Australian Open 2012: day eleven - in pictures

It's a packed house in the Rod Laver Arena for the semi-final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. It's the 27th meeting between these two giants of the modern game, which sees a clash of styles – Federer's classical elegance against Nadal's muscular aggression. Nadal has won 17 of the 26 meetings to date, and since 2008 he has won nine of the last 12 meetings. However Federer can take encouragement from the fact that he prevailed at their last meeting, winning 6-3, 6-0 at the World Tour Finals in London last year Photograph: Lucas Dawson/Getty Images Federer has done a lot of work on his backhand return over the last two years, and it shows – the Swiss driving serves right back onto Nadal's toes at the baseline. He leads the first set 3-1 Photograph: Andrew Brownbill/AP Nadal comes back and forces the first set into a tie-break Photograph: Mast Irham/EPA ... which Federer wins 7-5, it's an impressive display by the Swiss player, he didn't drop a single service point during the tie-break Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images Rafael Nadal loses the first game of the second set but bludgeons his way straight back into the match... Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP ... and has Federer running all over the court. Soon the Spaniard is 5-2 up ... Photograph: John Donegan/AP ... but then the official Australia Day firewords are set off in Melbourne, which means a 15 minute break for the players. Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images When play resumes Federer double faults. allowing Nadal to win the game to love and the set 6-2 Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images Nadal also takes the first game in the third set and it seems that the advantage has now swung in his favour. However Federer digs deep and the third goes to a tie-break Photograph: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images Which Nadal wins 7-5, so he now leads the match 6-7, 6-2, 7-6. It doesn't look good for Federer now – in grand slam matches where these two have split the first two sets, the winner of the third set has always gone on to wi Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP While others seem to tire over the course of a five-set match, Nadal just seems to gets stronger – as though the first three sets were merely an elaborate warm-up. His forehand is really firing now - it's not long before he's 5-4 up Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images Federer attempts to come back but inevitabley Nadal overpowers him to win the match 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4. He'll play Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray in the final Photograph: MAST IRHAM/EPA Maria Sharapova takes on Petra Kvitova in the semi-finals and the Russian triumphs 6-2 in the first set Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images Kvitova, who started the day favourite to win the title, comes back to win the second set 3-6 Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images The third set is a pretty even affair with Sharapova eventually triumphing to win the match 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 and the 2008 winner is through to her third Australian Open final Photograph: Joe Castro/EPA The other semi-final sees reigning champion Kim Clijsters take on Victoria Azarenka. The Belarusian played an aggressive game to take the first set 6-4 Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images Clijsters isn't going to give up her crown without a fight and storms the second set 6-1 Photograph: Rick Rycroft/AP But the third set belongs to Azarenka who takes it 6-3 despite some incredible shots by Clijsters. The No3 seed is overcome with emotion as realisation hits home that she is through to her first grand-slam final Photograph: Sarah Ivey/AP