without great success (21 of 42). The second set remained tight with the 26 year-old Austin, Texas resident holding for 4-3. With a couple of big returns setting up winners in the next game, he was two points from breaking and getting a chance to serve it out and level the match.

But a resilient Federer dug out of trouble without facing a break point eventually reversing the pressure and then breaking Roddick at love in the 11th game to lead 6-5. He served it out for a commanding two set lead.

Unlike the one sided match they had two years ago in the same semifinal, Roddick didn’t go away playing even better in the third set holding more easily and hitting even bigger during rallies with some success to the capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd’s delight. His best moment came midway through the set when during a great rally, he surprised Federer with a topspin backhand drop shot winner out of his reach smiling even remarking that he got him with the kind of shot Roger can pull off.

Still, Roddick couldn’t capitalize with Federer going down the tee for aces even doubling up in that department by a 16-8 margin.

It continued to be a test of wills with each player protecting their serve as if it were a game of chess. Roddick had a slight opening up 5-4 and two points away from the set but Federer saved his best serving for those moments winning challenges and taking the next three points to hold for five all.

Sensing the kill, he turned on the switch nailing a backhand and forehand pass in succession taking the first couple of points on Roddick’s serve to groans from the crowd. He’d eventually setup two break points but a game Andy wouldn’t crack just yet coming through with a couple of winners including a putaway.

However, Federer finally converted on another chance ripping a backhand pass which Roddick could only get a stab at the net helplessly watching it sail long giving Roger his fourth break of the match.

After Roddick took the first point, Federer won the next three setting up two match points. During an extended rally, he finished it in style slugging a forehand winner up the line to clinch victory with a pump of the fist before being congratulated by a classy Roddick at the net.

With legendary Rod Laver in the building, Federer moved one step closer to tying Sampras’ 14 slams. Could his next opponent be No.1 ranked Rafael Nadal which would elevate their rivalry even further setting up the first ever battle for a major on a hard court?

We’ll just have to wait and see. Nadal will take on fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco later tonight with the improving No.14 seed playing the best tennis of his career ousting last year’s runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets the day before 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Roger Federer has a scare but des advance.

For two sets, Roger Federer couldn’t do anything with Tomas Berdych. It was the younger 23 year-old Czech who seemed to finally have all the right answers getting within a set of snapping a seven-match losing streak to the 13-time slam winner.

The last time he prevailed was when he was a teenager during a 2004 Olympics upset preventing Federer from even medaling in Athens.

Unfortunately, nerves got the best of Berdych dropping the third set before Federer steadied in time coming back from two sets for just the fourth time in his illustrious career pulling out a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 Round of 16 win advancing to the Australian Open quarterfinals.

“You’ve got to hang in there, there’s no other solution,” a relieved Federer said later. “Tried to weather the storm. He was hitting the ball so heavy and so hard. He pushed me to the limit.”

It was the aggressive nature of the dangerous No.20 seed which put the three-time Australian Open champ in such a huge hole. Berdych has always had the ability to be a top five player but never the consistency. However, on this day he was in top form outslugging Federer from the baseline ripping rockets from both sides of the racket for winners.

Berdych broke Federer right away and got a key insurance break needed to help put away the opening set. The second saw the 27 year-old Swiss break early but before he could sustain it, his focused opponent broke back keeping it on serve.

Part of Roger’s problems were due to his bread and butter forehand going off which made it even more difficult to deal with an accurate Berdych. Though he saved two break points before holding in the 11th game, the set eventually went to a tiebreaker.

Entering it, Federer had won four of the previous five versus the same foe but this time, it was Berdych who had all the answers getting a minibreak lead before sealing it with a cross-court forehand winner pumping his fist.

Trailing by two sets, Federer twice broke Berdych but once again relinquished them in uncharacteristic fashion. But with a real opportunity to pull off the biggest win of his career, the younger Czech tightened up handing the seventh game over with three bad volley miscues including an overhead he bounced into the net to give a relieved Federer another chance. This time, he made good holding twice more including three aces in the 10th game to get back in the match.

