Rafael Nadal storms into Australian Open final with win over Stefanos Tsitsipas – as it happened

Right that’s it from me. Many thanks for your company today, and do join us tomorrow for coverage of the second semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Lucas Pouille. We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves … but the last time Nadal and Djokovic met at the Australian Open was in that near six-hour final of 2012. More of the same on Sunday, please. Bye!

24 Jan 201906.06 EST

Helena Smith

This from the Guardian’s correspondent in Athens:

It might be the end of a dream but the verdict in Greece where compatriots have been rooting for Tsitsipas is that no man has brought them such pride on the tennis court.

“Stefanos Tsitsipas gave what he could. Against the great Spaniard he didn’t succeed in prevailing again. But right now that is of little importance,” wrote Sports 24 in its live blog of the match.

Not that long ago tennis was a rarified sport in Greece. The sensational 20-year-old has now put it on the map - and on the back of tennis’ new-found attraction, Nadal, as chance would have it, is about to open a tennis academy in the country.

And never mind Nadal’s tennis ...

Tsitsipas’s win over Federer on Sunday was labelled as a changing of the guard in men’s tennis, including by Mr McEnroe, but Nadal has shown the old guard isn’t going anywhere yet. A tournament that started with Andy Murray’s possible goodbye could end with another creaking 30-something great lifting the title. Nadal’s level of play was quite staggering. He played with such aggression – on serve, from the baseline and at the net – cracking 28 winners, facing only one break point and reeling off the last nine games.

He’s won 18 consecutive sets this fortnight, hasn’t been broken since round one and has lost an average of only eight games a match. The stats don’t lie, he’s been the player of this tournament, and he’s playing the best tennis he has on a hard court in several years.

Nadal’s one win away from becoming the first man to claim all four grand slams twice in the Open era and victory on Sunday would be only his second Australian Open title - 10 years after his first.

View image in fullscreen

“Can you play any better than that?” asks John McEnroe in the on-court interview. “Hopefully yes,” smiles Nadal. “How?” McEnroe asks in almost disbelief. “I don’t know. it’s been a great match, a great tournament. I’ve played very well every day. Thanks everyone for the support and everyone who sends me messages in the low moments.”

Nadal is asked about the up and coming youngsters. “They are improving every month,” he says. “That’s the beautiful thing about this sport, we are able to share generations. They are really here now fighting for the most important things. I wish them a very successful career. [Tsitsipas] has everything to become a multi grand slam champion. He’s in the semi-finals, that says a lot of good things about him. I hope to face him in important rounds in the coming years.”

McEnroe then hits Nadal with a probing question. “Why have you gone back to the sleeveless shirt?” he wonders. “I have small issues when I’m playing in very hot conditions when I hit my forehand, so I like to play without the sleeves,” says Nadal. “It makes me feel younger again.”

Lastly, what about the final? “Novak is the favourite, he’s been in that position so many times, but Lucas has amazing potential. Let’s see. Anything can happen.”

At 15-all, Nadal pounds a serve to Tsitsipas’s forehand, which flies high and wide. 30-15. Nadal attempts to pull off an audacious volley but shows he can sometimes be human when he nets. 30-all. Another netted Nadal volley! 30-40. A first break point of the match for Tsitsipas! Perhaps he wants to extend his misery for a little longer, the masochist. But Nadal’s always in charge and needs only to pat away Tsitsipas’s meek lob to get to deuce. Advantage Nadal, so after one hour and 45 minutes he has match point. Tsitsipas smacks his return into the net and Nadal has put the young challenger well and truly in his place to reach his 25th grand slam final! He raises his arms repeatedly and roars to the night skies. Tsitsipas scurries off court rather quickly. It’s been quite some tournament for the 20-year-old but he’s been taught a lesson by a ruthless and inspired Nadal, who’ll now face Novak Djokovic sorry either Novak Djokovic or Lucas Pouille in Sunday’s final.

View image in fullscreen

Third set: Tsitsipas 2-6, 4-6, 0-5 Nadal*

... which Nadal can almost taste when Tsitsipas goes 0-15, 0-30, 0-40 down. Tsitsipas is going through the motions now. He barely tries on the first break point, which Nadal - of course - wins. The Spaniard’s about to serve for a place in his fifth Australian Open final, and first since his defeat to Roger Federer two years ago.

Third set: *Tsitsipas 2-6, 4-6, 0-4 Nadal

Nadal holds and the bagel is still on ...

