Baghdatis Bags Australian Open Final

Unseeded 20-year-old Marcos Baghdatis capped a remarkable comeback from two sets down late Thursday at the Australian Open, defeating a throat-clutching Davis Nalbandian 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to gain the final against either Roger Federer or Nicolas Kiefer.

Nalbandian led a set and 5-1 before the Cypriot stormed back, only to lose 7-5 and find himself weary and up against a two-set deficit. In the third set Baghdatis, looking spent, nonetheless converted an early break and served out the set at 6-3, backed by his cheering contingent of blue-clad Greeks as the Argentine started to falter.

In the fourth set Nalbandian's tight play continued, and Baghdatis evened the match at two sets all. In the fifth the exhausted Cypriot went down an early break 2-4 but broke back twice, and was serving at 5-4 when rain caused a halt in play. When play resumed after 25 minutes, Baghdatis closed out the match on his second match point.

Baghdatis has never won an ATP title, and reached his only career final late last year at Basel.

Advancing into the doubles final Thursday were (1) the Bryan brothers (d. (4) Hanley/Ullyett), and (7) Damm/Paes (d. Fyrstenberg/Matkowski).

On tap for Friday is the second singles semifinal in (1) Federer vs. (21) Kiefer (Swiss leads career meetings 7-3, including the last six).

"I know I have to play much better, much better than the other days," said the racquet-tossing fine-magnet Kiefer. "I'm winning my matches here because I'm fighting unbelievable -- not by playing good tennis, but by fighting."