Federer obliterates sorry Tsonga - Day 12

Roger Federer rolled back the years in delivering an absolutely scintillating performance in demolishing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 to make it to his 18th Grand Slam final in the last 19 events.

Federer broke Tsonga in the 6th game of the first set to take the lead and broke again in the final game as he gave away just five unforced errors. The second set followed the same pattern as Rog broke the Frenchman in the 6th game of the set and an outrageous forehand down the line helped him consolidate his break for a 5-2 lead. Two games later and it was two sets to love for the Swiss champion in under an hour.

Federer was like a sniper in this semi-final, going for the kill at every opportunity, and displaying the grace of a gazelle in all of his lethal execution. And it didn't take him long in the third set to gain the upper hand. Federer produced a glorious backhand overhead volley and three points later he had broken the beleagured Tsonga again and the end was drawing rapidly near.

A Tsonga double fault gave Federer a double break in his next service game and the Swiss marched into a 5-1 lead, shortly wrapping up the match in under an hour and a half.

There was a reverential silence around the Rod Laver arena as this champion utilised all of his skills to the utter detriment of Tsonga who looked on helplessly as the spectators sat in awe. The biggest gasp came when Federer shanked a forehand in the third set. Even the commentators were at a loss for words. "I wonder who'll change the nappies tonight?" was the best Alan Wilkins came up with. And after yet another glorious winner from Federer's racquet, Vijay Amritraj apologised, "I'm sorry to be gasping so much, because I don't have any more words to say! It's just a gasp."

Having taught Tsonga a severe lesson on the court, the great Swiss master then taught him a valuable lesson off court by humbly waiting for the Frenchman to gather his belongings so they could walk off the court together, shoulder to shoulder in equality. This big-headed, arrogant Frenchman could do with taking note as he usually takes no thought for his opponent, being too occupied with promoting himself by pointing to his back whilst jumping around the court like some jack-in-a-box. I'm grateful that I didn't have to bear watching that awful celebration again.

Federer's post-match interview was just as colourful as his on-court display. He was clearly delighted to have won this match so convincingly and smiled vividly as he related his best memories of 2009 and his analysis of Sunday's final with Murray. He had the crowd in stitches when, asked by Jim Courier about Andy Murray's Grand Slam hopes, he wiggled his hands mockingly in the air and said,"He'd like to win the first for British tennis in what is it, a hundred and fifty thousand years?!"

This semi-final demolition job was a clear message to Andy Murray to remind him of the task that awaits him in Sunday's final. For Federer is no mood to be lenient when it comes to Grand Slam finals.

Back from the dead - Day 10

Serena Williams' torrid start to her quarter-final with Victoria Azarenka which saw her a set and 4-0 down in the 2nd, almost condemned her to a humiliating defeat. She later admitted that she thought about returning home by Friday - but something seemed to click as she went on from that perilous position to win 12 of the next 15 games to stun her Belarussian opponent into submission. The final score read 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 to Serena and she was just thankful to have risen from the dead and still remain in the competition.

Azarenka was the overwhelmingly better player for a set and a half, and she must have wondered how on earth the match slipped from her grasp. Serena is famed as a fighter who never gives up the ghost and she demonstrated her battling qualities most admirably in front of a rapturous Rod Laver arena crowd.

The American was not the only one flirting with disaster on the Rod Laver arena. Swiss champion Roger Federer, playing after that ladies' singles contest, looked lethargic and completely vacant of ideas as he gave away the first set 6-2 with a flurry of errors from his racquet. After taking an unusually early bathroom break, he found himself behind again, this time dangerously trailing 1-3 in the 2nd. The Federer camp was worried, Mirka appeared to be having a migraine. But as soon as the sunlight disappeared from the court as afternoon turned into evening, Federer quickly clicked into gear and amazingly won the next 13 straight games to stun Davydenko and race into a commanding lead. He restricted the Russian to a measly 7 points in the entire 3rd set, such was Federer's domination.

The momentum had swung briskly and although Davydenko thwarted Federer's efforts to serve for the match at 5-4 with some remarkable returns and winners, the Swiss broke back immediately and made no mistake at the second time of asking. Nikolay Davydenko mentioned how he now believes he can beat Federer - but believing is one thing, actually transferring that faith into reality is an entirely different proposition.

The Swiss master has sent out a warning - his 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 triumph over the No.1 in-form player in the world should have rivals questioning their supposed belief in gaining his scalp. The best it seems they could hope for, is for the Sun to hang over centre court after hours, and that's asking for the impossible. Roger Federer has most certainly not finished yet.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in his match with 3rd seed Novak Djokovic, traded tiebreaks before losing the 3rd set, a 6-1 scoreline in favour of the Serbian. However, as Djokovic began to wilt with a stomach complaint and physical exhaustion, Tsonga looked as fresh in the 5th as he did in the 1st. The Frenchman prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1. But he will need more than fitness when he takes on Federer in the semis.

Li Na made it two Chinese ladies in the Australian Open semi-finals when she came back from the brink to eliminate Venus Williams. A set down and with the American serving for the match, Li Na hung on, hitting some wonderful groundstrokes, and eventually came through a close final set to join compatriot Zheng Jie in the last four.

Federer Sails into 4th round - Day 6

Roger Federer, the men's number one seed, made relatively light work of 31st seed Albert Montanes. Federer never really left middle gears as he saw off the Spaniard 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. He's going along nicely and will next meet Lleyton Hewitt after Baghdatis retired injured early in the second set.

Big-head, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga unfortunately beat Tommy Haas to advance into a quarter final meeting with Nicolas Almagro. Haas had served for the 4th set but was broken and subsequently lost the match.

There were no other major upsets in the mens or womens draw.