Tie-break - 2-3 Dimitrovpublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-6 (2-3) *Dimitrov
Now then. A mistake from Nadal, his backhand letting him down, leaves the back door open. Big chance here for Dimitrov...
Summary
Nadal beats Dimitrov in five thrilling sets
Spaniard wins 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4
Nadal plays Federer in Sunday's final
His first major final since 2014
Match took four hours and 56 minutes
Tie-break - 2-3 Dimitrovpublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Postpublished at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extraBoth players are bringing their best to this tie-break. It's a great standard.
Tie-break - 2-2published at 12:36 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-6 (2-2) Dimitrov
Rafael Nadal strains the sinews a little further, cranks the power a little higher and drives a winning forehand through Grigor Dimitrov's defences.
Image source, AFPTie-break 1-2 Dimitrovpublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-6 (1-2) Dimitrov
Whoosh! Dimitrov produces a backhand of beauty, swishing from the baseline across Nadal's vision, to leave the Spaniard flummoxed. Still on serve...
Image source, EPATie-breakpublished at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-6 (1-1) *Dimitrov
A skidding inside-out forehand from Grigor Dimitrov is called in.
Rafa Nadal's finger pops up like toast to challenge.
The virtual replay shows that it caught the slightest snick of line.
Image source, AFPTie-breakpublished at 12:33 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-6 (1-0) *Dimitrov
All aboard the Tie-break Train. Rafa serves, Dimitrov throws everything back in a rally, until almost having too much time to think. A forehand flies into the tramlines.
Into a tie-breakpublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-6 (0-0) Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov paves the way to the tie-break with an authoritative service game, blasting his way to 40-0 and then crashing away a forehand winner.
Ready?
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-5 *Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov's sledgehammer forehand breaks up Rafael Nadal's defences and brings up 30-30.
The atmosphere is almost claustrophobic in the Rod Laver Arena as the two men in centre trade shots of the highest quality, flirting with the lines as they try and force their foe off balance.
Dimitrov mixes it up with a slice drop-shot, but it twangs the wire and flies wide.
Nadal slams away a volley as the ball top-edges off the net cord in the next point.
On we go.
Image source, EPAget involved Get Involvedpublished at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
#bbctennis
Ian B: Whatever the outcome Dimitrov has come of age today, held his own at the very highest level, certain future grand slam champion.
Postpublished at 12:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extraDimitrov has shown his progress because these have been courageous holds. He's kept on charging forwards and won some great points.
Postpublished at 12:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 5-5 Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov swats a big serve down the centre to move 40-0 up, strolls over to the other side of the centre-line and then repeats the trick.
He is not going to lose this match. Rafael Nadal is going to have to win it.
Image source, AFPPostpublished at 12:22 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Gigi Salmon
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentatorThe Dimitrov box are on their feet cheering on their man, as are the Bulgarian fans, trying to inspire him.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 5-4 *Dimitrov
That is a shot that you could introduce to your parents.
Unable to pierce Grigor Dimitrov's superb scramble defence at the back of the court. Rafael Nadal slides a delicious forehand slice dropper between the Bulgarian's ribs to move 30-0.
Dimitrov goes for broke, hurling the kitchen sink into a death-or-glory forehand at 40-0 down and coming up cherries.
But there is no denying Nadal and now Dimitrov must serve to stay in the match.
Image source, EPAPostpublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 4-4 Dimitrov
Whatever the outcome of this match, Grigor Dimitrov has shown that he can mix it with the big beasts of the men's game.
He is striking the ball beautifully and his concentration has not wavered at any point in the match.
He holds to 15 to keep the set ticking along on serve.
Image source, EPAWeight of the world on Dimitrovpublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extraThere's a bit of a storm cloud building up over Dimitrov. He's feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders but Rafa looks like he's on a Sunday afternoon stroll now.
I think he feels very safe and secure but Dimitrov is having to do cartwheels just to win a point and it must be demoralising.
Postpublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 4-3 *Dimitrov
It just lacked the punchline.
Rafael Nadal has worn Grigor Dimitrov to dust in the rally, but then mis-places the killer blow, streaking a forehand wide with Dimitrov rooted.
15-30.
Dimitrov fires wide though and spits an expletive as Nadal claws back to 40-30.
And Nadal finds the paint once more to close out the game.
It feels like one break might be fatal for either player in this set.
Image source, EPAPostpublished at 12:08 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 3-3 Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov comes through a bit of a scrape - pushed wide at 40-30 he stays in the rally with scrambling defence and is rewarded with a Nadal error.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrom Baby-Fed to Daddy-Fedpublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extraWith Dimitrov's single-handed backhand, Nadal is having a net for what he will probably be facing on Sunday against Federer.
Postpublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 3-2 *Dimitrov
Rafael Nadal comes up a little short and Dimitrov pounces to take himself to 15-30.
The Spaniard's serve comes to its owner's rescue with a peppery one up the T for 30-30.
And then the longest rally of the match so far - a full 21 shots - comes to an end with Nadal's roundhouse backhand landing flush down the line for 40-30. Glorious stuff with both players finding the sickly sweet spot in the centre of their strings.
Nadal serves big and wide to seal the game.
Image source, EPADimitrov holdspublished at 11:59 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January 2017
*Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 2-2 Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov sees off the danger with another sumptuous forehand.
So far, he is passing this examination.
He has hit 47 winners to Nadal's 28 and that is the front-foot tennis he needs.