World number one tennis player and Team PokerStars SportStar Rafa Nadal today beat long-time rival Roger Federer in straight sets to progress through to the final of the Australian Open. The win sets up Nadal to claim his 14th Grand Slam title and to become only the third man to have won all four titles at least twice.
A tight first set went to tie break, which Nadal won, before the Spaniard, 27, broke Federer in successive sets to claim a 7-6 (7-4,) 6-3, 6-3 victory. Today's win continues an astounding heads-up run of form for Nadal: Federer hasn't beaten him since that epic 2007 Wimbledon final.
Double career slam
Nadal faces Stanislas Wawrinka this Sunday. The 28-year-old Swiss is looking for his first Grand Slam, but should Nadal take the title, he'll join, somewhat appropriately, Australians Rod Laver and Roy Emerson in achieving a double career slam. It was last completed by Laver in 1969, who won the French and US Opens for the second time, some seven years after first winning them.
As well as being a superstar on tennis courts around the world, Nadal has proved himself to be a punishing competitor on the poker table. Nadal recently won a €100,000 charity tournament during EPT Prague, which you can find out about here.
Rick Dacey is a staff writer for the PokerStars Blog.