Men's Semi-Final Australian Open Tennis

No Andy Murray as his challenge ended in the last eight. It was his

first grand slam event since back surgery, so no surprise he was

outplayed by a rejuvenated Roger Federer who overcame his own back

problem. I said we had a much to savour this morning, how does Roger

versus Rafa sound to you? You are talking about a unique time in

history. There is an argument to make that the Dahl and Federer are

the two greatest players who ever played. Roger Federer, the greatest

ever. Today belongs to Nadal. The first time in his career, the

Spaniard wins the title without dropping a set. The most remarkable

tower -- champion. Outstanding. They both belong on a different planet.

Quite astounding. An absolute genius at work. Spectacular. No one can

handle this man when he plays like this. The place, the power -- the

pace. Just a privilege to watch this match.

The greatest male player of all time. We have seen it all now.

What a difference a year makes. 12 months ago we were talking about a

new rivalry between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, but they are out,

and the new guard are standing firm. John, when you look at the

stoop, over the years they have raised not only the profile of

tennis but have earned a huge amount of respect in sport around the

world. I agree with what John McEnroe was saying, possibly the two

greatest players of all time, and the greatest ambassadors you could

have at the top sport. They get it. They do the charity work, and the

carrot he -- carry themselves so well. Everybody loves them, and if

you have a sport where you have a number one and a number to like

this, where they have been to so many years, they carry it

magnificently. When you look out role models you couldn't get any

better. You have two icons in the same generation. Its great credit to

Djokovic Ann-Marie that they have managed to get involved at all. --

and Murray. These two could have dominated but it was amazing that

Djokovic finished 2011 /12 as the number one in the world. When

Federer arrived at the top, the 2003 Wimbledon, he was -- when he

arrived, you could not have said he was going to win the most amount of

grand slam titles, but it's the way he has done it. There is a style,

elegance and class to it. You cannot buy it. Other great sportsmen,

Rinaldo and -- Ronaldo and Messi, they pay to go and watch them. Nadal

Is now dominating Federer. I think eventually he will probably be

considered the best if he stays fit. Incredible champions, and if you

look at what they have achieved and continue to achieve, as far as the

grand slam record goes, Roger Federer is on 17. But then look at

Rafa. They could be the greatest ever. It could certainly be that

way, no reason why Nadal cannot win more. The interesting one with

Federer is that a lot of people wrote him off, but then he comes out

this year, and look at him now. So Nadal gets a chance to equal Sampras

and close on Federer. He gets a chance to be the first man in the

open era to win each of the slams is at least twice, so he's at least

chasing his place in history. He is four or five years younger than

Roger Federer. And he hasn't lost on him anywhere else other than

Wimbledon. That's why he starts as favourite. He always says he's not

thinking about records in press conference, but nonsense. He wants

to win every match he plays and this is a massive one. On this side of

the draw, you have two guys who have won 30 slams. And then you have

Wawrinka, who hasn't won any and it's his first final. Everybody

wants to be courtside in Melbourne, and we have seen some great

champions like Rod Labour over the weeks, but also the man who was on

that list, Pete Sampras, he will keep an eye on this. Let's hear from

them. -- Laver. It is tougher as you get older. Roger is 32 and Rafa is

in his prime, 27, 28. It's not going to last forever. You have to

appreciate this match tonight. So much so that you sit back and enjoy

it. These are two of the greatest players of all time, playing in the

same decade. It is one for the ages and let's hope it lives up to

expectations. But it's certainly not going to last forever. We'll get

older and retire at some stage but it's nice to see Roger playing well.

He has his confidence back. We wish them all the best. It is great to

see the old champion still coming to the tournaments. I'm surprised. Pete

Sampras has come to Wimbledon a few times, but going out to Australia, I

don't know why he's there. Maybe he's got a couple of deals. He has a

couple of luncheons to attend. He looks quite fit. He's coming over to

play in London as well. That was a rivalry, him and Andrei Agassi. That

sustained the mid-90s. That was the real deal. With Federer and the

dial, this is their 33rd meeting, and the great rivalries are like

that -- and Nadal. Djokovic and Nadal have played 39 times. So you

have this group, and Andy Murray knocking on the door man he has

walked through it several times. It's incredible. We used to think

somebody would get to five or six, like Boris Becker, but Federer is

17. When he is gone, that game will miss him. Nadal, please stay fit.

There might be a short delay before we see the men's semifinal. The

ladies doubles final is on court, they are in the final set. We will

be keeping an eye on that and honestly go to that if it does

continue. We are looking forward to the men's semifinal today, Roger

against Rafa, but one finalist is through, Matilla Stanislas Wawrinka

and what a tournament he has had. -- and that is Stanislas Wawrinka.

Yesterday he beat Tomas Berdych in four sets, and he will no doubt be

watching today and wondering if it will be an all Swiss final. Let's

hear his thoughts. I always enjoy watching them play each other

because they are playing the best tennis, and it's fun, and you can

always learn from them. It will be really amazing for me and Roger to

play each other in a grand slam final, it will be something really

special. The breakthrough has happened. It's been coming for a

while. I think it was a stroke of brilliance when he picked Magnus

Norman to be his coach. We have seen parts of his game, and you look at

him and you wonder why he's not made the next step. There was a missing

ingredient. He picked Magnus Norman, very calm borrow knowledgeable --

he's very, very knowledgeable and now he looks like a threat in every

slam. The ultimate reason he beat Djokovic, what Wawrinka has learned

to do, is to get the ball back in play when he needs to. He has

learned to take the pace, like Federer, float it back and ask the

opponent hit another. The last two points against Djokovic were errors

from Djokovic. Djokovic didn't handle it, missing a crosscourt drop

shot. Last point, got his racket on the server, and missed a high

forehand volley. Wawrinka is getting the ball back in play and making

people play. He's asking difficult questions. His record against the

other two guys in the semifinal, he has won one and lost 25. It's going

to be difficult, God bless him for getting through to a final. The

backhand is wonderful to watch. It is a joy. What has improved a lot

apart from the mental side is his defensive play. He didn't have a

defence, he attacked every ball, but now he gets the ball back and get it

in play and can open up the court. He's the greatest one-handed

backhand out there now, I think. When you have a big win like that,

to it up, -- to back it up. They played in a group match in London I

could see why, because he keeps putting it back. The margin over the

net Tomas Berdych is high. It was tight. It was six out of seven

victories brought Wawrinka and I think we saw why. Two double faults

in one tie-break and another in the fourth set. Bad timing, but he has

no margin, he just goes for it, Berdych. A big danger man is out of

the way. I think Federer and an adult would prefer to play Wawrinka

than Berdych, but marginal -- Federer and Nadal. Two days off, so

long wait for first final. Yes but in some ways it was better because

he has had some tough, physical matches. He can enjoy the things

coming his way and then Magnus Norman can say, back to business,

final in 24 hours. I think it's better he's had a couple of days

rest. I was saying that the ladies doubles was on court, but that has

finished and the winners this year are Errani and Vinci, they won it in

the third set. They did lead 5-2, came back and broke again. They are

the champions in Australia. The ladies doubles has been completed,

and now everybody will be staying and waiting for Roger Federer

against Rafa Nadal. Matches don't come better than that. But well done

to Sara and Roberta. We mention great rivalries, and this is where

everybody wants to be, watching Rafa against Roger. At the end of last

year we were thinking Federer, is he going to be a factor in grand slams

and people thought no, but he has a new racquet and a new coach, and

Federer is back, not that he totally went away, but looking at the

finals, if he wins this match, he is odds-on favourite to beat Wawrinka.

If he wins this match, he wins another slam. Nadal, blisters on his

hands so we don't know about him. The potential for this match, it

could be the best match of the tournament. We mentioned that the

racket -- we mentioned that racquet, but he has persevered and it seems

to have paid off. He has been experimenting. He normally doesn't

play with Wimbledon, but what he has now is a 98 square inch racket and

it looks like the one Tsonga uses, with a bigger sweet spot in the

middle. He's very comfortable with it. It's thin around the outside,

and he likes one that cuts through the air. It just feels right to

him. What it has given him his control on the second serve

particularly. It feels like he can put the second serve where he wants

to keep an opponent guessing. He has only lost twice in five matches at

the Australian open. The string pattern is slightly widened out and

you get more on the ball. He feels he can get more power with it on the

backhand side. He's not panicking. He has the Edberg backhand, nice and

calm until he knifes it in. It looks almost like he has another six

inches on it. He is getting to balls better than before his back injury.