Third set: Tsitsipas 2-6, 4-6, 0-3 Nadal*

Tsitsipas may have been broken in that opening game of this set but, credit to him, his resolve doesn’t seem to be, you can see he’s still thinking, trying to stay positive and find a way to get back into this. But this is turning into a tragedy for the young Greek, when a wonderful spinning return from Nadal for 30-all combined with a dismissive overhead smash on break point secures the double break.

I think this is a much better match-up for Nadal - he relishes playing right-handers with a one-handed backhand because it’s harder for them to get his viciously spun, high-bouncing forehands back. But I’d also say Nadal is in better form than Federer is. He’s been the best player of the tournament.

Third set: *Tsitsipas 2-6, 4-6, 0-2 Nadal

So much of the talk in the buildup to this match was about the first coming of Tsitsipas, but this is what seems like the 673rd coming of Nadal. For much of the past decade, you would probably have bet your house on injuries ending the Spaniard’s career before Andy Murray’s, but here he is, after all of his physical problems and lay-offs, closing in on another grand slam final and his first away from Roland Garros since the 2017 US Open. He’s still been the king of clay in the past couple of years, with his 11 French Open titles, but he hasn’t been a king on the hard courts. But he’s ruling over Tsitsipas here, and he biffs a backhand, his 22nd winner of the night, to break the Greek at the start of the third. He then backs it up for 2-0.

Nadal shows remarkable reactions and dexterity at the net to get his racket on a forehand volley for the winner. 30-0. Tsitsipas tonks out, 40-0. Three set points. A stinging serve out wide, Tsitsipas is on the spin and gets his racket to it, but the ball’s not coming back into play. The mountain has just got even bigger for the young Greek.

View image in fullscreen

Second set: Tsitsipas 2-6, 4-5 Nadal*

Nadal decides it’s time to strike, and brings up two break points at 15-40. Tsitsipas serves to Nadal’s backhand, sprints straight to the net, and rushes the Spaniard into the error. 30-40. Could Tsitsipas be about to pull off another great escape, after his Houdini act at 2-2? No, Tsitsipas makes the error and Rafa races to his chair knowing if he wins the next game he’s only a set away from a fifth Australian Open final. Tsitsipas lashes out at a ball in frustration - and nearly whacks a ballkid instead. That would have made his evening even worse than it already is.

Second set: *Tsitsipas 2-6, 4-4 Nadal

And you know what happens next, right? Nadal continues his serving domination in this match with a love hold quicker than you can say: “They’re level going into the business end of the second set.”

Second set: Tsitsipas 2-6, 4-3 Nadal*

Move along, there’s nothing to see here. Tsitsipas holds with ease.

Second set: *Tsitsipas 2-6, 3-3 Nadal

Those saved break points were almost like saved set points given the way Nadal is giving nothing away on his serve. Tsitsipas showed tremendous courage under fire in that game, but Nadal is back firing here. A no-nonsense hold and they’re all square in the second set as the match clock ticks into a second hour.

Second set: Tsitsipas 2-6, 3-2 Nadal*

But the progress is stalled. 0-15. 0-30. 0-40. Three break points. Tsitsipas’s team - including Serena Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who’s also been helping the Greek - have their heads in their hands. Tsitsipas produces a fine point to fend off the first, with a forehand down the line, then a forehand cross-court, followed by a deft volley - that’s the level he has to play at to deny Nadal. He then saves the second and third too! Deuce. And from 0-40, it’s Tsitsipas’s advantage! Could this be a turning point? Tsitsipas is back from the brink and takes the game with an ace out wide. He’s screaming and the Greek flags are waving.

View image in fullscreen

Second set: *Tsitsipas 2-6, 2-2 Nadal

A poor volley from Nadal gives Tsitsipas a chance on the opening point, but the 14th seed can’t take advantage. 15-0, cue a steely Nadal fist pump. 30-15. An ace out wide, 40-15. Tsitsipas challenges ... he needn’t have bothered, it caught most of the line. The chase is on for Nadal on the next point, but he can only net. 40-30. A glimmer for Tsitsipas? No, Nadal wins the game. But that’s the first time since the second game of the match that Tsitsipas has won two points on Nadal’s serve. Small progress is still progress, eh?

Second set: Tsitsipas 2-6, 2-1 Nadal*

Tsitsipas has found his serving touch in this second set. A fierce forehand brings up 40-0. The pair are slicing away at each other on the fourth point, there’s some lobbing and scampering too, and Nadal wins the game of cat and mouse. 40-15. But from there the Greek holds firm for the game. There’s very little giving on serve at the moment.

