(UPDATED) PHOTO OP: Rafa falls to his knees in Oz, defeats Nando in 5-set semifinal thriller

INSTANT CLASSIC.

That's all that needs to be said about the knock down, drag out spectacular 5-set semifinal bout between compatriots Rafael Nadal + Fernando Verdasco which will go down in the record books as the longest match in Aussie Open history (5 hours 14 minutes).

It was a incredibly breathtaking display of raw athleticism, sublime shot-making, heart, and facial expressions but in the end it was Rafa's trademark desire and mental toughness more than anything else that told the tale. The world's top baller edged out Nando who served a double-fault on match point to go down 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-4 in a match that featured a combined 147 winners - 95 by Nando alone. SICK.

And the point totals for both ballers? Rafa ended with 193 while Nando had 192. Talk about evenly-matched.

Unfortunately for Rafa, he'll have a quick turnaround for the Sunday final where he'll face Roger Federer in the pair's 19th meeting (12 Rafa, 6 Fed) and first since another classic: the 2008 Wimbledon final won by the Mallorcan Matador. Fed will be looking to tie Pete Sampras' all-time major record of 14 while the top seed will be going for his 6th and first on hard-court.

But a huge congrats to both Spaniards for an incredible effort and for some moments we won't soon forget...











UPDATE: Here's what both ballers had to say about the scheduling of the match:

Rafa -

Q. You're not only the No. 1 in the world, but you are one of the top players in the politics of the ATP. Is there nothing you can do to avoid this problem of scheduling, that you have one day of rest and Roger has two? Apart from Wimbledon, every tournament is screwed up. The US Open, they do what they want. Roland Garros, they do what they want. Here the same. Don't you think the players should do something?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think Roland Garros is not like this, no?

Q. They play sometimes one day before the other.
RAFAEL NADAL: No. The last four years not (smiling).
Well, the US Open was for both player the semifinal the same day. Here is the only tournament is not like this. But, you know, you still have one day off. So that's the sport. For sure is a little bit more fair if you play the same day. But is like this. Last year was for me, and this year was for Roger in this case, no? Last year I played on Thursday. I lost. I didn't play the final. But, anyway, I play on Thursday, and Roger play on Friday.

Well, this little bit unlucky play one match like today, too hard. So for sure Roger gonna be in much better performance physically than me for the final.

But at the same time I gonna try to be recovered for the final and play my best. I don't know if we can do something because we are involved of the council. But the true, right now I not ready for speak about politic.

Nando -

Q. About Nadal having one day less to rest, don't you think that players should do something to avoid these problems all the time? At the US Open they play Saturday the semifinal before the final. Here they play one day, then the next. Don't you think you, as players, should start to do something?
FERNANDO VERDASCO: I will speak with them in next tournament (smiling).

No, but I think, for sure, the semifinals supposed to be the same day, both semifinals, because I think, you know, is the most fair for everybody, no? Because like right now, yesterday Federer play three sets, and today Rafa play five sets, five hours, and he will have one day less, and with a semifinal much longer.

I think that for sure they supposed to play the two semifinals like the womans, the same day. And I think also with two weeks, you have enough days to make the schedule right and have it like this.

But I don't know why they did it, no? I promise, I didn't know that Federer was playing yesterday. I thought that yesterday was playing only girls, and today two semifinals. When I saw that he was playing yesterday, I was a little bit in shock. I was like, Why he's playing one day before us? He will have much recover, and in the final he will have a little bit more of advantage because he had one day more.

So I don't know why they did it. And I think that, for sure, they need to change it.

Q. Only Wimbledon has the perfect schedule. The others do what they want.
FERNANDO VERDASCO: I think this is one thing that for sure they need to change. If they hear me here, the guys from Australian Open, I'm so happy because I make semifinals here, and is my biggest tournament. But I think that for sure they need to make it better.

And I think if they put the two semifinals the same day, is gonna be more fair for everybody, for all the four players.

(images via WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)