He never talks about his back injury and never likes to save anything is

wrong, but last year he Bisley was not moving as well as now. --

anything. -- obviously. Welcome to the real world, Roger. Last year

some things happen, but then he got through. He is playing well and

there is no excuses but last year he was struggling. You can see he is

moving beautifully out there. I agree with Andrew, with the racquet,

psychologically as much as anything. But I think it is helped his

backhand. He seems to be getting on top of the ball. He will need to

today, because that is where Nadal will go and it's causing problems in

the past. It is a high bouncing court. Rafa's shots, very high. It's

easier to volley with this racquet. When you go from the one he was

using, and honestly don't now how he used it, 400 grams, just piece of

wood. He is volleying comfortably. This is fantastic today. Federer,

the greatest player we have got so far, against the one who will

probably assume the mantle of greatest player, and Roger is having

to figure it out. How many years has he just blown people off the court

with his technique and physicality? Now this is a champion really

struggling. And he wonders whether this is it or not. This is a real

possibility. This will excite him today, and that's what I'm excited

about. Absolutely. He was an awesome form against Andy Murray, who he

beat in four sets, and we can see the match point and how he finished

it off. It was Federer at his best. Murray came back to win a

tie-break, but boy, did he raise the level of play again in the fourth

set. That was a terrific performance from Roger, and I don't think we

expected much more from Andy. I think he had a good tournament,

comfortable draw, but to get to the semifinals and come up against

Federer, I thought he played well. But for Federer to get through that,

psychologically, that is a big victory to beat Andy Murray. A

couple of points there, you could see Federer doubting himself, but he

came through and that will mean a good deal to his confidence. He

finds Andy Murray a difficult player. Let's be honest, everyone

thinks you're making excuses for Andy Murray if he loses, but the

bottom line is he's played a couple of tournaments since the U.S. Open

last year. When you come up against one of the other big boys, the top

three, it's a different pace. Maybe only two or 3% different from

everyone but he had not been in that arena. At the end of the third set

when he had to push up, he founded. I think it was not a bad sign for

Andy. I think he will be fine. I'm glad. He did only play a couple of

competitive matches before coming here to the Australian open. Let's

hear how Andy reflected on that loss. Commiserations. Of its any

consolation, that was some battle in the third or fourth set. Yes, I

fought hard at the end, there were some long, tough games, with big

points where I went to my shots and was very aggressive. When he was

playing at a very high level, I managed to get myself back into the

match. That was pleasing. My body held up fairly well. I didn't expect

it to be perfect. It was maybe a little bit better than I expected.

I'm happy about that. Not wanting to think too far ahead, but does it

give you encouragement for the challenges later in the year? Yes,

you never know how you will respond to surgery and I wasn't expecting to

come in and win the event, and I would be really stupid to think

that, it's a tough thing to do playing against Roger at that level.

Even if I had one, I would have had to play Rafa in a couple of days and

that would have been a tough ask. I am happy to be playing at a good

level, with a few more matches in a bit more training, hopefully I'll be

back to my best at some stage this year. Yes, fitness, and he needs to

play more matches and get himself match tough again. He has the

perfect opportunity, he played enough matches here, and he has the

Davis cup coming up, which should be five set matches. It's the ideal

preparation. Unfortunately, to have this so early in the season was

tough for him. If there were small events coming through, four or five

of them, he would have got through. He will be in good shape on the

other tournaments. The point is he got through the grand slam without a

problem in his back and will only get better as the year goes on. It

will be a test for him next week, the Davis cup, on clay, in San

Diego. We will have it live on the BBC. That is a whole different ball

game. They are playing on clay in San Diego. The Americans have their

two big boys, Querrey and Isner, and Jim Korea is captain, and it will be

very difficult -- Jim Korea -- Courier. It looks like Kyle Evans

might get the nod over James Walker. Dan Evans is not even in the

team. Murray needs matches against the big guys, and the sooner the

better. Indian Wells and Miami on the hard courts will show us where

he is. Lendl We'll certainly be in his corner, and Boris Becker is

working with Novak Djokovic but there's been a lot of talk about

Roger Federer's new signing, Stefan Edberg, he was a man of few words,

understated, but underneath the facade was a ferocious competitor.

Whether it is down to him or not, Roger certainly looks to be more

aggressive in his style in Australia. That was evident when he

beat Murray and he is suddenly happy with his fitness and form so far. I

definitely sense that today I am back, physically, and I am explosive

out there. I can get the balls -- two balls, I'm not afraid to get to

balls. Last year I couldn't do it, but the important thing is I can do

it now and I'm looking forward to the next match. It was a great game

on many levels today, not just physically, but also mentally, it

was tough. I really played some good tennis and I was very happy. Yes,

Roger, he is in awesome form Rafa Nadal has his problems as well. The

concern was the blister. He said it affected his serve and he was

worried about the racquet coming out of his hand, and he served 78 double

faults in one match, but our spies in Melbourne said yesterday he

practised yesterday without tape on his hand for the first time for

awhile -- seven or eight. That blister looks nasty. It was

affecting his serve we might be talking about a different outcome.

It bothered him so much he lost the set. Still managed to get through.

He is certainly match hardened. Whether he will get through, I don't

know. It is early in the morning so you might want to look away, but we

have a look at the blister in this interview with Rafa. I am happy the

way that I am playing. With the blister, the only problem I have is

really the serve. I feel like the racquet can go. I'm not feeling I am

holding it strongly on my serve. That gives me a little bit of

confusion with myself. I was not really confident. But for the rest

of the game, it's fine. I had tried my best in the semifinals, and I am

happy to come out of the tough battle and be in the semifinals. I

will try to keep playing well. The men's singles in the Australian in

the last couple of years has produced some really long, really

classic matches. How much do you enjoy those really tough, tense

battles? Are you ready to go through some real pain to try and win? I'll

want to win big tournaments. You are playing against the biggest -- best

players in the tunnel. The match will be long, tough, there will be

pressure -- pressure moments -- best players in the world. Why am doing

this, I want to be in these matches, to have these moments. I want to

learn, to improve, to enjoy this situation. The crowd here is just

amazing. It is very emotional for me after missing last year and having a

lot of problems in the past year, so every time I'm able to play here and

feel the crowd behind me is just very, very special. I'm trying to

enjoy it as much as I can every day. So glad he is still enjoying it, and

we certainly enjoy watching him, and this man, Roger Federer. They are

making their way from the locker room is. No surprise that Rafa is a

little late. That is almost part of his routine. Federer has only beaten

him ten times, compared to 22, quite a ratio of losses there. This is a

great champion trying to find a way to take on another. There is no

question that Nadal has dominated. That's why we talk so much about

Federer, because we did not know where he was last year, but we do

now. Everything he has done comes down to this. It all comes down to

absolutely staying in the present. I would have loved to have heard a

very quiet and softly spoken, authoritative words from Jedburgh in

the changing room before going out on court -- from Stefan Edberg. If

he can defend on the backhand effectively, and come to the net

effectively, those two things, then he has a chance. If it was over one

set, I would fancy his chances more, but five set, can you see Federer

winning the match? Maybe he can and I'm sure he's goes out thinking he

can. There is Wayne McEwan, now he is the boss of the tournament. They

had a lot of aggro with the heat policy. Anyway, here he comes.

And his opponent from Spade -- from Spain, Rafael Nadal!

A huge ovation for both players, they get it everywhere they go.

Everyone so looking forward to this. It is interesting. Andrew was

talking about what Roger has to do, and the blister could be a factor.

