Rafa Nadal will meet Roger Federer in the Hamburg Masters final on Sunday after clinching a pulsating 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 win over Novak Djokovic on Saturday.

Sunday's final will be the 16th time the world's top two have met, with the Swiss star beating Rafa only once on clay. In last year's final here, he bounced back from losing the first set to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-0.

"I am looking forward to playing in Roger's home," quipped Rafa after Federer had earlier picked up his 22nd straight win in Hamburg to reach Sunday's final"..."He has won here four times and it is best clay court venue, he loves it here, it will be a very tough match".

"Roger played a little over an hour of tennis today, while I played more than three, I just have to make sure I am 100 percent ready, because that is the level you have to reach to beat Roger."

The last of Rafa's seven wins over Federer on clay came last month in Monte Carlo when the world number one went down 7-5, 7-5. In Saturday's semi-final, with not only a place in Sunday's final at stake, but the world number two ranking behind Federer up for grabs, this was a titanic tussle between Nadal and Australian Open champion Djokovic, who won the Rome title last week.

"It was one of the best matches I have played, maybe the best I have ever played in on clay", said Djokovic..I just want to take the positive things out of it. Nadal is the best defensive player in the history of the sport."

Djokovic has never beaten Rafa on clay in their three previous meetings on the surface, but he romped into a 3-0 lead in the first set and was a point away from extending the gap until Rafa responded. The Spaniard fought back brilliantly with plenty of aggression to take the first set 7-5.

Djokovic rallied to take the second set 6-2 having powered his way into a 4-2 lead with some superb forehands. Rafa then dug deep to seize a 5-2 lead in the third set but needed five match points before he took the decider 6-2 after three hours and two minutes.

"It was special game, because he played a very good game, he has improved incredibly and is getting better," said Rafa. "He's going to be world number one within a few years, he's very good and very young."