Stefanos Tsitsipas’s surprise win over Roger Federer was tipped to herald a changing of the guard.

But tennis’ old guard are clearly not done yet, Rafael Nadal setting up a likely final against Novak Djokovic with a stunning 6-2 6-4 6-0 win over Tsitsipas on Thursday evening.

Nadal, who has won 17 grand slam titles, arrived in Melbourne having last played a competitive match in September at the US Open.

Not that you could tell.

The Spaniard has not dropped a set at the Australian Open and was utterly brilliant in his latest triumph, over in just 106 minutes.

Stefanos Tsitsipas barely had a look-in against the imposing Nadal. Photo: Getty

He never gave Tsitsipas a proper look on his serve and thumped 28 winners in a display Djokovic and Frenchman Lucas Pouille – who play each other in the second semi-final on Friday evening – can only have found ominous.

“I have to be very happy about the way that I played,” Nadal said.

“During this event, I have been serving great. So when you serve great, then the first ball [back] normally is a little bit easier.

“I’m serving better. That’s why I’m able to create more winners on the first ball.

“[It] is not easy to be back after four months, five months, and play the way I am playing. Of course, I didn’t expect that at all.”

Big applause and congrats to @RafaelNadal and his whole team for bringing tennis to another dimension. His game is more than inspiring to me. I really hope to get closer next time.

Big thanks to everyone for your support these two weeks here in Melbourne. I love this city!

— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) January 24, 2019

Tsitsipas was introduced onto Rod Laver Arena as ‘the star of the next generation’ and the initial signs were good.

He stormed to the net and won the first point in style, holding before Nadal fell to 15-30 on serve at 0-1.

That was about as good as things got for Tsitsipas, as Nadal held serve and then produced the first break.

It was one-way traffic from there, Nadal extremely consistent on first serve, on which he won 34 of a possible 40 points.

The first set was over in just 32 minutes and Tsitsipas was staring down the barrel of another break at 0-40 and 2-2 in the second.

.@RafaelNadal hasn't dropped a set en route to the final.

You've got to be happy with that 💪#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/YHoGyrDv5p

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2019

He fought on impressively, though, eventually holding and roaring in approval.

But this was not the moment Tsitsipas worked his way back into the match, Nadal instead breaking at 4-4 before serving the second set out.

The third and final set was a masterclass from Nadal, the 32-year-old not missing a beat as he closed the match out inside two hours, leaving his opponent perplexed.

“Honestly, I have no idea what I can take from that match. It’s not that I was even close to get to something,” Tsitsipas said.

“I feel very strange. I feel happy with my performance in this tournament, but at the same time I feel disappointed … it’s a very, very weird feeling.

“He gives you no rhythm. He plays just a different game style than the rest of the players.

“He has this, I don’t know, talent that no other player has. I’ve never seen a player have this. He makes you play bad. I don’t know. I would call that a talent.”

Kvitova, Osaka set up women’s singles final

Ashleigh Barty’s quarter-final conqueror, Petra Kvitova, proved too good for unseeded American Danielle Collins in one of two women’s singles semi-finals on Thursday.

Kvitova won 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 with the match interrupted in the first set at 4-4 as the Open’s extreme heat policy was called into play.

That saw the roof closed and Kvitova dominated after that point, crushing 30 winners in her victory.

Juchuuuuu I'm in the final of the @AustralianOpen 🤭 pic.twitter.com/sYpIxipwqJ

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) January 24, 2019

She will play 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka in the decider, the Japanese player aiming for her second successive grand slam title.

Osaka needed three sets to see off Karolina Pliskova 6-2 4-6 6-4 in an entertaining contest.

Two Grand Slam finals in a row. Only 21-years-old.@Naomi_Osaka_ is a star 🌟#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/AHs37jIfkM

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2019