Second set: *Tsitsipas 2-6, 1-1 Nadal

Newsflash! Nadal loses only his fourth point on serve. It’s 40-15. But that’s about all the drama there is. Nadal secures the next point for the game.

Second set: Tsitsipas 2-6, 1-0 Nadal*

At least Tsitsipas has the advantage of serving first in the second set. He’s briefly inconvenienced at 30-0 as a ballkid removes a bug from the court – Tsitsipas is probably wishing the ballkid could also remove his opponent as well – but the Greek shows character to win his first game in four, and he does it to love.

At 30-15, Nadal sends Tsitsipas this way and that way, before coming into the net and making a tough, low forehand volley look like a practice shot in the park. 40-15, two set points. And Nadal settles matters at the first opportunity with a serve down the T that Tsitsipas sends long! That’s now 16 sets on the spin he’s won at this year’s Australian Open. If Tsitsipas’s task wasn’t hard enough already, it’s just become a whole lot tougher. Apart from a few early nerves in the opening two games, it’s been a near-perfect set of tennis from Nadal.

View image in fullscreen

First set: Tsitsipas 2-5 Nadal*

Tsitsipas is chattering to himself. He’s probably trying to figure out what on earth he can do to subdue Nadal. The Greek could do with some help from the gods, and he’s looking to the skies after serving two consecutive double faults to slip from 40-15 to deuce. Which turns into Nadal’s advantage. A Tsitsipas drop shot has Nadal charging forward and the Spaniard is able to combine the sprint with a sublime touch at the net to put the ball behind a backpedalling opponent! Nadal has the security of a second break and will come out after the changeover to serve for the first set.

First set: *Tsitsipas 2-4 Nadal

Nadal is firing off both wings - “it’s like two forehands” parps Chris Bradnam on the Eurosport commentary - and if Nadal’s backhand is as vicious as his forehand tonight, what hope does Tsitsipas have? 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. After sliding 15-30 down in his opening service game, Nadal hasn’t conceded a point on serve.

First set: Tsitsipas 2-3 Nadal*

However three consecutive games for Nadal has not got to the Greek. Tsitsipas shows admirable resolve to come up with a love game of his own, rounding things off with a beautiful one-handed backhand winner down the line.

View image in fullscreen

First set: *Tsitsipas 1-3 Nadal

Nadal backs up the break with his first love game. He’s got the look of a man who means business, which is ominous for his young opponent.

First set: Tsitsipas 1-2 Nadal*

Tsitsipas and Nadal are now even on unsuccessful Hawk-Eye challenges and they’re also even in this game at 15-all. Nadal forges ahead for 15-30 but Tsitsipas thwacks a forehand cross-court winner for 30-all. Cue a little yelp of encouragement from the big 6ft 4in Greek. But it’s to no avail. Nadal soon has a break point at 30-40 and he decides to get in on Tsitsipas’s net-rushing act. The Greek tries to go down the line but misses. After 11 minutes, Nadal has the first break of the match!

First set: *Tsitsipas 1-1 Nadal

Nadal knifes a volley into the tramlines. 0-15. It’s the champion looking more nervous than the challenger at the moment. A failed Hawk-Eye appeal from the second seed and it’s 15-30. An early hint of danger on Nadal’s serve. But danger, what danger? Nadal smashes down an ace for 30-all, Tsitsipas loops his one-handed backhand long and Nadal takes the game after another unforced error from his opponent.

First set: Tsitsipas 1-0 Nadal*

Ladies and gentlemen, Stefanos Tsitsipas won the toss and has elected to serve first. And so, this fascinating match-up of youth v experience, a grand slam semi-final debutant v a 17-time major winner is under way. Tsitsipas starts as he means to go on with a brilliant, attacking first point, the serve-volley getting him to 15-0. A longer second point plays out but it also goes the way of the Greek. 30-0. Nadal gets on the board with a brutal backhand return which he takes early, and Tsitsipas nets. 30-15. 40-15. Game, after a netted Nadal return.

View image in fullscreen

The Greek fans are already in good voice, both on Rod Laver and elsewhere. There is, of course, a strong Greek population in Melbourne.

Nadal is keeping Tsitsipas waiting. Mind games? The Greek is pacing in the corridors for more than five minutes before the Spaniard appears. Nadal must feel rather old when he sees his opponent, given Tsitsipas probably reminds him of his younger, swashbuckling self. The 32-year-old’s hair is now shorter - and thinner, the bandanas aren’t quite so piratical, the brow is more furrowed, but he does still have the intense focus and relentless energy, which he shows with his obligatory jumping up and down during the coin toss followed by his raging bull charge to the back of the court for the warm-up.

