The 24-year-old was hoping to maintain the form which saw him overcome world number one Shingo Kunieda of Japan in his opening match and the prospect looked promising after he claimed the opening set 6-3.

Fernandez, the runner-up in 2014, was able to battle his way back into the tie after emerging as the winner of a lengthy tie-break in the second.

Both players were able to secure one break of serve each in the decider before Reid proved too strong to win 6-3, 6-7, 9-7.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to make my first Grand Slam singles final after winning my first two Grand Slam doubles titles last year,” he said.

“This is what you’re doing it for, this is what you play tennis for so I’ve just gone out there and enjoyed it.

“It was such a hard match and I was so tired after it, it was exhausting.”

The second semi-final also proved to be a lengthy affair between second seed Stephane Houdet and Belgium’s Joachim Gerard, winner of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters title in December.

Houdet claimed the opening set 6-3 but the French player was unable to maintain the momentum as Gerard hit back to clinch the remaining sets 6-1, 6-3 to reach his first Australian Open final.

The men’s event will see a new champion but the final of the women’s tournament will be between two Dutch stars who have previously lifted the trophy.

Defending champion Jiske Griffioen cruised through her last four encounter with Marjolein Buis, beating her compatriot 6-2, 6-2.

The second semi-final proved closer, but Aniek van Koot also sealed a straight sets victory by overcoming Japan’s Yui Kamiji 7-5, 7-5.

While they will face each other in the singles, Griffioen and Van Koot will play together in the doubles final after the Dutch pairing defeated Britain’s Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.

The pair are due take on Buis and Kamiji, after they defeated Germany’s Sabine Ellerbrock and South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane 6-4, 7-5.

France's Nicolas Peifer and Houdet, meanwhile, will contest the men’s doubles final after beating Australia’s Adam Kellerman and Dutchman Majkel Scheffers 6-0, 6-1.

They could meet Reid and Kunieda with the pairing facing Fernandez and Gerard in the second semi-final, scheduled to take place tomorrow.

In the quad singles Australia’s Dylan Alcott moved to the brink of the final after beating America's David Wagner 7-5, 6-1 to record his second win of the round robin.

South Africa’s Lucas Sithole won his first match, overcoming Britain’s Andy Lapthorne 2-6, 6-1, 6-0.

Sithole and Wagner triumphed in the doubles’ final after beating Lapthorne and Alcott 6-1, 6-3.