Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

This is what keeps Federer's career going so strong. His serve has gone from a very good serve to a phenomenal serve.

Harry Burch: For me tennis doesn't get much better than Federer & Wawrinka battling it out with their one handed back hands.

Dan Robb: No disrespect to Stan & Grigor but surely most tennis neutrals want to see a nostalgic Federer/Nadal final.

A limp floaty block from Wawrinka goes long - advantage Federer. The 17th seed (still feels strange writing that) goes out wide with his serve, keeping Stan moving. A backhand from Stan goes long, according to Fed who stops the point to challenge. Stan agrees and walks back to his chair. Both men are right. A huge cheer from the Rod Laver Arena as the technology  proves it.

Uh oh. A Stan backhand at 30-30 leaves Federer scrabbling, Federer unable to dig out his usually reliable backhand from out wide. Net and, more importantly, break point. 

First serve...net. Second serve to Stan's backhand, a crosscourt forehand dragging Stan out, then back across the line and a timid return with the forehand sees Federer survive. Deuce...

Image source, EPA

As you were. Federer has a little peek at the break at 40-30, only for Stan to swipe any hope away from his grasp. A brilliant forehand from the baseline beats the advancing Federer all ends up, Stan holding an apologetic racquet for a slight swish of the cord on the way past.

A reminder that you can watch highlights of this match on BBC Two at 17:00 GMT, with Andrew doing the honours.

Our first hold to love of the match. For the first time Stan is struggling to contain the Federer serve, Roger sticking another game in the back pocket with a firm overhead smash. A break now would be rather timely for the 17-time Slam champion...

No inch given. And none expected. Stan Wawrinka hammers down a smash into the blue acrylic. That's hit so hard there might be a pitchmark. 40-30. Any chance for Federer? Nope. Roger's backhand lets him down, ball hitting mesh.

Image source, EPA

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

It was a bit scrappy in the first couple of games, both have had chances to break, but not been able to take them.

Federer is doing his best to keep Wawrinka off balance and is doing a good job of it. 

If there is a better way to spend a cold January morning then I'd like to see it. Those one-handed backhands have already been drawn like saloon pistols, shots fired back and forth across the net. No causalities yet, however. Federer keeps his rival at bay at 40-30, a beautiful backhand leaving Stan flapping.

Image source, AFP

As routine as a hold has been in the past few moments. Wawrinka is given the run around by a superb Federer dropshot but recovers to move into position nicely at 40-30. Sealed with an ace. Stan spanks one down the 'T', dropping the balls out of his pockets as he walks towards his chair. Roger challenges, Roger fails. On we go...

Another game, another server let off the hook. Wawrinka snaffles a couple of break points which brings a worried look from Roger's missus Mirka in the stands. Luckily her beau isn't so concerned.

Federer wrestles the game back into deuce, but gets drawn into a baseline shootout that ends with Wawrinka clubbing a ferocious forehand into the corner. Even Roger taps in his strings in appreciation. 

But Federer pulls himself out of a hole with an ace out wide, then forces Wawrinka to go long to hold.

Image source, Getty Images

Chance gone. We know Wawrinka is one hell of a scrapper - and he proves it again here. He brings out his big weapons when he needs them most - a bruiser of a second serve out wide giving him breathing space in deuce number three, taking the opportunity with a crackerjack of a first serve that is too hot for Federer to handle.

Oh hello! Something has got to Stan. He's got the jitters. Federer is cooking early. Three break points for the 17-time Grand Slam champion...

But they disappear as quickly as they arrive. Stan rattles off four points in a row, using his power to pin Federer back to the baseline. Deuce...

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

I think it's Stan Wawrinka's match to take as this is Roger's first tournament back, but Federer has played some of the best tennis we've ever seen him play.

He's come back so fresh, its phenomenal, but Stan is a different beast and has that extra bit of power. Unless Stan makes a few mistakes I think he'll have too much firepower.

But Roger does not let his opponents settle at all, he had Berdych off balance, rushed and almost confused, and he can do that to Wawrinka today on a quick hard court that suits him.

Now then. Some early pressure on the Federer serve. 

A couple of unforced errors leaves Federer scrabbling at 15-30, then Federer goes down the 'T', over the low part of the net for his first ace of the match. Stan is swishing at thin Australian air. 

Stan into the net for 40-30, only for Federer to miss an open goal from the net. But he roars back in deuce, swatting down an overhead volley at the net to see out the hold.

David Law
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

There's nobody that hits the ball as hard as Wawrinka, apart from maybe Del Potro, whether it's on the forehand or backhand.

Image source, AFP

Early warning sign for Wawrinka as Federer wins the first point of his serve. Normal service resumed rather quickly. Stan plugs in and switches on the power, that beautiful one-handed backhand getting an early airing. Four straight points get Stan on the board.

Leon Smith
Great Britain Davis Cup captain on Radio 5 live sports extra

It's a great match because Wawrinka wants to stay back and bludgeon the ball with huge swings and power.

Federer's job, in the lively conditions, is to take time away from Wawrinka and not allow him to get into that rhythm. Federer has to come forward and test Wawrinka's passing shots a lot.

That's important because I don't think Stan's the best passer in the world. Roger will be able to come in a lot because Wawrinka does chip and block a lot of first-serve returns.

The way Federer is playing, even though he has missed six months of tennis, I think he's maybe the slight favourite from what I've seen.

Image source, EPA

Confident start from Federer. A couple of second serves do some damage, a wayward forehand into the tramlines the only blip. A deft sliced backhand floats over the net and drops gently on the opposite of the court to Stan. Game sealed. Stan takes another swig of water before grabbing a couple of balls.