Nadal to meet Federer final

By Iain Rogers

MADRID (Reuters) - Claycourt maestro Rafael Nadal shrugged off a knee problem and saved three match points to beat Novak Djokovic 3-6 7-6 7-6 in a dramatic semi-final at the Madrid Open on Saturday.

The world number one was a whisker away from his fifth defeat in 154 matches on his favourite surface since the beginning of 2005 but rallied superbly to set up a final against Roger Federer.

At almost four hours three minutes it was the longest three-set match in a Masters Series event and it thrilled the Spaniard's partisan home crowd at the new Magic Box stadium.

Federer's clash with Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro failed to touch the same heights later, the second seed coasting to a 6-3 6-4 victory.

Nadal, 22, and Djokovic, 21, were meeting for the 18th occasion and the third time in five weeks after the Spaniard beat the Serb in the final in Monte Carlo and Rome.

Djokovic was in inspired form in the first set and Nadal appeared to be hampered by his right knee, committing more errors than usual and dropping his serve in the second game with a double fault.

KNEE STRAPPED

The Serb confidently held his serve to take the first set and, after fighting off a break point and holding for 2-1 in the second, Nadal had the knee heavily strapped.