Australian Open highlights: Stanislas Wawrinka beats Tomas Berdych to make first Grand Slam final

17.56 (IST): What a result for Stanislas Wawrinka! He has earned his spot in the final of the Australian Open, his first in a Grand Slam through some exceptional display of tennis over the last couple of weeks. He will now sit back and cheer for his fellow countryman Roger Federer in the other semifinal, where he takes on his arch-nemesis Rafael Nadal. Will it be an all-Swiss final? Or will Nadal stop the resurgent Federer in his tracks? Who will Wawrinka have to battle to extend his dream run to his first Grand Slam title? Only time will tell. For now, however, Wawrinka would want to go back and bask in his glory.

 

17.46 (IST): Wawrinka on the possibility of an all-Swiss final: An all-Swiss final will be amazing against the best player ever. I am going to watch the match between Federer and Nadal with some popcorn

17.45 (IST): Wawrinka on his opponent, Tomas Berdych: I think I played really aggressive to win. It was important to take advantage against Berdych. He was playing very well but I was focusing on my game and serving well.

17.42 (IST): Stanislas Wawrinka after the win: I don't know what to say. My first grand slam final. Working everyday but didn't expect to make final. I am really happy.

17:40 (IST):  Eighth seed Stanislas Wawrinka beats 7th seed Tomas Berdych to reach the men's singles final at the Australian Open. (6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6). (Match Report)  

17:31 (IST): A third consecutive tiebreak will decide the 4th set of this men's singles semifinal match between Wawrinka & Berdych. (6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-6)

17:25 (IST): Wawrinka will serve to stay in the fourth set once again at 5-6 after Berdych holds to love. (6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 5-6)

 

17:21 (IST): Wawrinka holds serve to level the fourth set at 5-5. (6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 5-5)

17:17 (IST): Wawrinka will now serve to stay in the fourth set. (6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 4-5)

17:07 (IST): No breaks of serve yet once again in the fourth set. It's 3-3. (6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 3-3)

 

16:54 (IST): Berdych hangs tight and holds serve to lead 2-1 in the fourth set. (3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 2-1)

 

16:51 (IST): Tomas Berdych and Stanislas Wawrinka have played each other 13 times in their career without being involved in a five-setter. Can today be the day?

 

16:44 (IST): Berdych wins the opening game of the fourth set after a seesaw battle. (3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 1-0)

16:31 (IST): Wawrinka takes the third set 7-6. He leads 2-1. (6-3, 6-7, 7-6)

 

16:22 (IST): The third set of this semifinal between Berdych & Wawrinka will be decided in another tiebreak. (3-6, 7-6, 6-6)

 

16:18 (IST): We are heading towards another tiebreak situation. Wawrinka holds serve to make it 6-5. Berdych to serve to stay in the third set. (3-6, 6-7, 5-6)

 

16:16 (IST): It's turning out to be the same story as the second set. Berdych holds serve to make it 5-5. (3-6, 7-6, 5-5)

 

16:10 (IST): Berdych will serve to stay in the third set of this semifinal against Wawrinka at 4-5. (3-6, 7-6, 4-5)

 

15:58 (IST): Berdych holds serve after a forehand error from Wawrinka in the 3rd set. It's 3-3. (3-6, 7-6, 3-3).

 

15:46 (IST): Wawrinka gets into the act now. Holds to love. (6-3, 6-7, 2-1)

 

15:44 (IST): Tomas Berdych is making this seem like a real fight. He holds serve without losing a point to make it 1-1 in the third set. (3-6, 7-6, 1-1)

15:38 (IST): Tomas Berdych wins the second set 7-6 (1). (3-6, 7-6)

 

15:29 (IST): We are into a second set tiebreak in this semifinal between Wawrinka & Berdych. (6-3, 6-6)

15:27 (IST): Stanislas Wawrinka serving to stay in the second set once again at 5-6. (0-15)

 

15:23 (IST): Tomas Berdych serving at 5-5. (30-0)

 

15:18 (IST): Stanislas Wawrinka will serve to stay in the second set now at 4-5. (6-4, 4-5)

 

15:15 (IST): Brian Teacher, seeded eighth, won the Australian Open men's singles title in straight sets in 1980. He later coached Andre Agassi, Greg Rusedski, Daniel Nestor and Max Mirnyi.

 

15:11 (IST): Tomas Berdych escapes a little hiccup to hold serve again. He leads 4-3 in the second set.

 

15:05 (IST): Wawrinka has been seeded No.8 in a Grand Slam for the first time. Last time an eighth seed reached the Australian Open final was 34 years ago. (Brian Teacher)

 

14:59 (IST): Tomas Berdych hold serve once again to make it 3-2 in the second set. It's still on serve.

 

14:52(IST): Tomas Berdych hangs tight and holds serve to lead 2-1 in the second set. (3-6, 2-1)

 

14:39 (IST): Stanislas Wawrinka takes the first set 6-3.

