Federer joins Baghdatis in dream final

BY JULIAN Linden

MELBOURNE, Friday (Reuters) - Top seed Roger Federer spanked German bad boy Nicolas Kiefer 6-3 5-7 6-0 6-2 on Friday to join giantkiller Marcos Baghdatis in the Australian Open men's final.

The seemingly invincible Federer stormed into his seventh grand slam final in three and a half years with another imperious display to set-up a promoter's dream final against the newest kid on the grand slam block.

"I think we're all surprised he got so far," Federer told a news conference.

"There are other very talented youngesters who I thought would make the break before him but he's proved us all wrong."

Baghdatis has captured the sporting world's imagination with his fairytale run to the final but the Cypriot showman will need to conjure up another miracle to beat the world number one after his impressive form against the feisty Kiefer.

The German has been fined $6,000 during the tournament for various offences, including unsportsmanlike behaviour and swearing.

They split the first two sets but Federer, struggling initially to cope with variations of playing indoors after rain forced the closure of the Rod Laver Arena roof, raised his game when he needed to and ran away with the final two sets.

"I'm really happy to be back in the finals. This is what I was hoping for at the beginning at the tournament but it's a long road," Federer said.

"I was rather nervous going into this match. I don't know why, but that's okay."

Kiefer, playing in his first grand slam semi-final in a decade as a professional, said: "I think it was a great match, but of course I'm disappointed. "To beat this guy you have take a lot of risks. You have to play at the absolute limit."

Martina Hingis also stayed in the hunt for another grand slam title when she and her Indian playing partner Mahesh Bhupathi reached the mixed doubles final, defeating the local pairing of Paul Hanley and Samantha Stosur 6-3 6-3.

The former world number one made the quarter-finals of the women's singles in her first grand slam since retiring in 2002 and now has the chance to win her first mixed doubles title.

Hingis was a brilliant doubles player in her prime, winning 36 titles, including nine majors, but rarely played mixed doubles and her best effort was reaching the U.S. Open semi-finals in 1996.