Wawrinka powers past Berdych to set up Aussie Open final against Federer or Nadal

By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association

stanislas Wawrinka reached his first grand slam final with victory over Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open.

The 28-year-old knocked out three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals and was roared on by the majority of the Melbourne crowd to a 6-3 6-7 (1/7) 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (7/4) win against Berdych.
Wawrinka, from Switzerland, has blossomed into a major threat late in his career under the guidance of coach Magnus Norman.

No silent Stan: Wawrinka celebrates during his victory over Tomas Berdych in the Australian Open

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Mind games: Wawrinka gestures to his coach Magnus Norman after holding his nerve to beat Berdych

White stripes: Berdych was again wearing a kit that bore resemblance to Sheffield Wednesday's famous shirt

Berdych's girlfriend, Ester Satorova (middle row, right), and his team also wore the striped kit

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He could yet meet another Swiss-Swedish combination in the final on Sunday, with Roger Federer - under the guidance of Norman's compatriot Stefan Edberg for the first time - due to play Rafael Nadal in the second semi-final.
Wawrinka said: 'It's amazing. I'm so happy to be here right now, to win that match, to make that first grand slam final. I didn't expect to make a grand slam final and tonight it's happening.
'Roger is the best player ever. He texted me last night saying how happy he was that two Swiss guys were in the semis. I told him, "For you it's normal. For me, it's not normal".
'I'm going to watch the match tomorrow on my TV maybe with some popcorn.'

At full stretch: Wawrinka lunges to make a forehand return against his Czech opponent

Not throwing in the towel just yet: Wawrinka discards the item during the match, but battled on

Not a spare seat: The Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne was packed out for the semi-final

Thursday night's tussle was a huge match for both Wawrinka and Berdych.
Berdych's only previous grand slam final came at Wimbledon in 2010 while Wawrinka was playing in just his second semi-final after first making the last four at the US Open last year.
Wawrinka picked up where he had left off in his stunning upset of Djokovic, taking the opening set after Berdych missed a smash on the only break point.
With both men strong on serve, it was always likely to be a contest of small margins, and so it proved.
Wawrinka was the more aggressive off the ground to start with but in the second-set tie-break Berdych came alive, winning six points in a row with hitting of power and precision.
The momentum had shifted and the Czech threatened a break at 4-4 in the third set.

Signature shot: Wawrinka shows off his brilliant backhand during his four-set victory over Berdych

It's behind you: Berdych is forced to try and hit the ball unconventionally behind his back

That's more like it: The world No 7 powers a forehand back to his Swiss opponent

But Wawrinka, who had won six of his previous seven matches against Berdych, recovered from 0-30 and then saved a break point, letting out a huge yell of 'Come on'.
It was the first real show of positive emotion on Rod Laver Arena, and although Berdych appeared calm, he betrayed the tension in his arm with two costly double faults in the tie-break.
That left Wawrinka one set away from his maiden slam final, and he pushed for the advantage at the start of the fourth set.
Berdych stood firm to save two break points, though, and thereafter the set adopted a pattern much like the previous two, again ending in a tie-break.
Wawrinka made the perfect start, moving into a 3-0 lead, and when Berdych double-faulted again to go 4-1 behind, the writing was on the wall.
At 6-3, Wawrinka had two match points on his own serve. He double-faulted on the first but on the second Berdych's return flew long and the eighth seed was able to celebrate the greatest night of his career so far.