Rafael Nadal into Australian Open final after straight sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Melbourne

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Alex Young @alexwsyoung24 January 2019

Rafael Nadal booked his place in a fifth Australian Open final with a straight sets win over Stefanos Tsitsipas at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.

The Spaniard, who won the Melbourne major in 2009, will face either Novak Djokovic or Lucas Pouille in the showpiece on Sunday after coming through 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 against 20-year-old Tsitsipas.

Tsitsipas was looking to become only the third man after Juan Martin del Potro and Djokovic to beat both Roger Federer and Nadal at the same slam but was firmly put in his place as the Spaniard swept to victory in just an hour and 46 minutes.

Nadal, for whom this will be a fifth Australian Open final, said: "It has been a great match, great tournament. I think I played very well every day. After a lot of months without playing, this court and this crowd have given me this unbelievable energy.

"To start the season like this when a few weeks ago when I was in Brisbane, having to take a very tough decision not to play there. In that moment it was difficult for me to imagine where I am today. Since the tournament started I've felt really, really well."

On Tsitsipas, Nadal said: "He has everything to become a multi-grand slam champion. When at this age he is already in the semi-finals, it says a lot of good things about him."

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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