There's absolutely nothing to separate Patten/Heliovaara and Bolelli/Vavassori at the moment!

Patten and Heliovaara had the opportunity to take the first set at 9-8 up in this tie-break, on the seventh set point, but the Finn dragged his forehand wide.

If anyone is wondering, either team will have to go two points clear in this tie-break to seal the deal.

Brilliant work from Henry Patten at the net!

The Briton is able to push a forehand deep down the middle of the court to edge the Brit and the Finn 7-6 ahead in this first set tie-break.

We are into a first set tie-break on Rod Laver Arena.

The crowd are loving the competition but I don't think either pairing would have anticipated this first set going to a tie-break.

Patten and Heliovaara will be feeling confident though because they have been in great form on tie-breaks in this tournament, having played four and won four.

Uh oh!

Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara are looking at each other in disbelief after being unable to see this game out.

Three set points wasted and suddenly it feels like Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori have the upper hand once again.

We're into a tie-break.

What a turnaround this would be - Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara have put themselves 40-0 up in Andrea Vavassori's service game.

The pair now have three set points to close out the first set... surely they can do it?

Yes he can!

Patten and Heliovaara are playing their skins out to get back into this first set - and one chance is all they needed.

The momentum is now fully with the sixth seeds, who are getting the better of their Italian opponents, after a slow start.

That's more like it - Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara have their first break of the match!

The sixth seeds are right back in this first set now - but can the Finn close out this next service game to put them 6-5 up?

The third seeds are currently serving it out for the first set in the men's doubles final on Rod Laver Arena.

There is a bit of drama here though because, after a lengthy video review at 30-30, Andrea Vavassori was judged to have returned the ball before it had actually crossed the net.

Vasavassori has been right over the net throughout this first set, so it's really no surprise.

Henry Patten holds his serve in another business as usual service game, but the Briton will still be ruing his break of serve at the beginning of this first set.

After a short video review to see whether Heliovaara hit a shot after a double bounce, Vavassori saves break point for the third successive time to hold his serve!

It's fine margins at the moment - but the Italians are getting 77% of their first serves in, compared to 48% from Patten and Heliovaara.

Patten and Heliovaara are doing everything they can to keep themselves in this first set, but they are still a break of serve down.

Bolelli and Vavassori are in their stride at the moment though, so it's hard to see how Wimbledon champions Patten and Heliovaara get back into this first set.

Simone Bolelli restores the Italian duo's two-game cushion.

Patten and Heliovaara need to regroup a little if they are going to make their way back into this first set.

They have made a good start to Heliovaara's service game here though, with the Finn playing a wonderful volleyed winner to bring them within touching distance of making it 4-3.

Henry Patten wasn't going to let another service game slip through his fingers.

The Briton and Finn are playing well at the net, with Bolelli and Vavassori commanding things from the back of the court, but there appears to be a bit of miscommunication between the pair at times.

They could do with ironing out these teething problems sooner rather than later though...

Bolelli and Vavassori have restored their two-game cushion once again after coming through a bit of a tussle at deuce.

Patten played a great backhand return across court on the second deuce but Heliovaara was unable to capitalise on their advantage and sent a forehand winner just a fraction wide - and I mean a whisker wide!

There hasn't really been a straightforward service game for either pair so far in this one... a sign of some nerves?

That's better from Harri Heliovaara.

A solid service game from the Finn sees the sixth seeds claim their first game of this men's doubles final.

Can they build on this momentum and steal a break of serve back?

That is a brilliant comeback from Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori!

The Italian duo have just fought back from 0-40 to take the second game and hold serve.

The pair are squeezing some lovely forehand and backhand winners past Patten and Heliovaara.

Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara haven't settled into this men's doubles final as they would have hoped.

The pair got things under way on Rod Laver Arena but a double fault at 30-40 down gave their Italian opponents the first break of the match.

Patten and Heliovaara really don't look at the races at the moment...

Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara defeated Germany's Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-7) to reach the final in Melbourne.

Patten also reached the mixed doubles semi-finals with Olivia Nicholls, which they lost to Australian wildcards Kimberly Birrell and John Patrick Smith.

"We played our semi-final yesterday [Thursday], it was a long match and I pulled up a little bit sore after that, both physically and mentally. We've played a lot of tennis so I don't feel I have to play too much more," Patten said on Friday.

The action is continuing on Rod Laver Arena, with Britain's Henry Patten and Finnish team-mate Harri Heliovaara aiming to win their first Australian Open men's doubles title together.

Sixth seeds Patten and Heliovaara only teamed up nine months ago, but it has been a successful period for the pair.

They won their first tournament in Marrakech after deciding to play doubles together, but were unseeded at Wimbledon and their epic 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (11-9) victory against Australians Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in last summer's final surprised even themselves.

"It feels like Wimbledon was yesterday, that was such a big thing for me obviously and shot us up the rankings," said Patten.

"To be in another Grand Slam final within six months is a little bit scary but I'm trying my best to stay in the present and keep focused on the match."

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a few more stats which highlight just how long Madison Keys has had to work for this triumph:

• Keys has equalled Caroline Wozniacki (11) for the most appearances taken by a player to win the Australian Open Women’s Singles title.
• She is the player with the most Grand Slam appearances between their first two major finals (25)
• She is also the player with the longest gap (eight years) between their first two women’s Singles Grand Slam finals in the Open Era