30 Jan 2010

Federer sets up final clash with Murray

7:43 am on 30 January 2010

World number one Roger Federer will face Andy Murray in the Australian Open tennis final, after blizing 10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2 6-3 6-2 in just 88 minutes.

The semi-final win books Federer a spot in an eighth straight grand slam final, and his 18th in the past 19.

The three-time Australian Open champion played down his destruction of Tsonga as not exceptional, before cheekily reminding Murray of the weight of British expectation on the Scot's shoulders.

It' been 74 years since a British tennis player has won a men's grand slam.

Federer, who shed tears after his loss to Rafael Nadal in last year's final, has 15 grand slam titles under his belt but has an inferior win-loss record against Murray, but has won their past two encounters.

The womens final is tonight between the defending champion and Serena Williams and 2004 winner Justine Henin.