He was saying he could not hold onto the racket the serve, and you had a

blister in that place. It's not easy, and it's painful getting

treated. It's not like on the fingers where you can tape it, right

in the Palmer band, tough to keep the tape on their without coming up

-- the palm of the hand. He said he was struggling on the serve, but he

was practising yesterday and he wouldn't have done that if there was

a real problem. He has probably sorted that out. Having said that,

the match is more likely to go on for at least three hours and it

could flare up again, and it could make a slight difference. I think

you should be OK. You talk about the head-to-head, and looking at it,

Rafa has won the last four times they've played, in fact ten of the

last 12 in the last three years. It is a dominant head-to-head for

Nadal. Eight grand slam finals, and that is 6-2 in favour of another.

Federer, he has not won a grand slam match against Nadal since 2007 at

Wimbledon. That's a long time. Hard to believe, but Federer will think

he has something to prove, which is why this is fun. Personally, I look

at the match and I wonder how. I was messing about on Twitter, and most

people think the same, how do you deal with Nadal on this surface? He

will keep throwing the forehand into the Federer backhand all night until

he figures it out. And he is ready. We are going to get the pictures

first, so face that way with Thomas, then face the other way. And

then the free view the other, please? And Thomas, if you come with

C -- come with me a minute, we will get a picture of just the two of

them. -- and then all three of you the other way. Any questions

question Rafa, would you like to call it? Heads? You'll take that

side. OK. That is a first, pick your side? He picked the side, and then

Rafa said he would receive. Nobody wanted to serve. Maybe he just

wanted him to choose. It's cloudy, there's a roof though, so it doesn't

make much difference, and it is at night. Jake Garner was the umpire

taking us through that, and it an interesting choice. I don't know

what psychological games these two have got going on. We talk about the

matches they have played in the places they have played. They know

each other very well and they get on. They played all the exhibition

matches and everything else. They've supported each other charities in

the past, so God knows what goes on between them, but when push comes to

shove, it is the match between the two. I love the fact that nerves

will play a part in exciting but it won't destroy them. They've both

been there and done it and they've won every tournament and both have

an Olympic gold. I think this is just a lovely tennis match to watch.

I think Nadal will start as heavy favourite, and I suspect he will

win, but I can't wait to see Federer dealing with it. We talk about

records, and for Roger Federer, 11 straight Australian open

semifinals. It's incredible, the consistency. It is mind-boggling and

it's so great to see him play so well. There is the Stefan Edberg

factor. We talk about his record in Slams, two against eight, and I

think the signing of Stefan Edberg, the great champions that have come

in, like Boris Becker, you don't have to have been a great player to

be a great coach. Rafa Nadal's uncle Toni is proof of that, but all great

players, even the great ones, they have great doubts in themselves. You

don't see him looking confident on cat -- you think he is looking

confident on camera, but there are times you doubt themselves -- there

are times they doubt themselves. Having Stefan Edberg in his corner,

that might give him a couple of little things, just little hints

that might help them, because he's been there and done it and I think

it's a masterstroke with these players getting these great ex-grand

slam champions in their corner. That is what Roger said. He wanted to

have him. He was his boyhood hero. He just said he could talk to him,

he's been there, he knows what he's going through, and he can give in

those little nuggets of information. It's great to have

someone next to you that has been there and understands. I think

Stefan Edberg and Roger will be a perfect mix. They are so similar. So

serene, both of them. Listening to Stefan Edberg, he said there are

some things he can help with, a few tactical things. He got the tax

looks right against Andy Murray. It is about coming to the net, and

Stephanie Berg was the master of that. When you have been there and

done it as he has, in these moments of nerves, I guarantee Federer has

had doubts about playing Nadal, his record proves that. Just to have

someone like Stefan Edberg in his corner the night before the match,

saying, " you can win this". Personalities have got to match

should. Very much like Ivan Lendl and Andy Murray. They are similar, a

great sense of humour even though it does not come across as much. They

get on well, they laughed together. You have Djokovic, a fiery character

with respect. OK, he lost this very close match with Wawrinka. But they

have picked ex-players with similar personalities in their own era. If

they don't get on well off the court, it is doomed. But I think it

will work out well. It already has worked well with Murray and Ivan

Lendl. Roger is saying he is going to keep the points short, maybe that

is because he is 32 years of age and you want to conserve your energy,

particularly in five sets. What nobody moved in court and came to

the net better than Stefan Edberg? I agree. But there is a fine line, if

he comes in on approach shots that are not good, he will be hitting

ankle volleys all day. I think we will see Roger Federer coming out

all guns blazing in this first set. He will try and impose himself. It

is tough to see eventually, Nadal not wearing him down. It is tough to

see with their past record. But who knows, Federer is back, a new tennis

racket and he believes in himself. Being a left-hander, that is such an

advantage isn't it? He can really exploit Federer even more. That has

possibly been a big difference? No question, getting up high to the

Federer backhand. He says his backhand his better with this new

racket. He has confidence going after the ball. He will be hitting a

lot of shoulder height backhands. But can he hit it deeply enough

where Rafa does not take over the point with his forehand. Can he go

down the line a bit more than he used to? Open up the court with that

backhand. It will be the difference, how well he handles that side of the

game. They have quickened the court up a bit. It is good we are not

having the Grand Slams played on all slow surfaces. Wimbledon has slowed

the grass down. They are making players want to come in more?

Absolutely, that is what this game is about. You should have

differences. I think Wimbledon should go back to the quicker grass

courts, that is part of what makes a grand slam so different. The court

speeds have been similar and it has made the game or predict the book.

When you get a surface like this one that is quicker this year, it is

lovely to see. It is so good to see Rafa at the Australian Open because

he has been injured so often. He has not won it since 2009. And he has

won a tournament coming into it, in Doha, which he has never ban before.

He won a tournament coming in, is in perfect shape. He is the favourite

today. But you cannot count out Federer. I think we had written him

off a bit for Grand Slams after last year, but he is still there. He

knows if he beats Rafa he has a great chance against Wawrinka in the

final. People were doubting him. I think he doubted himself. OK, thank

you very much. So much to talk about, how much will Roger attack

and how will that blister hold-up? If you have any thoughts on that or

want to make any comments, you can contact the team. You can get in

touch on the website and Facebook. Also, Twitter. Any thoughts on the

match, the up and coming Davis Cup, we would love to hear from you. We

are set for this meant's semifinal, Roger against Rafa. Let's join John

and Andy. The rivalry continues. This is the

semifinal of the Australian Open. The first of this year's for grand

slam championships. ANDREW CASTLE: a pretty comfortable

hold at the start of the match. He has only lost serve twice. Once too

Andy Murray when he was serving for the match in the quarterfinal in the

third set. John Lloyd, gives credit to this larger headed tennis racket

for giving him control on the ball on the serve. If you feel

comfortable with the weapon you are wielding, it makes you feel good on

the court? You said about his sweet spot and you ask a white he would

need to improve his sweet spot. Reminds me of Jimmy Connors, his

sweet spot was so small, I wondered how he ever hit the ball. But this

racket has given him a bit more confidence.

Service direction and keeping an opponent guessing, that is what

Federer is looking for in this match. He took hold of that

backhand. That was up pretty high against Federer. Nadal did not whip

it up as high as we have seen it, but it was still shoulder height.

That is what happens if you come into the wrong side or on the wrong

ball, or at the wrong time, with not enough on it, you will get punished.

This is the difference between the man he is playing today, Federer,

and the men he has played so far. Nadal is the top man for the pass.

That is fine. Big difference between obviously this approach shot and one

in the previous point. He had the open court. The one before, he did

not hit it hard enough, get it wide enough and then you paid the

it is a fascinating opening three games we have seen so far.

Fascinating seven minutes. Once Nadal had got to be as ball, you

expected him to put it down the line. His anticipation was perfect.

But it is more evidence of Federer feeling confident at the net. That

has to be something to do with Stefan Edberg. Perhaps, John Lloyd,

he gave Federer permission to come in, go ahead and express yourself.

