MELBOURNE, Jan 27: Roger Federer reached his third consecutive Grand Slam final on Friday with an easy win over Nicolas Kiefer at the Australian Open, to set up an intriguing clash with new star Marcos Baghdatis.

The Swiss world number one, watched by his idol Rod Laver in the arena named after him, was too consistent for the self-destructing 21st seeded German, winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 in 2hr 40min.

Federer stepped up his game after error-riddled wins over Tommy Haas and Nikolay Davydenko in previous rounds, and broke Kiefer’s serve five times in the last two sets for a convincing win.

The top seed, the first player since Andre Agassi in 1999 to reach three consecutive Grand Slam finals, is looking for his second Australian Open, after beating Russian Marat Safin here in 2004, and his seventh Grand Slam crown.

Federer said he was looking forward to playing tournament surprise packet Baghdatis in Sunday’s final.

Kiefer, who was in his first slam semifinal, self-destructed with a faltering service and volleying clangers, twice double-faulting on break point and committing a total of 53 unforced errors.

The German, who was fined 6,000 US dollars for unsportsmanlike conduct and obscenities in earlier rounds, was off his best and looked to have been dulled by his extra six hours on court than Federer to reach the semifinal.

The Swiss broke Kiefer’s serve six times and only gave up his own serve once when he lost the second set.

It improved his record over Kiefer to 8-3, winning their last seven meetings, and extended his winning streak this season to 11 matches.

Federer broke Kiefer’s serve in the fourth game of the first set after the German double-faulted on break point.

The Swiss had two set points in the eighth game, but Kiefer served himself out of strife. Federer though locked up the opening set in 44 minutes on a net cord.

The feisty German had a struggle to hold his serve in the ninth game of the second set which went to three deuces, but it was Federer who cracked in the 12th game with two volleying errors to allow Kiefer to level the match.

But the world number one ran away with the third set, scoring three service breaks and dominating the points 25-8 to win to love in 25 minutes.

It got no better for the misfiring German in the fourth set with two more service breaks allowing Federer to clinch victory.

The win extended Federer’s record-breaking winning streak on hard courts to 51 — 17 more than the next best by Pete Sampras.

Earlier, Zheng Jie and Yan Zi became China’s first grand slam winners on Friday, upsetting top seeds Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur in the women’s doubles final.

Yan and Zheng, who both won singles tournaments last year and were seeded 12th in the doubles at Melbourne, came from a set down and saved two match points in a second set tie-break before going on to win 2-6 7-6 6-3.

Results:

Men’s singles (semifinal):

Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Nicolas Kiefer (GER x21) 6-3, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2

Women’s doubles (final): Yan Zi (CHN)/Zheng Jie (CHN x12) bt Lisa Raymond (USA)/Samantha Stosur (AUS x1) 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-3

Mixed doubles (semifinals):

Daniel Nestor (CAN)/Elena Likhovtseva (RUS x6) bt Leander Paes (IND)/Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/4); Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)/Martina Hingis (SUI) bt Paul Hanley (AUS)/Samantha Stosur (AUS x5) 6-3, 6-3.

Order of play n on Saturday

Order of play on the Rod Laver Arena (centre court) on the 13th day of the Australian Open on Saturday:

Play starts 0230 GMT

Women’s singles final

Amelie Mauresmo (France) v Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium)

Men’s doubles final

Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (U.S.) v Martin Damm (Czech Republic)/Leander Paes (India)

—AFP