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Oh hello! Roger's mask drops. A double fault gifts Rafa a 15-0 lead, the Spaniard's power forcing a stretching Federer into the net in the next point.

The Swiss claws one back as Rafa sends a forehand wide, then Roger clips the net cord like Nadal did in the first set. 1-1 in the fortune stakes.

But there's no luck where this next point is concerned. Rafa rummages around in the top drawer and pulls out a super passing forehand. Break point for Rafa...

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Xisca Perello, Nadal's girlfriend, watches on nervously at Rod Laver. And so she might. Her man is down but far from out.

Rafa grunts and groans with every contact, getting louder each time he pummels the ball. He's trying to blow Fed off court. It works in game one of the second set, eventually, Federer buckling with a pair of stray forehands, Rafa wrapping things up with an ace.

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Dennis Ethan: Is this really happening in 2017? I'm absolutely lost of words. Vamos Rafa! Allez Roger! #Fedal

Sophie: Pre-warning to all that if Roger wins, I'll be a mess, and if Roger loses, I will also be a mess.

Lucy Highnett: Up to see the match we didn't think we'd see again. Come on Rafa

Rafa is back on court from the loo quick sharp. Hope he washed his hands. The Spaniard to kick off the second set...

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This hasn't disappointed, has it? Rafa nips off for a quick toilet break, allowing us to catch our breath.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Nadal has a lot to think about. He hasn't been serving well which gives Federer a chance to attack the second serve. Federer's tactics are working perfectly. The biggest concern for me is that Rafa is not returning very well. This means he'll have to win in four sets at the absolute minimum. If he has to win in five, what an ask that is.

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So here we are, as Bloc Party once sang (one for the mid-2000s indie kids.) Federer is serving for the opener.

Rafa isn't going quietly though. The Spaniard passes Fed with a wonderful backhand, which only serves to stoke Federer. The tennis equivalent of poking a wasp nest with a stick.

Federer hits back with an ace, squeezes Nadal into a couple of errors, sealing the set with another thumping first serve out wide.

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Squeaky bum time for Rafa as a loose forehand puts Fed 0-15 ahead. He roars back to 30-15 with the help of an ace, then an early one-handed backhand from Federer tries to catch Rafa flat-footed - but he misses it. Remember the time and the place, folks.

And Rafa sees himself home by giving Roger the eyes and wrongfooting with a stinging forehand winner. Roger must do it on his own terms...

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Right then Fed, follow that. Oh, he does. With more style than David Beckham. Another hold-to-love is finished by a blistering ace, the game over before Rafa even knows it has started.The Spaniard is serving to stay in the first set....

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Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

This is the tactic he created to combat Rafa. From the position he's at he can quickly sneak in and rush the opponent. That's exactly what happened with that point there. He wrong footed Rafa twice and it's very hard to recover.

More 'ooohs' and aaahs' from the Laver crowd than you'd hear at a fireworks display as Federer brings out that majestic one-handed backhand, gliding the ball down the line for 15-30.

Rafa throws everything but the kitchen sink at Fed - forks, spoons, cheese graters, the lot. But he still can't break him down as Federer beats him with a forehand volley. First break point goes to Federer...

He's got it! A forehand goes wide of the left sideline, Rafa challenges as he walks, well wide. 

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Exhibit A. Federer shows us exactly what Cashy is talking about. The Fed Express steams into Laver, rushing through a service game in a matter of seconds. Nadal barely sticks strings on ball, when he does the ball pinging off out of the court. Federer's first hold to love.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Federer's serve has been phenomenal. It's gone from being a very good serve to a legendary serve. It's one of the most consistent I've seen. He can whip through games very quickly and that's a challenge for Nadal - how can he whip back and apply the pressure?

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I've never seen a tennis player sweat as much as Rafa. He's lathered. The soaked Spaniard grabs a towel as he marches off for the changeover, another comfortable hold-to-love in his back pocket.

Federer can't handle his power, forced into making mistakes with both his forehand and usually reliable backhand.

I thought Rafa was supposed to be shattered? He's moving quicker than Mo Farah, shuttling up and down that baseline. Let's see if he's still doing that in a few hours.

But even the great defender has little answer to the Federer serve, some beautifully constructed points from the Swiss 17-time Slam champion seeing him hold to 15.

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Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on Radio 5 live

The intensity to get to the final will have taken quite a bit out of Federer's reserve, even if he has had longer to recover. Can he win three five set matches against Nishikori, Wawrinka and Nadal? He warmed up inside the stadium, practising with a junior away from the attention.

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Not sure who has got the most support in Laver. Probably Roger. Although I've heard a few cries of "Vamos Rafa!" already. A scorcher of a forehand down the line puts Fed ahead at 15-0, Rafa hitting back with a racquet-burning serve down the middle.

Federer steers a backhand from the baseline just past the sideline for 30-15, but sees Nadal throw him a bone with a double fault. Cheap.

A Rafa forehand clips the net cord, popping up and disappearing down quicker than a cheeky mole in your back garden. That puts Rafa within a point of the hold - he makes no mistake. Still on serve...

Mirka - that's Mrs Federer to you and I - looks slightly nervous as her man begins his service game. Imagine how she's going to look at 17-16 in the fifth set...

Rog's serving has been impeccable in Melbourne and it does the trick here. Nadal threatens briefly at 40-30 before Fed pulls out a big first serve to leave Rafa rocking, a lunging forehand from the Spaniard dropping into the tramlines.

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After a slightly anti-climatic opening serve into the net, the first point does not disappoint. Federer slaps into the net, going long with his next forehand - after a late call. Another couple of overcooked returns fly out past the baseline and it is a comfortable hold-to-love for Rafa. Just how he dreamt it last night.

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Are we all ready? Strap yourself in. Rafa to serve first...

* denotes next serve