There is no way you can stay back against Djokovic and Nadal and most

of the time against Andy Murray as well. At this age, you have to keep

rallies shorter and don't get involved in a slugging match at the

back of the court. He looks so good at the back of the net. Yes, he

needs his approach shot. He has to increase that. His statistics were

very good against Murray. Murray has one of the greatest passing shots on

the circuit. He did very well against him. That would have given

him tremendous confidence. He has got to take chances to win this

match, there is no question. After 45 minutes of the contest against

Murray, Federer had been to the net 18 times and won 14 of them. It was

clear what his pack ticks were, they will be similar here. The onus will

be on the Swiss player to try to dictate this match.

I was going to say before that amazing attempt of the passing shot

by Nadal, that was a great approach shot. Even if he had lost that

point, ye has to take those chances. Wonderful anticipation.

Almost got away with that because of his excellent Arcand volley. But the

hook shot wasn't good enough. Did not get Nadal out wide enough. Had

to get an excellent folly to stay in this point.

That was developing as an Nadal point. I am sure Stefan Edberg has

same to Federer, state down on that backhand. -- stay down.

You would normally say, don't run round a left-handed serve because

the ball is swinging away from you. Federer was three or four feet

outside the tramlines. That to hit a winner otherwise he would have been

out of the shot. Took a chance and it paid off.

That is the one. Do you slice that back? Then hit another forehand?

Once it has climbed up above shoulder height, it is so hard for

the single hander. You don't see that shot very often.

A top-spin forehand volley? It was dipping and it was coming in. I

guarantee you he does not practice that. He does not need to Pratt is

it if he can hit it like that. What a shot. Did not wait for it to drop

too low. He attacked it like that. Tremendous hold of serve from Nadal.

Previous game from love 30 down. Building up nicely already this

semifinal. Tomorrow from 8.25, Li Na against

Dominique 's bulk. She beat Shara probe.

The meant's final from 8:15am on Sunday morning. Stanislas Wawrinka

awaits one of these two. He has won one match of the 26 he has played

against them. He beat Federer wants, but has never beaten Nadal. -- once.

Good sign so far if you are a Roger Federer fan. He is getting these

half court opportunities. Has not converted them yet to break serve,

but is not being dictated to. Sometimes Nadal has started to dip

Tate the way the match is being played and would push Federer back.

That is not happening. Has not quite converted some of these half court

balls yet, but it is close and he will be encouraged by this start.

The problem is, psychologically, it is the best of five sets. Best of

three sets, it is a different ball game. But against this man, it is a

long way in a Grand Slam. It is the toughest thing in the world to do.

Federer has never beaten him outside of Wimbledon.

That was a well worked point. We may see more errors from Federer than

normal. But it is OK. He has to take chances. It is the winners that are

going to count. These are the sorts of points he does not want to get

involved in where he is being dictated to. But it would have been

tough to get ahead in that rally, unfortunately. Underrated serve from

Nadal. Does not serve many aces but that swinging out wide on the line,

it is tough for Federer to do anything.

Still no signs of a break of serve in this Australian Open semifinal.

Nadal with a comfortable hold. He had been 0-30 down on his previous

service game. Found that passing shot will stop no break points yet.

Again, Federer, half court all. Anything around that area he has to

dominate the point. As soon as he get that chance, he has two take it.

That was the first serve-volley of the night. Hopefully it will not put

him off doing it again. Now and again it is a good idea to throw it

in. But that one did not get out wide enough and with Nadal you have

to be spot on. The backhand pass. On the return of serve on a previous

points, but this! Hardly anything to a mat and he just comes around it.

Comes around like he is bowling. Huge amount of side spin and here

are a couple of break points. That is surprisingly. Federer will

be looking to make this second break point a very short one. Could really

use a first serve here. And that is about as animated as you

will see Stefan Edberg. Just a whisper. Something along the lines

of "good". Federer not doing enough with the

forehand. If you're going to go that wide, you need to do something more

than that. Straight into the pocket of Nadal.

That was ten feet outside the alley. Went across the baseline.

First minicrisis avoided by Roger Federer. At 0-15, he played a poor

point, but ultimately the game was decided by the errors of Nadal. At

15-40, the Dahl had some chances -- Nadal had some chances. He floated

the backhand long and really should have had that. You can see his

reaction after, he knows he should have won the point and be up a break

of serve. But credit to Federer, he attacked, even when he was down, and

a brilliant service at deuce, an excellent seven games so far.

Federer hanging in there. That would have been pretty dangerous if he

lost his serve there. That would have been big problems, but he came

out of it very well indeed. So, Federer playing the last game and

holding serve with the old tennis balls. When he does come out and

serve, it will be with the new ones. Going through the air just a bit

quicker. No doubt an advantage, these conditions, the Federer. He

would rather play in something like 65 or 66 degrees in the evening

rather than chasing the forehand of Nadal in 40 degrees heat. Over 40

Celsius in Melbourne for four straight days in a week, that is the

hottest it's ever been in this city, certainly in the last 100 years of

recorded weather. Very different today, a cooler evening for the

men's semifinal. Serving a 3-4, the world number one.

A 15,000 seat arena, the Rod Laver arena as it has been known since the

year 2000. A beautiful change of direction from

Federer, going behind Nadal. Nadal already sneaking over the other side

to cover the crosscourt and went behind his man.

That is a stunning rally. Best rally of the match so far.

You just thought Federer might throw in a drop shot and follow it into

the net, but he chose to drive through the backhand. And Nadal will

gobble those up all day long, but it is their ability to stay balanced at

the very margins of the court that show you the work they have put in.

Is that Rafael Nadal's bag? It must be. No one else has won eight French

Open is -- has won the French Open eight times! He has only lost one

match there. It is staggering. He is a player that does not serve

many double faults, never a good time to have one, but not a bad

time, 15-15. That is a bit sloppy there. Two

Sloppy points in a row. Tomas Berdych had two double faults in the

tie-break and then in another, and that really cost in the match. --

really cost him the match. That is the one. That is the pattern

you worry about, with five sets, especially if you are a Federer fan.

It is just so hard to cope with Nadal's topspin and the relentless

peppering on the backhand side. In the previous game he fought back

from two break points. Here is another.

These are some nervy times. Federer is unlucky, hitting the net slowed

up the ball and Nadal had a chance to do something in the rally, then

heated a bit short and let Federer take charge again. Almost a bit

conservative therefrom Nadal in the middle of the rally.

Another of the greats of the game, Pete Sampras.

He will be thinking, what would I do here? Serve an ace.

What would he think on the second serve? Ace.

It is another escape job for Roger Federer, he is 5-4 up in the first

set. The great Rod Laver. It was wonderful watching him play against

Roger Federer on this very court, the Wednesday before the

championships began. Just before Tsonga and Federer played a pretty

full on exhibition match. Labour looked all right from the back of

the call. Did you play him ever? Yes, I played him a few times. A

great man. The most modest champion you will ever meet in your life. You

would have thought that his record, but he looks like he has won three

or four club tournaments. He has created history, has a stadium named

after him, and you wouldn't have thought that any of that would have

happened. He is the most modest champion and a fantastic man.

Indeed. He knows what he is watching with these two. Both champions, and

obviously so. Federer, under enormous pressure in the last two

service games has escaped, but what has been interesting is how Nadal

has been just a little bit off on the biggest points so far. He has.

That's right. Well, he's nervous. It happens to the greats. Now Federer

perhaps looking for an ambush. First couple of points, take a risk and go

for it. Two first serves four Nadal, and

suddenly the game looks easy. -- for Nadal.

Another one of these errors. That was miles out. It really was. He has

lost control a few times. You don't often see his radar go off.

Yes, Federer excepting that one. Just something for Nadal to deal

with there. He's definitely not happy at the moment. Needs to get

himself going. He's usually running around the place. The controlled

from the back of the court is still being wrestled by these two, the

control. Some uncharacteristic errors, particularly from the

Spaniard. The ball was called out. Nadal

cannot believe he has missed the big return on the second serve point.

15-0, Nadal has two remaining. Edberg will be looking at that

thinking, that's what I would have done.

That's what I would have done. You and me both.

