Federer, Murray on track for an Australian Open finals showdown

It's one more match to go for the two male tennis players I expected to reach the 2010 Australian Open finals. #5 Andy Murray dominated #2 Rafael Nadal to reach the semifinals, while #1 Roger Federer overcame a slow start and nemesis Nikolay Davydenko to book his 23rd straight Grand Slam semifinal visit. In their semifinal matches, they will be facing a couple of young and talented players who came through the quarterfinals by beating higher ranked opponents.

Murray, the only player who has yet to drop a set in both the men and women's draw, will going against #14 Marin Cilic of Croatia. Cilic beat 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round, and outlasted American #1 Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals. Murray will definitely be the fresher player at the start of this match. Cilic needed 5 sets to win three of his last four matches.

Federer turned the tables on Davydenko by coming back after being down a break and two break points in the second set. Davydenko has been the Swiss in the past two tournaments both players have entered. Federer's grand slam semifinal streak looked to be in danger as he easily lost the first set, 2-6. But he run off a string of 12 straight games to win the second set and third sets, and establish a break in the fourth set. He eventually won the fourth set 7-5 to reach the semis extend one of the most impressive ever records in tennis.

In the semifinals, Federer will going against French #1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tsonga gained revenge over his 2008 Australian Open final loss to world #3 Novak Djokovic by prevailing in a five-set battle. Like Cilic, Tsonga needed five sets to eliminate both his last two opponents. Tsonga has now reached his second career Grand Slam semifinal.

Any result wouldn't surprise me when the men's singles semifinals will start on January 28, Thursday. I would still be rooting for a Murray - Federer final though. Just one more match to go.