LONDON -- In their 40th career showdown, one thing remains certain: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal know how to put on a show.
The second-seeded Federer outlasted No. 3 Nadal 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to reach the final at Wimbledon, where he will seek a ninth title -- extending his own record -- against top-seeded Novak Djokovic on Sunday.
The Swiss star, after failing to capitalize on two match points in the penultimate game and two in the final game -- one after a long rally; another on a sharp cross-court shot -- finally closed out Nadal after the Spaniard sent a shot long.