The pair were engaged in a tight battle for much of the encounter, but the Spaniard was able to use his power to keep Federer on the run.

Nadal won the opening set tiebreak, and then the second set 6-3.

Federer, who was eyeing up an all-Swiss final with compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka, kept Nadal on his toes at the beginning of the third set, but was ultimately out of answers, losing 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena.

Wawrinka, in his first Grand Slam final, will play Nadal for the Australian Open crown on Sunday (January 26).

China's Li Na will face Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova in the women's final tomorrow.

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