Lleyton Hewitt took a huge step towards becoming the first homegrown Australian Open champion for 29 years after beating American Andy Roddick to reach the final for the first time.
Australian third seed Hewitt, who is aiming to emulate compatriot Mark Edmondson's title triumph in 1976, came from behind to wear down big-serving second seed Roddick, triumphing 3-6, 7-6
(7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 in two hours 54 minutes.
Hewitt now plays Russian fourth seed Marat Safin for the title on Sunday, the first time an Australian has reached the final since Pat Cash in 1988.
"It's awesome. I started preparing for this tournament nine months ago. I've done a lot of hard yards to get here," said an
ecstatic Hewitt.
"I've always said I'd do anything to get in the first night final at the Australian Open. Now I've got my chance."
The former world number one is bidding for his third grand slam title following victory in the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon.
Roddick's game fell away in a welter of unforced errors in a lopsided fourth set as Hewitt surged into the final.
Roddick served 31 aces, hit 66 winners but made double the unforced errors than Hewitt (50-21), yet he could not overcome the tigerish Hewitt, who got to the semi-final on the back of fighting five-set victories over Rafael Nadal and David Nalbandian.
It was the second time Roddick had lost in an Australian Open semi-final having been defeated by German Rainer Schuettler in 2003.
Roddick started strongly, breaking Hewitt in the second game and with his serve on song he confidently fended off the Australian's attempts to break back in the ninth with six aces to take the opening set.
Roddick's hot streak continued with four consecutive aces on his first service game of the second set, making a run of seven, one of them hurtling down at 231 kmh (144mph).
Hewitt had break point opportunities but the American's booming serves were keeping him at bay.
But Roddick played a poor second set tie-break and fell behind three set points only to crash an easy backhand into the net to level the match.
Roddick cashed in when Hewitt coughed up three double-faults to drop serve in the second game, but the Australian kept at Roddick and broke back when the second seed served back-to-back double-faults.
Again the match went to a tie-break and again Hewitt handled it the better as Roddick made several errors to hand the home favourite two set points.
Hewitt rolled a delightful backhand cross court to take the a two sets to one lead.
The tide was turning strongly in Hewitt's favour and he broke Roddick's opening serve in the fourth set when his backhand let him down.
Roddick was only a shadow of his form in the opening sets and Hewitt broke him a second time in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead.
Hewitt served out for the match to home pandemonium in the stadium, getting to two match points and sinking to his knees when Roddick's backhand was long.
Afterwards, a disgruntled Roddick bemoaned that someone in the crowd had twice yelled out while he was serving.
"It just took one jackass to yell out," he said.
"You know, I'm mad. I felt like I was in there with a shot," the American added.
"To lose two breakers. I'm normally pretty money in those. It's disappointing."
