Intro:

Canadian Milos Raonic reached the Brisbane International final after he edged Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 in their semi-final on Saturday (10th January).

While Roger Federer was at his best as the number one seed trounced Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 in the other semi-final of the Brisbane International on Saturday (10th January).

Script:

Kei Nishikori was making his third consecutive semi-final appearance at the Brisbane international.

While Milos Raonic was looking to reach his first final here in Queensland.

The first went on serve into a tiebreak, with Nishikori taking it 7-4.

Yet here in the second set it was the Canadian who levelled up the match with his own 7-4 win in a tiebreak.

The decider needed another tiebreak to separate the two.

With the World No 5 serving at two match points down, and Raonic took his first opportunity.

And his second win in six over Nishikori.

The other finalist would come from either Roger Federer or Grigor Dimitrov.

The Bulgarian has met Federer twice previously, never having beaten the World No 2, and he got off to the worst possible start.

Serve at two break points down, Federer found a trademark forehand to break in the opening game.

The 17 time Grand Slam Champion would break once more to take the first 6-2.

Dimitrov was again in trouble in the second, The Bulgarian saved one break point, yet Federer took his next chance.

Federer wrapped up the match on his next service game, 6-2, 6-2 in just 53 minutes.

A win for Federer in the Brisbane final would set him up perfectly for a shot at an 18th Grand Slam in Melbourne later this month.