Five of the best matches between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will face each other in a mouth-watering Wimbledon semi-final on Friday.

The last-four clash will be the 40th meeting between the two over a 15-year period, with Spaniard Nadal currently leading 24-15 over his Swiss counterpart.

Here, PA takes a look at five of their most memorable matches.

2005 Miami Open final, Federer won 2-6 6-7 (4) 7-6 (5) 6-3 6-1

2006 Italian Open final, Nadal won 6-7 (0) 7-6 (5) 6-4 2-6 7-6 (5)

The early promise shown by Nadal in Miami had continued throughout the year, as he quickly became the number two to Federer going into this latest meeting between the two. With the Spaniard in form and playing on his strongest surface, there was only going to be one winner. Federer had to fight from 2-1 down to make it to a fifth set which turned out to be a cracker. Coming from 4-2 behind and saving two match points, Nadal came out on top to make it five wins out of six against the Swiss.

2007 Wimbledon final, Federer won 7-6 (7) 4-6 7-6 (3) 2-6 6-2

2008 Wimbledon final, Nadal won 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-7 (8) 9-7

Nadal finally recorded his first Wimbledon title in a match that somehow topped even the previous year’s drama. With rain delays prolonging the contest over the course of seven hours, Federer had to come back from two sets down to take it to a fifth via a pair of tie-breaks but the tables turned in Nadal’s favour when he needed it the most. It took until 9-7 in the final set but a new Wimbledon champion was finally crowned after what John McEnroe described as “the greatest match ever played”.

2017 Australian Open final, Federer won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3

Nine years on, there was still plenty on the line for the two greats of the game. Nadal, having been plagued with injuries, had not won a grand slam since the French Open in 2014 while Federer’s last success came at Wimbledon in 2012. Another close-fought five-set contest unfolded, although not on the level of their other classic meetings. Nadal twice battled from a set down but Federer always had enough in the tank and tearfully celebrated his 18th grand-slam title.