Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of the first of the men's semi-finals between world number two Rafael Nadal and world number three Roger Federer

Phew! If you are not exhausted after that, clearly you are not human! Nadal now has three days to recover before Sunday's final against either defending champ and world number one Novak Djokovic or fourth seed Andy Murray. Their semi-final is tomorow night

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-6 – GAME, SET & MATCH – And this time Nadal does wrap up the match and books a second Australian Open final when Federer sends a forehand just long of the baseline!

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-5 40--Ad– Fed sends a backhand into the net to squander it again before Rafa sets up a SECOND MATCH POINT after another great serve ...

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-5 Ad-40 – Rafa saves it though with an amazing defensive forehand lob that he lands on the back edge of the baseline, Federer returning it wide. Another great backhand, this time down the line from Fed, and Nadal hits into the net. Break point Fed again ...

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-5 Ad-40 – Another brilliant point from both players ends when Nadal’s backhand passing shot drifts just narrowly wide across court. We’re back to deuce before Rafa hits a forehand long to hand Fed a break back point ...

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-5 30-40 – A drop volley from Federer, when Nadal is miles behind the baseline and slips slightly sees him get off the mark and although Rafa sneaks in front at 30-15 again he sends a forehand wide down the line to allow Fed to level up at 30-30. A huge first serve that Fed can only return long off the backhand wing hands Nadal a FIRST MATCH POINT ...

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-5 - BREAK – And this time Nadal does get the break when Federer sends a cross court backhand just wide into the tramlines. He challenges but it’s a pretty hopeful challenge, both players are on their way back to the chair before hawkeye shows the ball was indeed out. Nadal will serve for the match after the change of ends

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-4 –Absolutely relentless from Nadal as he resembles a Duracell bunny around the baseline. Federer on the other hand looks tired as Nadal pushes him around and sets up a break point. Federer saves it by working his way up to the net, running round the ball and coming up with a forehand winner, before another huge forehand down the line sets up a game point. But Nadal keeps going and whips a cross court forehand winner over for another break point ...

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-4 –And Fed does get a break point with an off-forehand winner off a shorter ball but he pulls the trigger on another across court forehand, only to send the ball just wide. And consecutive forehand winners from Rafa, both inside-out across court, and he holds

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-3 – Nadal only just misses a cross court forehand on the angle, challenged by Fed and overruled. And a stunning cross court forehand drop shot volley from Fed on the next sees him get to 15-30. Fed catches the top of the tape and only just misses the chance of two break points but a backhand winner down the line sees him level at deuce. This is Fed’s moment to prolong this ...

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 4-3 – Federer holds to 15 with a forehand winner down the line to sneak out in front once again. He is potentially just two games away from levelling up this match and yet he still isn’t showing any real energy or emotion. It’s not like him to do much of that anyway, but it would be great to see some from him just now to put some pressure on Nadal

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 3-3 – Rafa holds with another stunning passing shot winner down the line off the forehand wing and Federer looks like he is tinkering on the brink right now. He has a word with the umpire about when the new balls are coming, is pretty dismissive with the way he chucks his towel to the ball kids, which is unlike him, and just looks like he could crumble if things don’t go his way in the next couple of games

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 3-2 – Rafa absolutely crunches a running forehand passing shot winner down the line to bring up two break points. Fed saves the first with a big serve that Nadal can only return long, and also the second by working his way into the net and finding a backhand volley that Nadal can only return wide. A great hold in the end as Fed comes up with a service winner and then a solid rally which ends when Rafa hits into the net

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 2-2 – Another service hold from Nadal, who reverts to the swinging serve out wide to hold and level up again. A bit of a lull in play from both players for a couple of games now as the adrenalin from that third set breaker ebbs away

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 2-1 – 15-30 down and Federer goes for the serve and volley. And it works as he finds a backhand volley before going on to hold, albeit with a bit of a struggle, and sneak out in front once again

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 1-1 – A quick game from Nadal to level up once again as he holds to 15 when Federer fails to get his forehand return back in play

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) 1-0 – Federer races through an opening service hold to kick off this fourth set. No lull in confidence from him this time. Could this be going to five?

Hewitt's answer to Courier's question by the way, was that if it was a match for his life it would have to go to five sets, and over five sets he would always pick Rafa. Fair enough reasoning, we reckon. Does anyone have any difference opinion? Let us know in the comment section below

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-7(5) – SET – Nadal finally wraps up the set on his fifth chance, with a great serve and off-forehand that Federer can only return along the floor into the net. Nadal officially in front for the first time in this match now

FEDERER 7-6(5) 2-6 6-6(5-6) – TIE-BREAK – Nadal’s earns himself five set points but four go begging, one when he only hits halfway up the net and another with a service winner down the centre of the T. One set point remaining ...