It is the 33rd meeting between these two, and we talk about great

rivalries. Stefan Edberg, in the Federer camp now, and his rivalry

with Boris Becker is talked about, and the late 80s and early 90s, it

was great to watch. It was acted quite one-sided, 25 victories Q --

actually quite one-sided, 22 victories for Boris Becker, tend to

Stefan Edberg. You look at John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, they only

played 14 times, that was 7-7. Lendl And McEnroe played quite a lot,

21-15 to Lendl. Pete Sampras is here, present to the

semifinal. -- present for the semifinal. And there is the racquet

that has been subject of a lot of speculation. It is branded with the

logo of his manufacturer in the strings, so it is a sponsored

racket, he has the deal in place. It is just the racquet is made for him.

They haven't come up with a colour scheme yet. Yes, they have decided

to go with a straight black at the moment, which I think looks great.

Try and make it as colourful as Nadal's clothes. That would be

something. I'm not going to be on the creative team.

He took to bigger step on the backhand, I think it was fatigue.

That was the first time as well. His foot -- his footwork is normally

immaculate. The last backhand, he took a long stride. Look at that.

You know what, I can't move my feet any more. Yes, that is where you

might be looking for a slice, take a risk. If you can pass me, you can

have the point, but maybe ask the question early in the rally.

They are panting hard, and going into a break, you don't want to be

serving like that. That is exactly right.

Ready for the breaker. That first point knocked the stuffing out of

him. At 26 or 27 you might think about recovering, but 32, perhaps

not. Australian open champion, Rafael

Nadal, 2009, he beat Roger Federer. Runner-up in 2012. Federer, four

times champion here. That is the pattern that he wants,

short, decisive, explosive. Maybe he does spot an opportunity here,

although it is still game point the Dell. -- game point, Nadal.

No wonder you would grab the towel on every point if you were Nadal.

These are worrying signs for Federer, because these are Nadal

points. Brutal at the back of the court, asking the question, can you

hit another one? How good a ball can you hit? Do you feel like running

into the crowd to hit another backhand?

I just think, the Swiss champion here, he has to win this first set.

Just the footwork from Federer, didn't look like he got out of the

way enough, letting the ball coming to his body. Just got the angle

slightly wrong there. Oh, he slipped. Should have done

more with the first volley, then slipped on the second. That is the

first one he hit hard, and directed it, but you see the slip on the

forehand volley. Lost his balance. He has made the play in this set,

Nadal. He has a commanding lead, first set tie-break.

It took about 45 minutes or so to suppress the Federer, all out

aggressive game, didn't it? Now, how do you change things? If you

Federer, how do you deal with Nadal's peppering of the backhand

side and his ability to put the forehand down to Federer's forehand

side, how do you change it? It is becoming Nadal's game. He is

directing the tax ticks now. He is pulling Federer all over the court.

The only answer, but presuming he loses this set, he will have to take

more chances, take the ball earlier and go for a big shot in the rally.

I don't see any other way. This set is not over yet, but if he does lose

it, he has to try something different.

That was a great return of serve will stop it is not over yet. That

was a return of serve from Nadal. Beautiful! Very aggressive of the

first backhand, took it early before it. Up to high. Put himself in the

driving seat in that rally. That is what he has to do, take those

chances. Delicate drop shot and then anticipating the short ball from

Nadal 's calibre. What a comeback this is. If he wins

this set he will not have to change his tactics. It looked like it was

all over. Not in his mind, and that is all that counts.

Quality, the wide serve. Two setpoints.

It is a body blow for Federer. Nadal is pumped up and got the first set

in a tie-break. Gritty in the end! High-quality exchanges. About the

errors they made as well as the quality. You can see what Federer is

trying to do. John Lloyd, the unforced errors? We knew that was

going to happen, he has to make the chances. With the unforced error is,

he has got to convert more winners. A great set of tennis. Excellent.

But unfortunately just the last couple of games, Federer started to

get involved in some very long rallies. You can get in touch with

us if you are enjoying the match. There is an Australian Open live

text on the website. There is Facebook and there is Twitter. A lot

of you saying online you think this should be the final. But that is not

the way it works. I know what you mean because the winner of this will

certainly be the favourite to beat Stanislas Wawrinka in the final.

Rafa has just left. Did you get a chance to see dimmer trough? --

Dimitrov. We saw him at Wimbledon and he made a lot of unforced

errors, he did look like he didn't know what he was doing out there.

But it looks like he is maturing and I think it will be an exciting year

ahead for him. I think it can be overstated, with respect what a

coach can bring. But if they can make half a percentage of

difference, it can be a big deal. Dimmer trough, has been happening

for quite a while. I think he will be a threat. And quite an advantage

for Nadal. Does Federer come up with something

different or stay with the same game plan? He needs to get in. He cannot

win from the back of the court over five sets against Nadal.

He had plenty of those mid-court opportunities like this where he can

take over the rally. He did not quite capitalise on it enough. It

was close, he lost it in the tie-break, but that is the mindset

and the thought 's calibre he is getting the opportunities, he just

needs to convert a bit more. When the rallies go along, Nadal

winning 10-4. Federer needs to keep it short if he can.

Oh! He almost went and got the kitchen sink and threw it at him.

Amazing defence from Nadal. And anticipation, sliding around at the

back of the court. There were times where you thought, Federer, if you

want to get to the net then you have to go.

That is so unusual. We have seen a forehand drive volley today from

Nadal. I don't think we have ever seen that. Shaped up to hit a

two-handed, backhand. Was he keeping the rally short? There is no tape

there. He wants to see the trainer. It has just come off, the tape. I

did not think he had any on there. That is a shame. Talk about trainers

being prepared, sometimes they have to come out and appraise the medical

condition of their client with the cameras running. It puts a bit of

pressure on them. This one, they would have been ready? It has not

affect did his serve so far. If it has opened up, then we have a

different ball game. If they had to tape it up, it is tough to hold it

in place. He struggled against Dimitrov holding the serve. The

crowd have just seen it in the stadium. Putting some anti-septic on

it and some adhesive as well, anything to keep it covered. Then to

finish it off, some talcum powder to go on it. Ouch! That is not a good

place. How is he concentrating to get the job done with that? !

Federer will have known the deal exactly as well. He says it affects

him more underserved than the ground strokes. But it will affect him in

his mind. Every time you hit the ball, if you are thinking about it

and it hurts. They are putting on a new skin. It looks like they are not

taping it. I cannot believe it will not open up. That is in a bad place.

Horrible. The trouble is, it does not dry that quick, that stuff. The

rules of the rules. If he is not careful, he will go over his time

allotment. They taping it? I am not sure if they are. They have two,

surely? It will be difficult for that to stay on. One minute

remaining. What is he putting on now? Talcum

powder. They probably call it something different these days, but

it is talcum powder! Medical time-out over with. Nadal

has won the first set and the first game of the second. The first set

was important to Federer. This second set is vital for him.

He handled that forehand very well, Federer of the backhand side. He

drove it deep, and that is the key on that shot. Sometimes he hits it

too short in the middle of the court and adult will take the rally. --

Nadal. It is the speed of getting into

position from Nadal. As well as the actual ball strike, it is

incredible. I think Nadal, at the last minute

saw him coming in and took his eye off the ball.

That guy is supporting Roger. He stood his ground. You just put a

hand out there and hope. I don't think he knew too much about that

ball. Was Roger having a little go at his

opponent? I think so. What about? It shows Federer is engaged in this

contest. He still feels there is something in this for him.

It doesn't look like his blister is affecting his serve at the moment,

anyway. He was worried about losing his grip against a trough and the

racket coming out of his hand. Exactly what Nadal wanted and he

stays ahead. He said he served badly against. . .

I presumably is talking... Something about grunting. Roger Federer

complaining to the umpire, perhaps the timing of grunting. No doubt,

some players, normally on the women's side. You hit the ball and

grunt after it. Sometimes it is for affect and some players think they

are trying to gain an advantage but Nadal has never done that. He has

been doing it for years. I have never heard that before, to be

honest. It is very unusual for Federer to complain about anything.

