The Relentless Rafael Nadal - The Spaniard's top 5-set matches

4. Australian Open semi-final 2009 vs Fernando Verdasco

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating compatriot Fernando Verdasco after their men’s singles tennis match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 31, 2009. Nadal beat Verdasco 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/2), 6-7 (1/7), 6-4 over a record five hours and 14 minutes

The reigning Wimbledon champion was up against a fellow Spaniard, a fellow left-hander, Fernando Verdasco. Not many tennis experts expected Verdasco to trouble Nadal, but the two Spaniards combined to produce 5 hours and 14 minutes of absolutely scintillating and jaw-dropping tennis refusing to wilt under the Melbourne heat. Verdasco, the heavy underdog, had never defeated Nadal in their previous 6 meetings and left no stone unturned to breach his opponent’s defensive calibre. The match was so evenly fought that both players had 192 points each before the final point which Rafa won. Rafa eventually prevailed over his fellow Spaniard with a score line of 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-4.