Australian Open 2014: Stanislas Wawrinka Beats Tomas Berdych to Reach First Grand Slam Final

Stanislas Wawrinka overcame Tomas Berdych in the Austalian Open to reach his first ever Grand Slam final.

The seventh seed beat eighth-seed Berdych 6-3 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) and will now face either fellow Swiss Rodger Federer or world No.1 Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final.

"It's amazing, I'm so happy to be here," said Wawrinka. "I didn't expect to make a final in a Grand Slam, and it's happening. I'm just really happy."

The 28-year-old says he is delighted by the thought of possibly facing his compatriot as Federer faces Spaniard Nadal on Friday.

"Roger is the best player ever. He texted me last night. He is happy it is the first time two Swiss guys are in the semi-finals. I told him for you it's normal, for me it's not normal.

"I have two days to enjoy this win and then get ready for my first final."

Warwinka's belief in his own game was evident just two days after he knocked Novak Djokovic out of the competition.

And another exceptional performance was needed from the Swiss in order to beat 2010 Wimbledon finalist Berdych especially considering how closely matched the two are in the rankings.

The two were at logger heads in what was an unbelievably closely fought contest which saw just once service break as the match neared three hours.

Berdych was the first to drop a set after he lost his first break point with a shot into the tramlines.

The Czech then redeemed himself by saving a break point in the second before coming out on top after the tiebreak to take the second set.

Wawrinka capitalised on timely double-faults from Berdych at 3-2 to take the third set leaving Berdych looking stunned as he played three double-faults in the opening game, narrowly escaping a break point.

Wawrinska then began to close the game down, and as it came down to the crucial third tie-break, he emerged for emphatic victory, making it 37<sup>th time lucky for his first Grand Slam final.