Nadal to meet Federer in Shanghai Masters final

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Marin Cilic of Croatia during their men's singles semifinals match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.[Photo:AP]

Organizers of this year's Shanghai Masters tournament have gotten their wish.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will face each other in today's final, after Nadal got past Marin Cilic, while Federer dispatched Juan Martin Del Potro.

This will be the 38th time Federer has taken on Nadal.

"You can tell we have been there many, many times before and he is a great champ. I enjoy playing against me (him) with all those head-to-heads maybe they're not in my favour, but I think he is one of the guys who made me a better player,"Federer said.

Nadal holds a 23-14 winning record against Federer.

However, Federer has won their last four meetings, including all three this season.

The world number-1 Nadal admits he's in for a tough match this Sunday.

"Any opponent in the final it will be very tough. They are playing well, and playing in a surface where probably both of them likes the kind of surface here, so it's going to be a tough one. I'll need to play at my highest level. I hope to be ready to play at that high level. I am playing well for already a while, so that helps. I hope to be ready for the match of tomorrow," Nadal told reporters.

In making it to today's final, Nadal's victory of Marin Cilich is his 871st in his career, putting him ahead of American Andre Agassi into 6th place on the 'Open Era' all-time wins list.