That is unusual. Interesting, isn't it? You tennis balls, second set in

the Australian Open semifinal. Final on Sunday. Winner of this to play

Stan is 's Wawrinka -- Stanislas Wawrinka. I will be listening out

for his grunting now. He is going to have two summon up

all his powers of concentration. A short return from the dial. --

from Nadal. Very dangerous the Federer the moment, hanging by a

thread. If he can get through the next ten or 15 minutes unscathed.

Yes, that return really put him in trouble.

It was all over as soon as he had the approach, he was so far out of

the court. It would have been a miracle to win the point. Federer

did everything to maximise his chances of winning the point, he

could have done nothing else. It would be nice if Nadal missed one,

just once, as far as his opponent is concerned.

The break point is saved again. A massive game in the context of the

match, this one right here. With the target, there's never been

another player like this. He just does not miss. You quite simply have

to get him moving more than that. It's not a bad approach, but it's

not good enough against him. Anybody else, maybe Djokovic or Andy Murray,

it would have been OK. I was going to say, the only man who can stay at

the back of the court and go into the backhand with that forehand is

Djokovic or Murray. What a forehand that was. That was a

good return of serve from Nadal. We used to see this so much more

five or six years ago when Federer was on top of his game. The amount

of forehand winners he could club from anywhere.

Just a hint of the centre hit. -- a hint of an offer centre hit. It is

called in! How dare I suggest that Federer misses forehand. -- misses

his forehand. You talk about rivalries, those two

played, they reckon, about 150 times.

No word on the head-to-head, but I suspect that Rod won a few more.

Ken is still plays every, loves the game. The backend deadly as ever.

Doesn't move as well. You don't see that very often. Two

in a row. It is almost as though the effort of holding serve from break

point down means he has to take 45 seconds or 90 seconds to recover. By

which time, Nadal has won another service game and momentum stays with

him. That is just tremendous. What a

backhand. It looked like it was Federer's point from that position.

He is at full stretch, open stands, clocks the winner crosscourt.

The strain going through the foundations, the knees, the angles.

Serious talk on the body. -- torque. So much for the blister hampering

the serve. He took a time-out after winning the first game of the second

set, a medical time-out and they put a covering on the big blister on his

racquet hand but it doesn't seem to affect him at all. They have busily

found a way to deal with this. He seems very effective -- they have

obviously. I would be surprised if he's not in extreme pain when he

hits. He is such an amazing personality, and mentally so strong,

that he probably goes through the pain barrier. That was cut open.

With the grip going on to it, I don't understand how he hits the

ball like this. He does not seem to be wincing. It's unbelievable. He

has never been a normal tennis player, 27 years of age, number one

in the world. He became number one after what I would say is the

greatest match I've ever seen, the doubled in final. -- the Wimbledon

final. What an extraordinary match that was. He won the French Open at

his first attempt. He was the first teenager to win on debut in a Slam

since Wilander. And he was the youngest since Sampras. Just 19 when

he won his first French Open. I am already giving the final away

on behalf of Stanislav Wawrinka. The winner of this is heavily favoured

in the final, if he was to win this, it would be 14.

Gone off the boil in this game. Shanked some forehands, two errors

in a row if this one is out, and now he is in trouble here. Second game

in a row. Even there, with the serve like

that, you cannot hit it wider than that. Still makes his opponent play

another ball. Good volley. You are joking. They both played a

magnificent point. Scintillating tennis from both players. How did

Federer stay in the rally. What a drop volley. How did he nudge that

one and then low enough and then skimmed over the top of the net.

And still Nadal cannot break through. Starting to use the serve

out wide to the forehand very well, Federer.

It has taken over an hour and a half, but Nadal finally gets what

he's after. It is a break of serve that puts him 4-2 up in the second

set, on top of that burst -- first set victory on the tie-break. That

was a pivotal game. If Federer could survive holding in the next few

minutes, but he has not been able to do that. I wonder how much is left

in the tank, I really did, with Nadal just nailing the ball. And he

is such a force of nature with his willpower as well.

So, the world number one in control of the semifinal.

We have no idea what Federer was going on about the changeover, with

the grunting. I haven't heard anything different. Would be

interesting to hear what that was all about.

He looks physically depleted at the moment. Well, there are ace -- a few

signs in the footwork, on the ground strokes.

It is the psychological aspect as well, it makes you tired. One set

and 5-2 down against Nadal. Just looking ahead, Dominic, the

women's final is at a 20 5pm -- 820 5am --8.25am. The winner of this one

will play Stanislav Wawrinka, and in a couple of weeks, the 31st of

January you can see the Davis Cup. The United States are hosting Great

Britain, at the home of the San Diego Padres. They have built a clay

court there. It looks like Kyle Edmund will make his debut, him or

James Ward. Andy Murray a definite for that? He says he is. And

realistically for us to win the tie, Murray has to play the doubles as

well. Davis Cup is five matches over three days, the two singles on the

first day, then the doubles, and then the two singles on the third

day. It is a big ask. Isner and Querrey And then the Bryan brothers

for the doubles, but it is a winnable match if Andy Murray plays.

In all likelihood, if everybody plays it was supposed to, it will

come down to the doubles, and the Bryan brothers were the favourites.

But if Andy Murray was playing doubles on the tour, he would be in

the top five are certain. If he is with Colin Fleming, it would be

60/40 match. Not favoured, but it would be close.

Nadal letting that one through. That is a clean service game for Federer.

First couple of points, and Federer has to get one of them here.

As the Spaniard, the world number one, serves for a two set lead.

It is unusual to see Federer winning those extended rallies. That will be

a boost for him. If he had lost it, he would have had the stuffing

knocked out of him. The crowd were absolutely loving it,

living it. There were three or four times in that rally where the crowd

started making noise because they thought the forehand from both Nadal

and Federer were going out, but there is so much spin that they

dipped in. That was not an easy overhead, and this was one of the

easier shots in the rally. I think he just ran out of steam on the

forehand. He had him there. Federer going the

wrong way. Oh, I don't believe it! What are you

supposed to do? And Federer has absolutely ripped a backhand

crosscourt. That tiny bit of energy he had, let rip. Nothing wrong with

that, and he just watches it sail past him down the forehand side. It

really is. The defensive play from Federer to keep himself in the rally

was unbelievable, and then finally gets the chance to explode on the

ball and gets nothing out of it at all.

Nadal just smothers opponents, doesn't he? You end up with nothing.

You end up with nothing left. Three straight points from Nadal, having

gone 0-30 down in the game. Set point.

A wonderful effort from Federer in that game. He tried to hang in, but

he had to succumb. Because Nadal is just... You just run out of ways to

describe him. It is an incredible athlete we watching Nadal. And there

is no question, no matter what sport he would have taken up, he is one of

those who would have been supreme in all of them. Absolutely fabulous. A

fabulous game. It is the mental strength as well. Why is he not

gutted that he is zero - 30 down? If he misses a first serve, how can he

produced 30 shots of great quality, and when given the smallest gap, he

can always get it. It is a stifling experience to play against him.

Apart from just losing the set, Federer is now behind in winners. So

Nadal is now just getting half the unforced errors of Federer, he is

hitting more winners, which is not a good sign. He has basically upped

the attack and been a bit more aggressive. I just don't know what

Federer can do, to be honest. It is funny that Pete Sampras is in

the crowd, watching this performance between these two guys. When he won

at the 2002 U.S. Open against Andy Roddick and won his 14th Slam, we

wondered if it would be equalled, and Federer is now on 17, and Nadal

has a chance to join the total on 14. In terms of the most grand slam

final appearances, and there are only four of these tournaments,

Federer has 24 and six years of appearances, in effect. Sampras had

18, and on the dial is trying to make it 18 -- Nadal is trying to

make it 18. Just trying to put these players in perspective in the

history of tennis, they will be talked about. It is not that long

ago when Sampras was dominating, and the players are almost playing a

different sport now. If Sampras had a ten shot rally in the match, he

would have a heart attack thinking about it. Now these rallies are 20

or 30 shots every point. With Sampras, it was almost a 1-2 punch

on every point. Nadal, when he gets done the time on 25 seconds, he says

you cannot play this sort of tennis in 100 degrees heat and have 25

seconds between points. And then people say the other side of the

argument is that you have to change your game. Right? Because that is

the rules. Hopefully one day they will have a

time clock on the court. I think that would be great. Then the

spectators can countdown. And they have to play, otherwise it is a

warning. When you are too-0 down, against

anybody, if you got anything left at all -- 2-0, against anybody, if you

got anything left at all, you have to think of the journey one step at

a time, because it is a long journey.

