Postpublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-4 Rafael Nadal
Three more break points for Nadal.
Summary
Rafael Nadal beats Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 6-4 6-0 to reach Sunday's final
2009 winner Nadal will bid for second Australian Open title
Novak Djokovic and Lucas Pouille semi-final on Friday
Naomi Osaka beats Karolina Pliskova to reach Saturday's women's final
Osaka will face Petra Kvitova after Czech defeated Danielle Collins
Postpublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Postpublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-4 Rafael Nadal
Nadal looking to breeze through this set. He is 0-30 ahead in game number five of set number three.
Postpublished at 10:24 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-4 Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is two games from the final.
Postpublished at 10:24 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-3 Rafael Nadal*
Stefanos Tsitsipas is giving the impression of a man who does not know how to counter this. He thinks the ball is out, and stops playing, it's not out, he then gets back in the point, but loses it anyway. (30-15)
Image source, AFPPostpublished at 10:22 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-3 Rafael Nadal*
Australian tennis player Thanasi Kokkinakis on Twitter. I'm guessing he's talking about Nadal...
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on TwitterThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Skip twitter postThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
End of twitter postPostpublished at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-3 Rafael Nadal*
Marion Bartoli
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 liveGame over!
Double break for Nadalpublished at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-3 Rafael Nadal*
An overhead smash is done and dusted. That is a double break for Rafael Nadal. This one looks cooked. Tsitsipas needs a miracle to deny the second seed a fifth Melbourne final appearance.
Postpublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-2 Rafael Nadal
Another break point. Rafael Nadal is putting his foot on the accelerator and can sense the finish line.
Image source, AFPPostpublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-2 Rafael Nadal
Nadal, once again, provides a devastating, spinning return. 30-30 on the Tsitsipas serve.
get involved Get Involved #bbctennispublished at 10:17 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-2 Rafael Nadal
Sulaimon Adelekan: Classic Nadal performance with power and tenacity. There is no stopping the Spaniard.
Postpublished at 10:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-2 Rafael Nadal
We've seen some wonderful performances from the young guns at this tournament. But Nadal is showing there is not to be a changing of the guard, just yet. You would be a brave man to bet against a final involving 32-year-old Rafael Nadal and 31-year-old Novak Djokovic.
A standard hold from Nadal takes him 2-0 up in the third set and 2-0 ahead overall.
'Nadal is hitting so many backhand winners'published at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-1 Rafael Nadal*
Marion Bartoli
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 liveNadal just gave him no chance.
I have rarely seen Rafael Nadal hit so many backhand winners.
Nadal breaks in third setpublished at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-1 Rafael Nadal*
A two-handed cross-court backhand return is just perfect from Nadal. Another punch of the air, and that could be the pivotal moment in this match.
Nadal breaks, if he just holds his serve from now on then it will be a Sunday showdown against either Novak Djokovic or Lucas Pouille for a potential second Australian Open title.
Image source, AFPPostpublished at 10:11 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 0-0 Rafael Nadal
The first break point is saved, with Nadal going long.
Postpublished at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 Rafael Nadal
This match is in danger of slipping away from Tsitsipas. Three break points straight away in set three.
get involved Get Involved #bbctennispublished at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 Rafael Nadal
MixHead:@RafaelNadal, external yes two sets up already in your semi final @AustralianOpen, external now win the next won and get back to the final and then win another Grand Slam.
'Tsitsipas' road back is very long'published at 10:08 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 Rafael Nadal
Marion Bartoli
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 liveI don't know how Tsitsipas can get back the way Rafa is playing.
He has not had any openings when the Spaniard has been serving.
The road back is going to be very long. Tsitsipas has some technical issues tonight. He's frustrated by not being able to return better and the fact that Rafa is returning better.
This is a learning curve for him.
'One set from a fifth Australian Open finalpublished at 10:08 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 Rafael Nadal
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on TwitterThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Skip twitter postThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
End of twitter postNadal's Australian Open final record:
- 2009 beat Roger Federer (five sets)
- 2012 lost to Novak Djokovic (five sets)
- 2014 lost to Stan Wawrinka (four sets)
- 2017 lost to Roger Federer (five sets)
Game and second set - Nadalpublished at 10:04 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
*Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-6 Rafael Nadal
If Stefanos Tsitsipas is going to win this one he is going to have to go the distance and turn this one around from two sets behind.
Rafael Nadal is coming up with a near flawless performance and Tsitsipas, who by no means played badly in that second set, finds himself two down.
Image source, AFPPostpublished at 10:02 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2019
Stefanos Tsitsipas 2-6 4-5 Rafael Nadal*
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne ParkOh dear, that could have ended very badly for Stefanos Tsitsipas - and a ball girl. The Greek lashed his racquet at a ball in frustration after that pick-up handed over the break and nearly whacked the ball girl instead. There were a few gasps of horror from the crowd, luckily - for everyone concerned - danger was averted.