Wawrinka wins the Australian Open
Swiss secures first Grand Slam title
Wawrinka wins 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3
Nadal was struggling with back injury
Spaniard had medical timeout in second set
* denotes next to serve
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live
"This is fascinating. I thought any second Nadal was going to walk off injured but he has hung in there and made it a great contest. You have to earn the title and that's what Stan needs to tell himself."
More pictures of Nadal receiving treatment on court are filtering through and all the Spaniard needed for the full spa experience was some candles and panpipe music. Perhaps the organisers could have dimmed the lights, too.
Nadal in a spot of bother at 15-30 and Wawrinka, playing with freedom, moves Nadal from tramline to tramline before dancing across to his forehand to conjure a clean winner for two break points. Excellent crisis management from the irrepressible Spaniard, though, as he wriggles free to level.
Image source, APNadal, then, marching on until the final bell and Wawrinka attempting to recapture the magic of the first set, hoping he still has that knockout blow in him. Another brilliant winner on the backhand allows the Swiss to hold to love.
Andrew Castle
Former British number one on BBC Two
"I have no idea what is going to happen next. Nadal was clearly injured in the second set, but he's pulled one set back. If Wawrinka was allowed to coach on court, it would be a major advantage, but you're not. He has to do it all himself."
There's a slight delay in play as fireworks light up the Melbourne sky to celebrate Australia Day. Nadal remaining on court, and although the trainer was lurking on the sidelines towards the end of the third set he was not needed.
Image source, AFPWawrinka embarking on a monologue at the back of the court as he prepares to face the Nadal bullets. The din of the crowd merely background noise for the Swiss. Wawrinka attempting to galvanize himself and to some extent it's working as a Nadal backhand drops into the tramlines to present Wawrinka with two break points. Nadal serves big to restore parity. "Non, non, non," shouts Wawrinka. Yes, I'm afraid so, Stan. But a super forehand into the corner reins Nadal in from advantage only for Wawrinka's backhand to falter again. Set point. Wawrinka nets the return.
Crisp serving from Wawrinka as a rip-roaring ace eases him to 40-0 and the Swiss holds with little fuss. A change of racquet for the eighth seed before he takes on Nadal again.
An exquisite single-handed backhand across the court gives Wawrinka a sniff at 15-30, but Nadal reins in his opponent and two faulty forehands from Wawrinka allows the Spaniard to cruise to within a game of taking the third set.
Image source, Getty ImagesWawrinka had hit glorious peaks during the opening set and a half, but since his opponent became injured his form has dipped. The Swiss is forced to watch a Nadal backhand fly by his nose as the Spaniard ekes a 15-30 advantage, but Wawrinka pulls through and holds with a crunching volley from the net.
British number one Laura Robson: , externalTough to watch Rafa like this but #Stanimal was playing different level before the injury kicked in.
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live
"Wawrinka lost concentration and wasn't sure what to do, whether to go for his shots or make Nadal run, and lost a bit of timing on his shots. Other than the first serve Nadal has been playing really well off the ground and the shots are going in at the moment."
Both players adding more power to their baseline punches and although the Spaniard is still not firing at all cylinders, he's serving a touch quicker and a rattled Wawrinka his muttering something or other towards his team. A hold to 15 for Nadal and perhaps he has not been mortally wounded after all.
Wawrinka seemed to be gripped with anxiety in the previous game and, with a hold in sight, he slaps a tired-looking forehand into the tape to suggest his limbs are tightening at 40-30. But he then digs himself out of a hole with an ace.
John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two
"All of a sudden, the errors are flowing from the Wawrinka racquet. He's been guilty of thinking ahead, which is really easy to do when you're in this position."
Rafael Nadal's manager, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, tweeting from the player box:, external "I always believed in fair crowds and always thought this was the case in Melbourne. To doubt Rafael Nadal's sportsmanship is simply wrong!"
The Spaniard grunting again and maybe those painkillers have worked their way into his system. At 30-30, Wawrinka blooters a forehand to nudge Nadal to within a point of holding and the Spaniard consolidates his advantage when Wawrinka nets a simple forehand. The Swiss's feathers have been ruffled.
Image source, AFPSarah:, external So sad to see @RafaelNadal in so much pain. He should retire if he's hurt :-( he doesn't need to be a hero.
Sam Mundell:, external Watching Rafa in Australian Open is torturous. How much more can he take?
Matty Jago:, external Fair play to Rafa. Most people have given up at this point. He's playing at walking pace and competing
The crowd, who were once vociferously supporting Wawrinka, are now rooting for Nadal and they heartily cheer every point he wins. The Spaniard fighting back from the brink, that Nadal forehand lassoing once again, and he has two break points. Wawrinka saves one but meekly surrenders on the next, plonking a forehand into the tape. Will Wawrinka live to regret not seeing off Nadal when he had the chance?
It seems Nadal will continue to take the punches like the streetfighter that he is and not even a back injury will force him to end this fight. At 0-30 down Nadal seems in trouble once again. He nicks one point but goes on to drag a backhand into the tramlines to present Wawrinka with two break points. Wawrinka hoicks a forehand wide and lets another one slip for deuce. The Swiss can't bring himself to kill off Bambi. There's a touch more menace on Nadal's groundstrokes - a clean winner into the corner suggests the Spaniard could live on for a wee while yet.
John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two
"Nadal is such a competitor. This is just killing him not being able to go out and play the way he wants to play in a final. What is going through his mind now? It's just an awful situation."