Tennis-Nadal edges Dimitrov to set up dream final against Federer

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE, Jan 27 ( Reuters) - Rafa Nadal fended off Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 5-7 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-4 in a marathon semi-final on Friday to set up a dream Australian Open decider against great rival Roger Federer.

Nadal was under siege from the dogged Bulgarian for much of the nerve-shredding clash at Rod Laver Arena, but the Spaniard crashed through Dimitrov's defences in the final set to book his first grand slam final since his 2014 French Open title.

With tension reaching boiling-point and the terraces roaring, Nadal captured the decisive break in the ninth game and closed out victory on his third match point when Dimitrov hammered a backhand long.

Nadal and Federer will meet in their ninth grand slam final and first at Melbourne Park since the Spaniard won the 2009 title.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)