Relieved Safin is saved by the rain

Marat Safin could only look to the heavens with his chances of making Sunday's Australian Open Final disappearing fast, but then came his saviour - in the form of a rainstorm.

The Russian looked dead on his feet and was trailing 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 to No7 seed Tommy Haas of Germany.

He even needed courtside treatment for fatigue in the blistering heat, but then his prayers were answered. The heavens opened and as the rain swept Melbourne Park, Safin raised his arms in celebration, knowing he had been given a lifeline.

Forty five minutes later - with the stadium roof closed and the air conditioning cranked up - the former US Open champion had reeled off 11 of the next 13 games to clinch a 6-7, 7-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory.

Safin, who turns 22 on Sunday, will meet Sweden's Thomas Johansson in the final on his birthday.

"Thank God it rained... I had no chance to win if it didn't rain," said Safin. "But when it did I didn't give him any chance after the break. I totally changed the game. Served better, did everything better.

"At the end there I was playing perfectly."

The delay was a bitter blow to Haas who was gunning for his first place in a Grand Slam final.

"There was no excuse, I think. At the end my legs just didn't want to work," Haas said.

"I don't think the break helped me. When we came back we had to start again and he was on fire so there you go.

"I had been playing a good game, was in a groove but when we came out again everything was different. It just didn't go my way."