Federer Beats Wawrinka to Reach Aussie Final

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Roger Federer has rallied to reach the final of the Australian Open, beating Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 in just over three hours.

The sold-out crowd in Rod Laver Arena roared when Wawrinka double-faulted to give Federer the critical service break at 4-2 in the fifth set.

The 35-year-old Federer calmly served it out two games later to become the oldest player to reach a Grand Slam final since Ken Rosewall made the 1974 U.S. Open final at the age of 39.

It will be an all-Williams women's final at the Australian Open.

Second seed Serena Williams cruised into the final with a 6-2, 6-1 dismantling of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. Williams broke serve five times and wrapped up the match in just 50 minutes.

The six-time Australian Open champion is in line for her 23rd Grand Slam title, a record in the Open era.

Venus Williams also advanced at Melbourne, 14 years after losing to Serena in her last Australian Open final. The 36-year-old Williams dropped a first-set tiebreaker before completing a 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 win over fellow American Coco Vandeweghe.

Venus is in a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2009.