Nadal beats Dimitrov in five thrilling sets
Spaniard wins 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4
Nadal plays Federer in Sunday's final
His first major final since 2014
Match took four hours and 56 minutes
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 2-1 *Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov's backhand is still causing some schoolgirl fainting among the tennis aficionados in the front row.
A delicious one-hand fling down the line is followed by a more agricultural forehand slug for 40-30.
But Nadal is clinging to his coat-tails. He slam-dunks a bounce smash across court to buy his way to deuce.
Image source, EPANadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 2-1 *Dimitrov
Rafael Nadal is locked onto his target.
The crucible of long matches in the latter stages of Grand Slams is where his iron will to win was forged.
Bruising power off the deck and he takes the game to 15.
A real test of Dimitrov's desire now.
Image source, EPAThis is what semi-final defeat feels like...
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 1-1 Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov's commanding serve-volley sweeps up the first point of the game.
He comes to the net again, but duffs a volley into the tape for 30-30.
A sticky situation.
But the Bulgarian reaches for the semtex and blasts his way out of trouble with some concussive serving.
Image source, EPA#bbctennis
Henry Monk: A brilliant tie-break from Rafa. One set away from the dream final. Unbelievable tennis from the Spaniard.
Derek Thrower: Got to give it to the old boy. Long demanding rallies and he comes out on top. Dimitrov looking now in trouble.
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 1-0 *Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov is in the vice now.
It would be arguably the greatest win of his career - rivaling his quarter-final win over Andy Murray at Wimbledon 2014 - if he were able to slip out of this headlock and pin Nadal to the canvas.
The Bulgarian takes the first point of the fourth set, and gets within striking range as Nadal strays long for 40-30.
A dizzying rally for darting movement and deep, deep groundstrokes ends with Nadal's inside-out forehand landing as Dimitrov runs out of gas.
Image source, Rex Features
Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Nadal was not looking for too many winners but was keeping the ball in play waiting for errors from Dimitrov and they came.
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) *Dimitrov
Set point Nadal, but on Dimitrov's serve.
Into a rally, both men taking risks.
And Dimitrov can't prise a forehand off the baseline!
The net swallows up his shot and the set is Nadal's!
Image source, Getty ImagesNadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (6-5) *Dimitrov
A slog-fest ends when Dimitrov clubs a forehand into the tramlines. Or does he? He challenges. Half a foot out. Nadal has a set point on the Dimitrov serve...
Image source, Reuters*Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (5-5) Dimitrov
Hold serve twice in a row and this is your's Rafa.
Well, that did not last long.
The Spaniard loops a routine forehand into the net. Back on serve.
Image source, EPA*Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (5-4) Dimitrov
Take that. Dimitrov hammers an ace down the 'T'. Enough said. Oh, and now Rafa has two serves for the set...
Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (5-3) *Dimitrov
Back on serve then.
Dimitrov with two tee-offs to come.
Into a rally, Dimitrov's soles squeaking as he loses traction at the back of the court and Nadal forces him long.
Mini-break back to Nadal.
Image source, AFPNadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (4-3) *Dimitrov
Dimitrov puts himself back in the mixer. A long rally ends when Nadal slaps a backhand into the tape.
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (4-2) Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov gets lucky as Rafael Nadal plants a massive bounce-smash right at him at the back of the court.
But with the ball coming at him at 100mph and 10-feet behind the baseline he can't keep his instinctive reply in court.
Image source, Getty Images*Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (3-2) Dimitrov
A looping return from Rafa sails over Dimitrov's head ...and the baseline. A couple of holds here would be VERY handy for Nadal...
Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (3-1) *Dimitrov
Dimitrov to serve.
The Bulgarian is given the hurry-up as Rafael Nadal injects pace off his backhand wing.
Nadal a mini-break up again.
Image source, EPANadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (2-1) *Dimitrov
Rafa regains his advantage. A vicious forehand - the one we've seen so so often - wins the point.
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (1-1) Dimitrov
And Grigor Dimitrov steals the mini-break right back as Rafael Nadal strays long.
Image source, Getty Images*Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 (1-0) Dimitrov
Tie-break time. Dimitrov starts, finds the target with his first serve, but the Bulgarian's return eats net chord.
*denotes next server
Nadal 6-3 5-7 6-6 *Dimitrov
Rafael Nadal's clubbing power whisks us to 40-0 before Dimitrov strays long to fold out of the game.
A tie-break shoot-out it is. Pistols at the ready gentlemen.
Image source, Reuters