Fast knockout

MELBOURNE, Australia – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had been compared to a young Muhammad Ali only because of an uncanny likeness to the boxing great.

That was until he skipped across Rod Laver Arena, arms up in a biceps-flexing pose, thumbs pointing at his head after knocking out Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and getting a title shot at the Australian Open.

Nadal, ranked No. 2, got a taste of what No. 8 Richard Gasquet, No. 9 Andy Murray and No. 14 Mikhail Youzhny faced in earlier rounds.

Tsonga’s groundstrokes were audacious, his hand speed amazing. And he had the Spaniard stumbling well before he aced him on match point. The unseeded Frenchman, hampered by injuries for much of the last three seasons, eliminated Nadal 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

“For me it’s a big dream. It’s just amazing – I played unbelievable,” Tsonga said. “Everything went in. My backhand worked a lot and my serve also. My forehand, my volley, my drop shot, everything. I was moving on the court like I never move, so everything was perfect.”

When Nadal tried to counterpunch, Tsonga had an answer – a half volley from ankle height, a powerful backhand or crisp forehand pass.

This was Nadal’s worst defeat at a major since his second-round loss to Andy Roddick at the 2004 U.S. Open – 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.

“I was playing fine,” Nadal said. “He played unbelievable. Congratulate him.”

For the third straight year, an unexpected player is in the Australian final.

Marcos Baghdatis, who edged Tsonga for the world junior No. 1 ranking in 2003, was the surprise finalist in 2006. Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez rode his big serve and powerful forehand to the final last year.

Both lost to Roger Federer, who played No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the other semifinal today. Federer has played in the last 10 Grand Slam finals, including a win over Djokovic in the last U.S. Open final, and is bidding for a 13th major title.

Djokovic was one of three Serbians in the semifinals. One advanced and one exited Thursday.

On the women’s side, No. 4 Ana Ivanovic was down a set and a break against Daniela Hantuchova before rebounding for a 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 win to reach her second Grand Slam final. She will meet another 20-year-old player, Russia’s Maria Sharapova, who beat Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-1.