Australian Open 2012: Federer and Nadal on Crash Course for Epic Semifinal Match

After mowing down their opponents in the first four rounds, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are each one win away from meeting in an epic semifinal clash at the Australian Open.

The two normally save their showdowns for the title match, but with Novak Djokovic holding the world's No.1 seed, Federer and Nadal find themselves on the same side of the bracket.

How They Got Here

Nadal has yet to drop a set at the Aussie Open, cruising to easy victories over Alex Kuznetsov, Tommy Haas, Lukas Lacko and No. 18 Feliciano Lopez.

The Spaniard has been dominant so far and he looks poised to capture the second Australian Open title of his career.

Federer has had a slightly tougher road to the quarterfinals, but he too has yet to be tested. In the fourth round, Federer easily dispatched Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

Who They Face Next

In the quarterfinals, Federer will be challenged by No. 11 Juan Martin del Potro.

In 2009, Del Potro shocked Federer by coming back from down two sets to one to win the US Open. I'm expecting Federer to prevail this time, but it certainly won't be easy.

Nadal also has a tough test in the quarterfinals when he takes on No. 7 Tomas Berdych. Berdych has beaten Nadal three times on the professional level, but Nadal has won their last nine matches.

I'm taking Rafa in four sets.

If both men advance to the quarterfinals, it will set up another classic battle between the sport's two brightest stars. Nadal is 17-9 against Federer, but most of those victories have come on clay. On the hard court in Melbourne, anything can happen.