Unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga takes on Rafael Nadal in the first of the men's semi-finals at the Rod Laver Arena

Tsonga makes light of the 36-place gap in the world rankings as his delicate touch helps him break Nadal's serve early on

Nadal approachesthe match with his usual 100% commitment, but he loses the first set 6-2

The Spaniard loses his footing on several occasions as the match begins to get away from him

The fans get behind the underdog as Tsonga wins the second set 6-3, although their spelling could do with some work

Tsonga goes from strength to strength as his phenomenal stream of winners - he hits 49 in all - keep coming

Nadal is unable to find any answers as Tsonga secures two breaks of serve in the third set

And with his 17th ace of the match, Tsonga seals his place in Sunday's Australian Open final

Fifth seed Maria Sharapova takes on Jelena Jankovic having beaten world number one Justine Henin in the quarter-finals

Jankovic is targeting her first Grand Slam final appearance but makes a disastrous start to go 5-0 down in the first set

Sharapova squanders three set points and loses her serve before clinching it 6-3 and then breaking Jankovic early

Serb Jankovic has been troubled by back problems in the tournament and calls for treatment after that break

But a quick finish still looks likely as fifth seed Sharapova races 3-0 ahead against a struggling opponent

And the Russian clinches the second set 6-4 to reach her fourth Grand Slam final, much to father Yuri's delight

Sharapova is hoping to go one better in Melbourne than last year, when she lost in the final to Serena Williams

Ana Ivanovic, who lost in last year's French Open final to Justine Henin, takes on Daniela Hantuchova in the other semi

Ninth seed Hantuchova has yet to reach a Grand Slam final but looks on course by racing through the first set 6-0

It is a different story in the second set and, with her nerves settled, the Serbian levels the match by taking it 6-3

Hantuchova's game collapses in game nine of the deciding set and three mistakes hand Ivanovic a crucial break

Ivanovic closes out the match to book a meeting with Sharapova at the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday