Nadal sets up Federer showdown

Rafael Nadal will lock horns with fierce rival Roger Federer in Sunday's Wimbledon showpiece after overcoming Marcos Baghdatis in a thrilling semi-final.

Nadal, 20, edged the 18th seed 6-1 7-5 6-3 to become the youngest finalist at the All England Club since Boris Becker in 1986, setting up a mouth-watering meeting with Federer.

But he will not forget today's match against Baghdatis in a hurry as Centre Court was treated to some breathtaking exchanges between two well-matched competitors.

Nadal, the clay court specialist who has developed into a formidable operator on grass, was made to work for every point after an easy first set and had to show real tenacity to win.

An error-strewn opening game saw Baghdatis broken immediately and Nadal made another breakthrough in the fifth when his nervy opponent found the net to concede his serve for a second time.

Nadal, the number two seed, had amassed a healthy 4-1 lead but had to negotiate two break points in the sixth as Baghdatis began to play with more authority.

But just as the Cypriot appeared to be settling, his serve went to pieces again and Nadal finished the set with a stunning cross-court forehand.

Nadal raced out of the blocks for the second set, winning his own serve and then securing two break points only for Baghdatis to win the game with a powerful forehand.

Baghdatis roared in defiance after defending his serve and Nadal was being made to work far harder for his points.

The Spaniard conceded a break point in the seventh following a failed lob and although consecutive net shots from Baghdatis averted the danger, Nadal was no longer on top.

His serve was coming under pressure but he held on and then struck in the 10th, capitalising on a couple of outrageous shots from Baghdatis to clinch two set points.

Both were wasted but he could not be denied in the 12th when he bagged two more set points, putting away the second with a stunning forehand to win 7-5.

Nadal weathered two break points in a marathon opening game of the third set and then broke in the fourth following an acrobatic rally which he showed remarkable determination to win.

Despite being 4-2 behind, Baghdatis was still forcing break points but he could not convert, squandering four in the seventh - although Nadal was assisted on one by a suspect line call.

Serving for the match, Nadal earned two match points in the ninth and finished the job with a simple smash to grab a deserved place in the final.