Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal results: Federer advances to record 12th Wimbledon final

Thomas Schlarp

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Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal results: Federer advances to record 12th Wimbledon final image

It may not have been another five-set classic, but whenever Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal meet at Wimbledon, it's always a classic.

Federer needed five opportunities at a match point in the fourth set to defeat Nadal 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 and advance to his record 12th Wimbledon finals appearance where he will face top-seeded Novak Djokovic on Sunday. Djokovic defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in Friday's other semifinal.

The match's first set made it look like we were headed for another five-hour, five-set classic, reminiscient of their 2008 Wimbledon final. Neither player managed to break serve as Federer eventually won the first set in tiebreaking fashion.

MORE: Follow live scores from every match at Wimbledon 2019

Both men then traded quick set victories in the second and third before setting up a grueling fourth set that lasted nearly an hour and included two final games with nearly a dozen deuces.

The 37-year-old Federer now advances to his 12th Wimbledon final and 36th Grand Slam final for an opportunity to claim his ninth title at the All English Club. Djokovic is the defending Wimbledon champion and is seeking his sixth Wimbledon championship.

Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from the 2019 Wimbledon men's singles semifinals. See how the match unfolded below. 

Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal live score, results

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Match updates, highlights from 2019 Wimbledon men's semifinals

(All times Eastern)

Final: Federer def. Nadal 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4

Set 4: Federer 6, Nadal 4

2:44 p.m.: Nadal saved four match points, before Federer finally put a fifth by him.

2:32 p.m.: In a game that lasted nine minutes, Nadal finally wins with an ace. Federer will serve for the match.

2:22 p.m.: Federer holds serve. He is one game from the final.

2:19 p.m.: The Spaniard keeps the pressure on Fed and makes it 4-3.

2:15 p.m.: Nadal won a 26-shot rally, but it's Federer who wins the game. 4-2 Federer in the fourth.

2:07 p.m.: Federer holds to take a 3-1 lead.

2:03 p.m.: Huge moment as Federer breaks Nadal to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth set. Federer is four games from his 12th Wimbledon final.

1:54 p.m.: Nadal looks frustrated, but at least he holds serve to win the first point.

Set 3: Federer 6, Nadal 3

1:47 p.m.: The third set belongs to Federer after he built a 40-0 advantage in the final game. Nadal will serve to start the fourth set.

1:44 p.m.: The chance now returns for Federer to serve and take Set 3 after Nadal wins the game 45-30.

1:38 p.m.: Set 3 won't be as easy as the second. Nadal wins the game to trim Federer's leads to 4-2.

1:30 p.m.: What a game. A pair of deuces and 23 and 25-shot rallies. Federer leads 4-1. The court is fully under a shadow now.

1:22 p.m.: Federer breaks Nadal for the first time today.

1:16 p.m.: Federer speeds through this game and wins 45-0 again. 2-1 Federer.

1:12 p.m.: A love hold for Fed looks like he is more than capable of bouncing back. Nadal follows with a hold of his own to tie Set 3, 1-1.

Set 2: Nadal 6, Federer 1

1:08 p.m.: Nadal rattles off two more speedy games to convincingly take the second set.

1:01 p.m.: Another quick game for Nadal as he takes a 4-1 lead over Fed in the set.

12:58 p.m.: Finally! Nadal breaks Federer 45-0.

12:55 p.m.: Federer had two break points at 15-40, but they come and go as Nadal holds to take the game. Still waiting for the first break. Nadal is up 2-1 in the set.

12:48 p.m.: Nadal had a shot at break point, but four deuces laters, Federer proves the winner. 1-1 in Set 2.

12:40 p.m.: Make that 13 straight holds to start the match as Nadal picks up the first game of the second set.

Set 1: Federer 7, Nadal 6

12:32 p.m.: This one may take five sets. Federer wins the first-set tie-break 7-3 to take the first set 7-6. You have to go back to 2013 for the most recent time the winner of the first set between these two didn't go on to win the match.

12:25 p.m.: To a tiebreak we go!

12:18 p.m.: Federer rattles off five straight points to go ahead 6-5.

12:16 p.m.: No such luck for Fed as the two continue to trade serves back and forth. Set 1 all tied at 5-5.

12:11 p.m.: Federer has conceded just five points on serve through five games. He will look to break the Spaniard and take the set.

12:08 p.m.: Nadal defended a break point with a 21-shot rally, the longest of the match. Both players continue to hold. 4-4.

12:01 p.m.: There's no breaking these guys and their serves. Both hold to love. Federer leads the first set 4-3.

11:54 a.m.: Both players continue to hold their serve. Set 1 is tied at 2-2.

11:47 a.m.: Nadal storms back and takes the second game 45-0.

11:44 a.m.: The first game belongs to Federer.

11:40 a.m.: Federer won the coin toss and elected to serve. He smashes an ace by Nadal for the first point of the match.

11:31 a.m.: Federer and Nadal have taken to the court.

11:00 a.m.: Djokovic defeats Bautista Agut in four sets (6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2) to advance to Sunday's final.

10:43 a.m.: Novak Djokovic currently leads Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 3-1 in the day's other semifinal.

Thomas Schlarp