• Australian Open, Day 12

Flawless Federer storms into Australian Open final

Roger Federer was imperious against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga © Getty Images

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Day 12 in pictures

Roger Federer produced his best performance of the tournament to thrash Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2 6-3 6-2 and set up an Australian Open final showdown with Andy Murray.

Federer's display was flawless as he completely dominated Tsonga on Friday, breaking his opponent five times whilst not losing his own serve once to claim victory in less than 90 minutes. Federer now advances to his 22nd career Grand Slam final, where Murray awaits after reaching his first Melbourne final on Thursday, beating Marin Cilic in four sets.

The final will throw up a rematch of Murray's only other Grand Slam final appearance, when Federer triumphed at the 2008 US Open. Much was made of the fact Murray would have two full days to prepare for Sunday's showpiece, but Federer will be just as fresh after a clinical exhibition of methodical tennis.

The athletic Tsonga had advanced to the last four following a five-set come-from-behind win over Novak Djokovic. Like Murray, Tsonga was bidding to win his maiden Grand Slam having played in only one previous final, which was a 2008 Australian Open loss to Djokovic.

However, he was behind from as early as the fourth game, from which point Federer never looked back. Tsonga appeared to have done enough to save the first break point of the match as he sent his opponent scampering towards the net, but Federer opened his racket to guide a sweet forehand cross-court for 3-1.

Tsonga's best chance to break back came in the next game when taking Federer to deuce, but once again the world No. 1 remained calm to hold and then break Tsonga again to seal the opening set. Federer's understanding of how to use his opponent's momentum against him was a particularly defining feature, with Tsonga continuously forced to check back in the direction from which he had just come.

"Against top players it's always a huge bonus to win the first set," Federer said. "It's always difficult once you're down. I always feel Jo is good over five sets, but maybe he was more mentally fatigued than physically. That's how I saw it anyway."

Federer's focus was unyielding throughout Friday's semi-final © Getty Images

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The second stanza went with serve for the opening five games, with Tsonga beginning to find his range with a couple of meaty aces. However, Federer's superior tennis mind set up break point in the sixth game, and Tsonga handed a 4-2 advantage to his opponent on a plate by sinking a forehand into the net.

Victory seemed a formality for Federer, whose forehand was devastating, and after Tsonga sent a forehand long to go 2-1 behind in the third, the Swiss broke one more time to close out the contest.

Murray now awaits in a mouthwatering final on Sunday, and the Briton currently leads the head-to-head battle 6-4 out of the 10 matches played against Federer. Crucially though, none of those wins have arrived in a Grand Slam.

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