The tennis world was granted its wish of a dream showdown between Roger Federer, the world number one, and Rafael Nadal, the world's best claycourter, on Friday after they surged into the French Open final.
Their Paris rendezvous on Sunday promises to be a classic.
Top seed Federer dabbled in a bit of squash to overcome a storming start from David Nalbandian and reach his first final at Roland Garros. The Argentine eventually quit their semi-final with a recurrence of an abdominal injury trailing 3-6, 6-4, 5-2.
Federer had been a set and 3-0 down before turning the match with an extraordinary squash-style trick shot and the Swiss will now attempt to join Australian Rod Laver and American Don Budge as the only men to have held all four grand slam titles simultaneously by winning on Sunday.
To complete his collection, though, the reigning Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion will have to snap Nadal's record 59-match winning streak on clay.
The remarkable 20-year-old Mallorcan wore his cloak of invincibility with customary panache in a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 semi-final victory over Croatian fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic.
"It will be a beautiful final after the matches we played in Monte Carlo and Rome," said Nadal, who won both those finals on clay against Federer earlier this year and leads their head-to-head 5-1.
Sunday's match will be the first time since 1984 that the top two seeds have made it through to the men's final at Roland Garros.
Nalbandian called the trainer for a lengthy consultation early in the third set against Federer and, after losing serve to trail 5-2, informed the chair umpire that he could not continue.
"All of a sudden, I felt a very sharp pain that was worse than during the previous match," Nalbandian said. "You feel very bitter about it. You feel very bitter having to retire like that."
Nalbandian's retirement was the ninth such pull-out from the men's singles on the energy-sapping clay at Roland Garros and it was a disappointing end to what had become an intriguing and at times breathtaking encounter.
Federer was outplayed for a set and a half before his stroke of genius turned the match.
Chasing to retrieve a Nalbandian lob and with his back still turned Federer landed an outrageous forehand winner in the corner of the court, bringing a roar of disbelief from the stands.
The Swiss raised one arm in the air, finger aloft, as if to say, 'That's why I'm number one.'
"I don't know how I did it," said Federer. "It came out automatically. But maybe through squash, who knows? I enjoy the sport. If it helps me out in the semi-finals of the French Open, that's not bad."
"I thought I was going to lose, so I knew that something had to happen."
LJUBICIC ANNOYED
Nadal's victory over Ljubicic, who was playing in his first Grand Slam semi-final, was more routine.
The Spaniard controlled the first set and treated his opponent to his trademark double-bicep flex and running fist-pump after winning a net exchange on set point.
Nadal dominated the second set but 27-year-old Ljubicic refused to cave in. He was 5-3 up in the third set tiebreak and saved two match points before a missed forehand volley cost him the match.
"I am very happy. He had started to play very well in the third set," said Nadal. "He has improved a lot in the past two years."
Ljubicic was less complimentary about his opponent, however, and criticised the chair umpire for not clamping down more on Nadal's habit of taking a long time between points when serving.
"It's ridiculous how much time he takes between points," said the Croatian, adding that he hoped Federer won the final.
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