Safin advances to Australian Open final

Russian tennis player Marat Safin has booked his place in the men's final of the Australian Open.

He beat seventh seed Tommy Haas from Germany in a rain-delayed semi-final, which lasted for four and a half hours. The five setter saw Safin advance with a 6:7 (5:7), 7:6 (7:4), 3:6, 6:0, 6:2 win.

The first two sets were won on tie breaks. Safin was forced to take a timeout for treatment on his leg in the second one, which he then went onto win.

The match was temporarily interrupted by rain at the start of the fourth set with the Russian player 1:0 up. The court's roof was closed and the players resumed. The breather clearly helped the Russia, who had been suffering in the 34 degree heat in the first three sets.

Following the break, Safin made short work of his opponent, taking the decisive two sets 6:0, 6:2.

Marat Safin will meet Swede Tomas Johansson in the final on January 27th, which is also the Russian's birthday.