Berdych began to become rattled following a crucial Deuce point in which he thought his forehand caught part of the line. However, his challenge couldn’t be overturned due to a rare technicality with the system which wasn’t working. It looked like it missed but an upset Berdych debated the call with the chair umpire before netting a volley to give Federer an early break in the fourth set.

One huge difference compared to the first couple of sets was Federer’s accuracy. He began getting Berdych in longer rallies due to outstanding defense with the strategy paying dividends with his opponent cooperating. Berdych committed 32 of 42 unforced errors in the last three sets while Roger made just 15 of 40 the rest of the way.

Beginning to wear down, Berdych called the trainer to tend to a left hamstring during a changeover near the end of the set. When he returned, he went back to his go for broke plan slugging the ball as hard as possible for winners. It nearly paid off but a resilient Federer fought off two break points dialing up his serve before drawing a long reply to square the match letting out a loud scream along with a double pump of the fists.

With his opponent broken, Federer loosened up saving his best tennis for the final set breaking Berdych twice to go up 4-0 before holding twice more. The end didn’t come easy as he blew three match points even double faulting to give his opponent one last look at a break chance.

However, in typical fashion he got a service winner and then followed up with two aces including one out wide on his fourth match point to finally clinch victory letting out a loud scream to cheers from the Rod Laver Arena capacity crowd.

“I enjoy those kind of fights. It doesn’t happen all the time. It’s always special,” Federer expressed after rallying from two sets down for the first time since 2005 against Rafael Nadal in Miami.

“I hope it’s a good omen. I feel like I could play a couple more sets, so that’s a good sign.“

The match took three hours and 28 minutes to complete but Federer looked like he would’ve gone even longer keeping a streak of quarterfinal appearances in slams alive extending it a record 20. His last defeat this early came at the hands of former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten in Roland Garros back in 2004 of Round Three.

Federer will get another stiff challenge when he draws talented 20 year-old Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. The No.8 seed cameback from a set defeating promising Czech Marin Cilic 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

While it was anything but routine for the Federer Express, American Andy Roddick continued to roll along straight setting Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3. The seventh seed who’s only dropped one set in making the Final Eight had 13 aces to none also playing solid baseline tennis converting five of seven break chances punctuating victory with a nice forehand service volley winner before raising his arms in salute.

Roddick has had a pretty easy draw aside from a solid second round challenge from wildcard Xavier Malisse. However, business should pick up for the charasmatic 27 year-old former 2003 U.S. Open champ where he’ll await the winner between defending champ Novak Djokovic and former Aussie runner-up Marcos Baghdatis who’s been in fine form since trailing Robin Soderling a set and two breaks in Round Two.

If the unseeded Cypriot brings his ‘A’ game, he could challenge Djokovic. If not, a juicy quarter between the 21 year-old Serb and Roddick would be on tap with possibly Federer waiting in the semis.

Jankovic Upset: The biggest upset of Day Six took place on the women’s side with No.1 ranked Jelena Jankovic bowing out in disappointing fashion falling to No.16 Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-4.

With the Serb’s game not there, it was her 24 year-old opponent who took early control jumping out to a 5-0 lead using her power game to pull off the upset. She doubled Jankovic in winners (34-17) while finishing off 10 of 12 points at net.

In particular, Bartoli punished Jankovic’s second serve winning a ridiculous 71 percent (17 of 24 points) on her way to five breaks.

“I was really confident because I played really well [in] my last match against (Lucie) Safarova,” the pleased former 2007 Wimbledon finalist noted to the AP. “I knew I could beat Jelena on a good day, it was just a matter of executing it … play the right shot at the right time and doesn’t make too much mistake[s].

“I was not overwhelmed by the situation, and I just went for my shot[s] and everything went in today. It was just a great match.”

Meanwhile, it was a setback for Jankovic who still has yet to breakthrough at a major and entered off her best result making her fist final losing to American Serena Williams in a very competitive straight set effort at the U.S. Open.

“I just started slow. I … was completely not moving my feet. I was late on many shots. I was really not there, for some reason,” Jankovic lamented.

“I don’t know why. When I tried to focus and get into the match, things just didn’t work out for me.”

She paid plenty of credit to her game opponent:

“I thought, you know, just my opponent was … on fire today, and she was hitting everything and really went for her shots. Most of those were going in.”