The winner of this match will take on either Novak Djokovic or Lucas Pouille, who meet tomorrow. But surely Djokovic needs more snackage than this to fuel his bid for a record seventh Australian Open title?

The head-to-head doesn’t make great reading for Tsitsipas – he was blown away on the Barcelona clay last May 6-2, 6-1 and also lost to Nadal a few months later in the Rogers Cup final – but that’s not putting him off.

“I felt very close to beating him in Toronto, though the score was 6-2, 7-6,” he says. “I remember coming back to the locker room and promising to myself I’m going to do much better against him next time.

“It felt like I understood a bit better what he was doing on the court after that match, and especially on hard court. It’s going to be interesting. I feel like I can do something good against him.”

Nadal, meanwhile, appears slightly wary. “They can wait a little bit,” he says of the young challengers. “But looks like they don’t want to wait. They’re here.

“Stefanos is one of the best players of the world. He’s ready to win against anybody. To have the chance to be in that final, I need to play my best, and that’s what I am looking for.”

They’re raising the roof! Nadal will be happy with that. His powers are slightly weakened indoors, and wasn’t too happy playing under the roof in the Wimbledon semi-final against Novak Djokovic last year.

“There is a considerable fanbase growing around the charismatic Greek player with the single-handed backhand and the multi-layered brain. He is different, a relaxed and attractive thinker who says there is more to life than tennis, yet gives the impression he would drive himself to the extremities of collapse to win a big match. Nadal might force him to go to that place.” These are the words of our man in Melbourne, Kevin Mitchell. You can read the rest of his thoughts on the semi-final here.

Meanwhile there will be no grand slam final for Britain’s Neal Skupski. He and Spain’s María José Martínez Sánchez lost 6-0, 6-4 to the third seeds, Barbora Krejcikova and Rajeev Ram, in the mixed doubles semis.

As I try to thaw out after my icy walk into Guardian Towers this morning in temperatures of minus one, the news that it’s still more than 40 degrees in Melbourne is making me feel slightly warmer. It means the roof is closed, as it was during the women’s semi-finals, when Petra Kvitova ended the run of the unseeded American Danielle Collins 7-6, 6-0 and Naomi Osaka held off a comeback from the inspired conqueror of Serena Williams, Karolina Pliskova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. What a final that should be on Saturday. Kvitova will be playing in her first grand slam final since nearly losing fingers in a knife attack just over two ago and her first since Wimbledon 2014, while Osaka is going for back-to-back major wins after her breakthrough triumph at the US Open. And there’s more than just the title on the line; the winner will take the world No 1 ranking from Simona Halep.

Good morning/afternoon/evening depending on your worldly whereabouts and welcome to our coverage of the first men’s semi-final between the man of the week and the man of the fortnight.

While the 20-year-old sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas caused a major Melbourne earthquake on Sunday by ending Roger Federer’s title defence for the win of his life, Rafael Nadal has created few tremors because his progress has been so smooth. He’s won all his matches in straight sets, hasn’t been broken since the first round and, having already dismissed two Next Gen talents in Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe, appears to be in the mood to show another young upstart who’s boss.

The 32-year-old was underestimated coming into the tournament because of his wretched run of injuries since Wimbledon last year, but every time you think the end credits on his career may be about to roll, the stubborn and superb Spaniard keeps. Coming. Back. And tennis is all the better for that.

If one of Nadal’s assorted ailments flares up today, whether it be his taped abdomen, the thigh strain that forced his withdrawal from Brisbane this month, the ankle that was operated on last year or his perennially creaking knees, Tsitsipas can take full advantage. The long-haired, bandanaed Greek with the look of Bjorn Borg, the competitiveness of Andy Murray and the one-handed backhand of Federer has wowed the Melbourne crowds with his bold play, skill at the net and unwavering self-belief. He showed little fear against Federer in the last 16 and will be determined to do the same today, even though this is his first grand slam semi-final and he’s facing a man appearing in his 30th.

For some time Alexander Zverev has been the undisputed leader of the Next Gen, widely regarded as the player most likely to break tennis’s established order and shake up a sport that has become an old man’s game at the very top level but now, suddenly, another young challenger with the X-factor has come along. And tennis is all the better for that too.

The players will be on court at: 8.30am GMT/7.30pm Melbourne time.

In the meantime why don’t you: watch the highlights of Nadal’s 2009 Australian Open win, his only title triumph in Melbourne. Tsitsipas was 10 at the time.