 

14:37 (IST): Stanislas Wawrinka finally gets the first break of serve in the match. He will now serve for the first set at 5-3.

 

14:27 (IST): No breaks of serve yet. Tomas Berdych holds serve to make it 3-3 in the opening set.

 

14:18 (IST): Stanislas Wawrinka holds serve after putting his foot off the pedal from a 40-0 situation. Fights off deuce to lead 2-1 in the first set.

 

14:10 (IST): Stanislas Wawrinka wins the first game of the match with a wide serve. Leads 1-0.

 

 

 

Match Preview:

Giant-killer Stanislas Wawrinka said he's expecting no emotional let-down following his stunning upset of Novak Djokovic when he plays Tomas Berdych for a place in the Australian Open final on Thursday.

The Swiss eighth seed sent the tennis world into a spin when he dumped the three-time defending champion out of the year's opening Grand Slam in a gripping five-set quarter-final.

It was Djokovic's earliest exit at a Slam since his quarter-final loss to Jurgen Melzer at the 2010 French Open, and set Wawrinka up with a semi-final against Czech seventh seed Berdych.

Thursday's last-four clash will be Wawrinka's second straight Grand Slam semi-final after losing to Djokovic at last year's US Open, also in five sets.

And Wawrinka now has a great chance to reach his first major final, as he leads Berdych 8-5 in their career meetings and got past the Czech over four sets in last year's US Open fourth round.

The calm Swiss with the rapier one-handed backhand had no doubts he will be mentally prepared to handle the challenge of Berdych, who beat world number three David Ferrer in the quarters.

"I think the most important (question) is will I be ready physically, because it was a tough battle against Novak," he said.

"But mentally I'm going to be ready, for sure. I'm happy to be here. I'm playing good tennis. There is no sign that I'm not going to play well in the semi-final.

"I'm still far from winning the tournament. Two matches, and the most difficult ones."

Much has been made of the improvement in Wawrinka's tennis over the last 18 months as he shows the fruits of his work under Swedish coach Magnus Norman, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open in 2000.

At last year's edition Wawrinka was ranked 17, now he is eight and could even supplant his great friend Roger Federer as Switzerland's number one player at the end of this tournament.

Wawrinka vs Berdych head-to-head

Stanislas Wawrinka leads Tomas Berdych 8-5

2013

World Tour Finals - Wawrinka won 6-3, 6-7 (0/7), 6-3

US Open - Wawrinka won 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2

Madrid Masters - Wawrinka won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

Davis Cup - Berdych won 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5).

2011

Indian Wells Masters - Wawrinka won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

Chennai Open - Wawrinka won 6-4, 6-1

2010

Rome Masters - Wawrinka won 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)

2009

Australian Open - Berdych won 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4

2008

Paris Masters - Berdych won 6-3, 7-5

Indian Wells Masters - Wawrinka won 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4

2007

Basel - Berdych won 7-5, 6-4

Davis Cup play-off - Berdych won 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5

2005

Rome Masters - Wawrinka won 6-1, 6-4.


Wawrinka vs Berdych road to the semis:

Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic, 7th seed)

Round 1 - beat Aleksandr Nedovyesov (Kazakhstan) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3

Round 2 - beat Kenny De Schepper (France) 6-4, 6-1, 6-3

Round 2 - beat Damir Dzumhur (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 6-4, 6-4, 6-2

Round 4 - beat Kevin Anderson (South Africa, 19th seed) 6-2, 6-2, 6-3

Quarter-finals - beat David Ferrer (Spain, 3rd seed) 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland, 8th seed)

Round 1 - beat Andrey Golubev (Kazakhstan) 6-4, 4-1 ret

Round 2 - beat Alejandro Falla (Colombia) 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4

Round 3 - beat Vasek Pospisil (Canada, 28th seed) walkover

Round 4 - beat Tommy Robredo (Spain, 17th seed) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5)

Quarter-finals - beat Novak Djokovic (Serbia, 2nd seed and defending champion) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7


All-Swiss final? Don't jinx it, says Roger Federer

Roger Federer on Wednesday said he didn't even dare to think about setting up an all-Swiss Australian Open final after he joined compatriot and close friend Stanislas Wawrinka in the semis.

Federer said he was fist-pumping and high-fiving with his wife, Mirka, during Wawrinka's epic five-set win over defending champion Novak Djokovic, which earned him a first Grand Slam semi-final.

But he said he couldn't even contemplate playing his friend for the trophy ahead of the semi-finals, where he will face Rafael Nadal and Wawrinka is playing Tomas Berdych.

"The moment you start thinking about that we're taking the same flight home," he said.

"Look, I'm worried about my match clearly, but I'll definitely watch his first. Hopefully he can make it. Then he can put the pressure on me that way."

Federer, who beat Andy Murray to reach the semi-finals, admitted he wasn't "sitting there all quiet" during Wawrinka's win over Djokovic late on Tuesday. (Read more)

(Road to semis, head-to-head courtesy AFP)