In the U.S. Open last year there were tonnes of comeback from two

down. Murray against Verdasco in the Wimbledon quarterfinal last year.

This will be probably Federer's best chance for a break, this next game.

If Nadal is going to slightly drop his guard, it's after going up by

two sets. I doubt it, but if there's a chance, this would be the game.

Mentally, after winning two sets, it sets in.

I think it is let's go, Roger the crowd is charging. They want the

match had gone. Nadal is very popular, but Federer...

Yes, they know when they are watching an opponent who has been

pummelled. They have just been watching the Ashes, of course. They

love an underdog as well, and Federer was an underdog when he came

on court. Now, well. Nadal winning more points on his second serve

tells you everything you need to know about his ground/work.

No lapse of concentration from Nadal. Slight chance he would have a

let down, but a very slight chance because he he is wanting every

single point. That backhand from that desertion,

-- position, you basically have two hit a winner from that position.

That is the thing about Wawrinka, if Nadal plays him in the final, he can

hit winners on that account, it is a lot stronger than Federer's. I would

have thought, him and Stefan Edberg, I played him a few times, his

account slice would have worked in any generation. It floats and gives

the opponent time and the Dell could pick it up, but employing the slice

to get to the net occasionally. You cannot slice from the back of the

court with Nadal, but you can slice to make the transition from back of

the court to the front. Federer has been doing it with a previous

opponents in this tournament, I thought he would have done it a bit

more today. Problems for Federer as Nadal

continues this relentless onslaught. No, it is not going to be Federer's

night by the looks of it. He is not out of it yet, but has a mountain to

climb. Since Nadal took a break, a medical time-out at the end of the

first game, second set, to have a blister repair job done, he has been

virtually faultless. It is remarkable, because his blister was

bleeding heavily on the palm of his left hand against Dimitrov. This

looked dry, it look like the cover had come off. But it has got to be

painful? I don't know how he can play through like this. I used to

get them all the time and it is raw. To grip the racket and had the

ball as hard has he does this length of time, I cannot believe he is not

in agony. I don't think he can be, because I don't think you can play

like this with that, unless he does something else. I am thinking quite

a blister would have developed? I think it would have been the hot

temperatures the first week because the skin would soften up with the

sweat and the racket would rip it off. Otherwise, players are playing

for six or seven hours a day. And he played a warm up tournament in Doha

are, so it is not like he did not play any warm up matches. I

understand and agree with you, it must have been the hot temperatures

last week. To go with the break of serve in this third set, new tennis

balls. We are having trouble with footage

of live coverage from Australia. In the meantime while we are waiting

for pictures to come back and continue this semifinal, we will

look at a view of the points that have taken place and how this match

has progressed. From the first set, Nadal coming up with incredible

passing shots. That forehand down the line. Beautiful passing shot and

Federer was in trouble. We talked also about how the forehand would

affect Federer and the fact it is such a high bouncing forehand and

how he can get over the top of the backhand. That has been a key

feature of this match. Federer getting over the top of that one but

Nadal consistently punishing that. And this is set point in the second

set where Federer was beginning to inch back into this tie-break. But

this sealed it in the first set and taking its 7-6. But these punishing

rallies are right the way through this match. That is how Nadal

finished off the opening set. This is break point in the second set

where Nadal started to move away in the second set, winning this one.

Again, another punishing rally and moving Federer all around the court.

It is incredible he has been able to do that with that list. It was

bleeding and has been open for a while. Although he has had

treatments, doing well to stay in these rallies and finishing it off

with another winner. And this, we can sit back and enjoy because this

is another brilliant Nadal winner. Finishing this rally off with a

forehand. Just a beautiful, beautiful shot.

You just wonder what Federer has to do to come up with winners in this

match. It is all Nadal at the moment and I am pleased to say we can go

back live to Australia and rejoined the match. I am hearing it is a two

games all. So there has been a break back and let's rejoined Andrew and

John. ANDREW CASTLE: while you were away

Federer dug deep into his reserves. He got the break on a Nadal error.

The crowd are with him. A bit off-balance on that forehand,

did not quite yet set. Has worked so hard to get this break back here.

Does not want to surrender this right away.

Two in a row on his forehand. That shot would almost guarantee a winner

or create a few errors on that side. Nowadays, can go off at times. Has

put himself in big trouble again in this game.

There was a big shout. He thought he was back in the game. That was a

piece of matchplay. He has done that twice in this match. Serve and

volley, both times he has done it, both times he has won the point.

Nadal has taken his eye off it. That is a superb volley. Not an easy

volley, that one. Opened the racket face. Fey did that ball in

beautifully. Just had to keep the racket behind the rest on that one.

-- faded. That is an interesting couple of games. Federer wins them

and retains an interest in this match. The crowd are not going to

let him lose. His head could have dropped when he was a break down in

this third set. The thing you face in a five set match, John,

especially with this one and a big build-up and massive interest across

the world. You go two sets down, you take body blows and he has got

nothing to show. Over two hours out there and nothing to show at two

sets down. Mentally, it is something you have two cope with? Yes, you

have to build it up one point at a time. He cannot let it end in his

head, as we can, and think that to win this match he has got to go on

another two hours. Would he have that in his gas tank? Unlikely.

Federer is one of the greatest of all times, perhaps. He is thinking,

how do I get back in this match? That was an excellent efforts, two

dodgy forehands but he got it back really. And with the crowd egging

him on, he might get back. I hope they never lose five set matches in

Grand Slam play will Not easy to time that ball. If he

lets it get too high and pushes him back, he is done for in the next

shot anyway. Just missed time that a little bit.

Put that in the wrong place, unfortunately again. He needs to be

in the half court forehand. But you have to pick the right spot and be

so accurate. Otherwise, you will get passed and that is what happened

with that forehand. Takes this one nice and early and

does not give Nadal any time to recover his court position. Timing

was great. UMPIRE: ladies and gentlemen, as

courtesy to both players, please do not call out as the point is about

to be played, thank you. He has struggled in that area.

Perhaps the best opportunity was the slice.

He has missed a lot of those backhands. That is unlucky off the

top of the net. It follows the backhand error as well and Federer

is down a break of serve once again, as Nadal closes in. You search for

historical data when these to play against each other. Every time they

play and every time they get to another grand slam quarterfinal,

semifinal, you look for the next piece of history data are making,

such has been their impact on the game. Nadal, if he wins this title

and wins this match, and he is heavily favoured against Wawrinka,

because he has never lost against him. He would be only the third man

to win all of the grand Slam is at least twice. Steffi Graf won 22

slams on the women's side. She won each of them at least four times. At

27 years of age, would you expect him at the end of his career, to be

considered the best player of all time? I think he is definitely on

that path. As long as the physical side, we are talking about his

hands, but nobody is talking about his knees any more. As long as he

stays healthy, he has another five or six years. The French, you could

almost give him another three without thinking. And who knows how

many other ones. He could create a record that could be almost

impossible to beat. The other two guys to win slams at least twice,

none of them in the open era, so they are all in grass, Rod Laver and

Emerson. That is probably the biggest

forehand he has hit the whole match. He had no choice. It is the second

time that tactic has worked. Great credit to Federer and Stefan Edberg,

who years working with on a temporary basis, for some of the

additions Federer has made in this tournament.

