MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — One round earlier than they usually meet in a Grand Slam, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer still treated it like a final.

Nadal outlasted Federer, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in an Australian Open semi-final yesterday between longtime rivals who had met in eight major finals. It was the first time they’d played in the semis of a Grand Slam since 2005.

Nadal will have the opportunity to capture an 11th major title on Sunday night when he plays the winner of today’s semi-final between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

The women’s final has already been set: Maria Sharapova overcame Petra Kvitova in the afternoon match and will play Victoria Azarenka for the championship.

Sharapova broke Kvitova’s serve in the last game to finish off a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 victory and the third-seeded Azarenka beat defending champion Kim Clijsters, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, to set up a Saturday night final at Rod Laver Arena that will decide the number one ranking.

Nadal, who holds a 6-2 edge in Grand Slam finals against Federer, made the key service break in the ninth game of the fourth set, making an incredible cross-court forehand winner from well behind the baseline, then watching as Federer hit a backhand wide to give Nadal a 5-4 lead.

Serving for the match, Nadal moved two points away from the win when Federer sent a backhand long. He won on his second match point when Federer floated a forehand long.

At the end, Nadal smashed a ball up high in the stadium, almost clearing the roof. He then applauded along with the crowd when Federer walked off.

The 25-year-old Spaniard won the 2009 Australian title but lost in the quarter-finals in his next two trips to Melbourne Park. Federer hasn’t added to his record 16 Grand Slam titles since he won the 2010 Australian Open.

When the often enthralling play was suspended for 10 minutes late in the second set for an Australian Day fireworks display, Federer seemed to be affected most. Nadal led 5-2 at the time, and Federer lost his serve in the next game to give the Spaniard the set. In all, the Swiss dropped 11 points in a row.

The capacity 15,000-strong crowd was evenly split in its support, with the names seeming to blur after the R in rival chants.

Each time somebody called out for Rafa, it was met by a response for Roger. The cheers were just as loud for Nadal’s scrambling, sometimes astonishing, passing shots as for Federer’s deft winners.

With the players on serve in the second set, Nadal went so far wide on a Federer return that he was near the side wall of the arena. Incredibly, he stretched wide and returned the ball crosscourt for a winner. That set up three break points and Nadal clinched the game to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.