Instead of continuing the pursuit for her first major, that will wait until Paris. Bartoli will next meet No.7 Russian Vera Zvonareva, who ousted countrywoman Nadia Petrova (10) in two close sets 7-5, 6-4 to setup a quarterfinal match.

Meantime, No.3 Russian Dinara Safina was almost an upset victim herself but found a way to comeback from two breaks and match points down in the third defeating No.15 Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

The recently turned 19 year-old Cornet who already had set a new career best in slams making the Round of 16 just couldn’t put away Safina, who twice had amazing comeback wins last year in Paris including one versus Maria Sharapova.

Might it have helped? By her reaction, you couldn’t tell:

“I am so lucky that I’m in the quarterfinals, she was one point away,” the younger sister of Marat Safin pointed out in overcoming eight double faults and 52 unforced errors. “My heart is still pumping so hard.”

No matter how she got there, she’ll await the winner between feel good story Jelena Dokic and talented Russian Alisa Kleybanova with the latter leading 5-4 in the first set.

Yet, there he was winning in the Open Semifinals over and in the first set, the old Federer dominated third seeded Novak Djokovic to an easy 6-3 win.

“I hit winners all the way through,” said the second seeded Federer . “It was important, you know, to stay grounded, you know, because I knew that tough times were going to arrive, and that’s exactly happened in the second set. You don’t hit your first serves like maybe you do usually, or the way I was hitting them in the first set. I knew I was always going to get in trouble against such a good player like Novak.”

Djokovic did come back winning the second, 7-5, but Federer shook it off to win in four sets with a 7-5 win in the third and 6-2 in the fourth to proceed to his fifth straight Final in Flushing Meadows.

“This is how I normally play on hardcourt, you know,” Federer said. “Half volleys, passing shots, good serving, putting the pressure on, you know, playing with the wind, you know, using it to my advantage. All those things. I definitely had moments during today where I thought: This is how I would like to play every time. So it was a very nice feeling, actually, to get that feeling back.”

A heavy humidity from impending Tropical Storm Hanna overshadowed the match, which seemed to affect Djokovic move than Federer. It may have been the reason why the 27 year-old had came out strong in the first with a strong serve, putting his Serbian opponent on the defensive.

“[The weather] one of the main issues probably today,” Djokovic said. “I knew that I have to really be 100% fit to win against the player who won four times here. So if you’re not able to hold on then you’re not able to win.”

Yet, Djokovic was able to break the Swiss national twice in the second and led 4-2, but Federer eventually came back to even the set up at five. But the Serbian was able to pull out the second and then led 5-4 in the third, but the crowd was behind Federer, which allowed him comeback in the set.

“It would be great if I do get, you know, a lot of fan support,” Federer said. “I don’t count on it because I’m not American, but I feel a little bit New Yorker right now. So it does feel great. I definitely appreciate, you know, the effort from the fans, you know, supporting me and pushing me forward. I definitely feel it’s helped me throughout this event.”

Although Federer always had the respect of the New York crowd, yesterday’s backing was maybe more than normal, because of the comments Djokovic made after beating Andy Roddick on Thursday night. The Serbian criticized his American opponent after the win because Roddick questioned Djokovic’s injuries. It drew boos from the crowd.

“It was obvious that they are on his side because he’s ex No. 1 and still the second best player in the world and he’s defending champ here four times and people love him. He deserves that support,” said Djokovic who felt his comments the other night were “fair.”

But all of that is in the past and Federer advanced after an easy fourth set and will go for his fifth straight title on Monday.

He will face the winner of the other semifinal, either Rafael Nadal of Andy Murray, which was suspended in the third set due to the rain. Murray leads 2-0 [6-2, 7-6] with the top seed holding a 3-2 lead in the third. The match was moved to Louis Armstrong Stadium and started around 12:30 because the USTA wanted beat the storm.

The rest of the match will be played later today at 4 p.m. with the Woman’s Final between Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams postponed until 9 p.m. tonight. The Men’s Final will be played tomorrow at 5 p.m. making this the first Open in 21 years to be pushed to an extra Monday.