Image source, Getty Images

Federer clocks up the errors on his returns to give Nadal the game to 15. The Swiss has made 38 unforced errors to 21 for Nadal.

Away from Rod Laver, Britain's Jordanne Whiley wins her first Grand Slam title with victory in the Australian Open women's wheelchair doubles alongside Yui Kamiji of Japan.

It's a good, strong opening game from Federer, who wins it to love. "Federer's best chance to break Nadal is in the next game," says BBC Sport expert and former British number one David Lloyd.

Andrew Castle
Former British number one and BBC Sport expert on BBC Two

"It was a wonderful effort from Roger Federer but Nadal is an incredible athlete to watch and there's no question no matter what sport he would have taken up, he would have been supreme in all of them."

Federer wins a long baseline rally - 22 shots to be exact - for a change to open up a 0-15 lead. A Nadal backhand error brings up 0-30, but he claws it back to 30-30 despite some brilliant defensive play from Federer.

It's a tasty return from Federer which hits the corner, but he doesn't follow it in. That proves to be his downfall as Nadal fights back and then wins the point as Federer dumps a forehand into the net. Federer then succumbs on the next point to relinquish the second set.

Federer keeps the points short - and it works for him, as two clean winners combined with a Nadal error takes him to 40-0. The Swiss completes the game with an ace. Where was this kind of form in his previous service game? Nadal will still serve for a two-set lead.

Federer is facing a monstrous challenge now, a set and a break down in this semi-final. The Swiss makes little impression on the Nadal serve who clinches the game for the loss of just one point.

More pressure for Federer, who again finds himself 0-30 down on his serve. A big serve helps him win the next, but he's undone by some Nadal magic. The Spaniard digs out a ball from behind him to make it over the net and drop just underneath Federer's racquet. Federer can't believe it. Two break points for Nadal. The Spaniard has a golden opportunity to take the first, but nets a backhand, lifting his hand to his face in disgust. But he takes the next with a tasty forehand winner into the corner. We have our first break of the match. Federer is on the ropes.

John Lloyd
Former British number one and BBC Sport expert on BBC Two

"I'd be surprised if Nadal's not in extreme pain when he hits. That blister was cut open. I do not understand how he's hitting the ball like this and he doesn't seem to be wincing. It's unbelievable."

Nadal gets through his second successive service game to love. That repair work on the blister at the end of the first set looks to have done the trick.

Federer in a bit of danger at 0-30 on serve, but wins a baseline rally for a change to claw one point back. The Swiss wins the next point, too, but a forehand error gives Nadal his first break point of the match. Federer saves it, but is soon faced with another. He saves that, too so we're back at deuce.

Here comes another break point, which Federer swats away with a forehand down the line. This time, he brings up a game point but Nadal isn't done yet and we're at deuce number four. Federer nails a forehand to bring up game point and then successfully challenges a call, which suggested his crosscourt forehand was out, to win the game.

Image source, AP

It's an easy service game for Nadal, which will be just what his blistered hand would have been after, as the Spaniard wins the game to love. At the changeover, Federer appears to be complaining about Nadal's grunting to the umpire. He doesn't look happy.

Federer cruises to 40-15 and then wins a corker of a point, first reacting brilliantly to a passing shot down the line and then putting away the Nadal return with a lovely touch drop shot to clinch the game.

John Lloyd
Former British number one and BBC Sport expert on BBC Two

"It looks like they've put on some new skin over the blister which forms a bit of a barrier to give it protection. It looks like they're not taping it. I can't believe it won't open up, it's in a bad place. The trouble with that stuff is that it doesn't dry up that quickly."

We've just had a close up of Nadal's blister and it's not pretty. "That is in a bad place," says BBC commentator and former British number one John Lloyd. Meanwhile, Federer is up on his feet, bouncing around to keep warm.

Image source, Getty Images

Federer grabs the first point of the game, but it's nip and tuck up to 30-30. Federer then dominates the next point, only for Nadal to defend impressive and then be rewarded as Federer sends a forehand drive volley into the net. The Spaniard then closes out the game with a beautiful backhand winner before calling for the trainer to attend to his blister.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"After making such a bright and enterprising start, there weren't many crumbs of comfort for Federer in the latter stages of that set. He knows he has little chance of winning from the baseline, but he may be about to discover once again in a Grand Slam that it's incredibly difficult for him to beat Rafa from anywhere. The blister on Nadal's hand is not at all undermining his serve, and the monster forehand to set up set point was one of the vintage ones in his collection."

Karl Russell:, external Like many others I am secretly keeping track of the tennis score at work! Come on the Fed

Kenny Simpson:, external Still think Roger can come back from this. Long way to go.

Naim Rahman:, external The quality of tennis is immense from these two. 59 minutes. 5 hour thriller?

Andrew Castle
Former British number one and BBC Sport expert on BBC Two

"Nadal's had marginally the run of it in the first set with those break point opportunities. It took 45 minutes to suppress the Federer all-out aggressive game but now, if you're Federer, how do you change things? It's a body blow for Federer. It was gritty in the end, some high quality exchanges but as much about the errors they've made than the winners."

Image source, Getty Images

Federer gives himself a chance with a big, heavy return of serve to reduce the deficit to 5-2. He then takes his chances in the next point, forcing Nadal into a short ball which he drops and then puts away the resulting volley. A backhand error from the Spaniard makes it 5-4 to keep this tie-break alive. However, a serve out wide puts Nadal in control on the next and he wins it to bring up two set points. He only needs one as Federer fires long. Federer has a mountain to climb now.