MELBOURNE

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory against Switzerland’s Roger Federer during their men’s singles Australian Open semi-final match, yesterday.  [PHOTO:AFP]

Rafael Nadal extended his mastery over long-time rival Roger Federer as he stormed into an Australian Open final against Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets on Friday.

Spanish top seed Nadal defeated the 17-time Grand Slam champion 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-3 in a dominant semi-final win lasting two hours and 24 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Federer was confident of a better showing after failing to beat Nadal in Grand Slams since the 2007 Wimbledon final, but the world number one was relentless in taking apart the much-decorated Swiss.

In 33 meetings in their great, if one-sided, rivalry, Nadal now leads Federer 23-10 and has won their last six matches in Slams as well as their last five meetings on all stages.

Nadal, the 2009 champion, will line up in his third Australian final against Wawrinka and he has yet to lose to the Swiss eighth seed in 12 matches.

“We played some really tough rallies at the end of the first set and I resisted really well because Roger was trying to play very aggressive and taking the ball very early,” Nadal said.

Nadal hit 28 winners to 25 unforced errors, while under-pressure Federer made 50 unforced errors and won just 23 of 42 points he contested at the net.

It will be the Spaniard’s 19th Grand Slam final on Sunday, and he will be bidding for his 14th major title to tie American Pete Sampras in joint second place behind Federer on the all-time list.

In women’s contest, China’s Li Na is ready to handle the pressure of being the favourite when she takes on Dominika Cibulkova in the Australian Open final today.

Twice a runner-up in Melbourne, and a major winner at the 2011 French Open, Li faces a Grand Slam final debutante in Slovakia’s Cibulkova.

“I think I’m ready,” said the 31-year-old. “I think we both should be ready. After six matches, everyone has more confidence to prepare for the final.”

Cibulkova, the 20th seed, will become the first Slovakian woman to play in a major final.

“I will say that many times, it’s like a dream,” she said. “It’s something so unbelievable.”

For Li, it is a third Australian final in four years after defeats by Kim Clijsters in 2011 and Victoria Azarenka last year.

Her chances against Azarenka were hurt by two falls during the match, and she is determined to avoid a similar scenario.                                                                                    –AFP and BBC