That is the shot he has struggled with today. He has tried to take it

early, but without much success. With that one, he took it before it

got up too high and did not give Nadal any time to get at into the

court. That would look pretty good over at the NCG, wouldn't it, front

foot drive. It looks a bit lame when he gets

those backhands into the net and makes the errors. What is he

supposed to do? If he slices it and float it in, Nadal will start

hitting it with his forehand. So that is the dilemma.

Don't see that shot very often, top-spin, backhand volley and he did

not time it right. A normal backhand volley should have come into play.

He is running out of ideas and physical energy. He has been on the

ropes the two hours and 18 minutes. He has had his chances, needed to

win one of the first sets, you feel. Fantastic footwork with the ball

swinging into his body. But he manages to get around it.

Very close, this one. But he did not do do enough with that backhand

volley. It was out. Just cleaned the line. And that is

what he was aiming for, the line. No challenge.

Can just see it happening. He comes up to hit that approach shot, you

know he has got to be inch perfect, otherwise he is in trouble. He sets

up the point beautifully but does not do enough with the forehand and

then he paid the price. The approach shot against Nadal has got to be

first rate, otherwise you get punished. Nadal has been magnificent

for much of this match. Absolutely extraordinary.

He has still got a pulse in this match, Federer, but it is faint to

say the least. No way! He did not do that. There is

no way he did that. He made it look so easy, like he hardly touched the

ball. He just swerved it around the post. Federer was standing there and

looked like he had it covered but just watched it go past. It was

unbelievable. That is arrayed, Nadal beats Federer

in straight sets -- that is away. Not a classic by their standards,

perhaps, but what wonderful contest to see, every time they take to the

court against each other. It is Nadal who has defeated the Swiss

number one, and he will now play another Swiss, Stanislav Wawrinka in

Sunday's final. And despite what must be such an

extraordinary -- extraordinarily painful blister on his Nadal and, he

has come through. Just one medical time-out taken, he was able to

concentrate. The world number one, saluting the former world number one

Federer. And 11th consecutive Australian open final to him. But no

joy. An excellent tournament though, he beat Tsonga, Andy Murray, who is

recovering from surgery and will surely improve as he has more

matches against the top guys. But what are you going to do with Rafa

Nadal in this kind of form? The first set tie-break was pivotal, and

after Nadal had won it, apart from the medical time-out, you thought,

he is on the way. Sure enough, he's got the job done. Some of the

passing shots would take your breath away. And he will have a chance on

Sunday morning, UK time, to equal Pete Sampras in winning a 14th Grand

Slam championship. It has been four years since he lost the semifinal,

Nadal, such is his record in the latter stages of tournaments. He is

formidable, and he goes in against Stan Wawrinka as a heavy favourite.

He has never lost to him. One of the great sights in sport,

surely. And Pete, but mainly Rafa. It is this physicality he brings to

the court, but the sense of willingness to do what it takes to

win, anything. He enjoys competing so much, and so does Federer, who

still feels there is something left in the tank. He says Time will

tell. I would maintain that Roger Federer's best chance of winning one

of these major championships would, at Wimbledon at the end of June,

beginning of July. -- would come at Wimbledon.

You and Roger have played each other 33 times and you know each other so

well. What was the key tonight in this match? First of all, playing

against Roger is a very special feeling. He is probably the opponent

that when I go on court I have very good feelings. We have played a lot

of times for important things in our career, and today was another

important match. He is a great champion, and for me it is an honour

to be in the same era as him. And the first set was so tight. How did

you get over the line in the first set and take control? The first set

was tough. It is true I had a few break points, and he had a 0-30

before the tie-break, and at the end we played really tough few rallies.

But I think I resisted well in the first set because he was playing

great, hitting the ball great. He was taking the ball very early, so

it was a difficult thing to resist. Once I got into his back and I had a

chance to go down the line, and tonight I played my best match of

the tournament, so I am happy with that. How about your hand? In the

match before you had a different bandage, and today it is a bit less.

How is it feeling on the court today? Too much talk about the

blister. The blister is OK. As I have said all day, it is the

position of the blister. It is difficult to cover. In normal life,

the blister is 100%, but to play tennis at tensed one of the best

players in the world -- against one of the best players in the world,

that is tough. We tried to make the bandage shorter than the other day

and it worked really well. So I am very happy now. I just want to say

thank you very much to everybody. After missing last year, for me, it

is emotional to be back on this court and be able to play another

final. I am very, very happy, and thank you everybody for the support.

It was amazing for me. As we look ahead now, you are into the final

again, and you are going into a final that would see you win your

14th major title, that would tie you with Pete Sampras. Pete was watching

the match tonight, it's the first time he's seen you and Roger play

live together. What would it mean for you to be on the same level as

Pete Sampras as far as major titles one? There is a very tough opponent

in front of me, Wawrinka, he is playing fantastic. He played a

fantastic match against Novak Djokovic and against Berdych, so he

should come to this final with big confidence. I never thought about

having 13 titles already, so I never thought about having 40, -- having

14, but I will try my best. We are sure of that and we will look

forward to that. You are playing against Stan, and he's playing with

incredible confidence, the best confidence of his life, for sure.

What do you think you need to do well in the match? I just need to

keep playing great. I know it will be a very, very tough opponent. His

serve is great. He is hitting the ball very hard. We have to let him

play in a not easy position, and that is hard because he is a strong

guy. I try to play aggressive, and it will be the same way I play

tonight. Last question. Is your girlfriend going to make the trip in

to watch the final? I'm not sure. Well she will get another chance to

watch you again anyway. The wonderful Roger Federer -- Rafa

Nadal. . A great champion and a humble man.

-- we will enjoy watching it on Sunday morning. That is the final,

Rafa Nadal against Stan Wawrinka. He is through to his first final,

against the world number one. That is live at 8:15am on Sunday, or you

can listen on Radio five Live. Tomorrow morning on BBC Two, the

women's final. Cibulkova In her first-ever final. Her first grand

slam final and her third in Melbourne.

And we have some more tennis for you coming up next week, the Davis Cup.

What a welcome back for Britain, led by Andy Murray.

They will certainly need some classy tennis up against the United States.

Our coverage starts on Friday at seven o'clock on BBC Three, and it

continues late in the evening on BBC Two. You know all about the Davis

cup, John, a tough first start. But they are all tough. I think if Andy

Murray plays all three, and if he plays in the doubles we have a

decent shot. Back to today, Rafa Nadal, you wonder what you can do up

against him. You just look at him. Imagine seeing him at the other end

of the net? This generation has two or three legends of the game. I just

don't know how you are supposed to come up with a game plan. Djokovic

knows how to take it on the backhand side and get through Nadal. You saw

him in Monte Carlo last year. I just don't think Federer can. I think the

recent record reflects that. Roger knows if he could get rid of this

guy, he could win another slam. I just don't know where he will be

able to do it. Wimbledon must be his best chance. That is five in a row.

Rafa has got his number. The matchup just doesn't match up. But in the

final, I think Wawrinka can take charge of the backhand shot. He can

also serve more aces, but in this sort of matchup, the differences

from a few years ago, when he makes errors he makes them in groups. In

the old days he would make two or three in a row. You cannot do that

against the dial. It has been so long since he felt joy at a slam.

Hitting the high backhand, he's trying to get over it but it breaks

down. The trouble is if you don't slice perfectly or float and it will

give Nadal the chance to get the forehand into play. It's very

difficult. It is a conundrum. I think you need a double handed

backhand, and you need the one from Murray or Djokovic. I slightly

disagree with you. I am worried that Wawrinka has nothing to her Nadal. I

would see that as a straight sets victory for Nadal. But that blister,

he will need some treatment on that. Look at that. We know what

that feels like. That is agony. How he plays so well with that, I don't

know. Just the concentration. And an incredible pain barrier as well. OK,

, that is it. We have the ladies final tomorrow morning and the men's

final on Sunday. There is world championship bowls coming up at one

o'clock, but we will see you tomorrow. Buy buy. -- goodbye.

A body blow for Federer. So much for the blister, it seems to have done

the trick. He threw the kitchen sink at that. Absolutely amazing defence

from Nadal. An incredible athlete. Nadal beats Federer in