A simple night's work for Nadal in the end, as he breezes into the final, where he'll face either Novak Djokovic or  Lucas Pouille. 

That semi-final takes place on Friday, with the final set for Sunday.

Until then, it's goodbye for now. 

Rafael Nadal slammed the door shut on the future when he emphatically ended the run of Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open and silenced his hordes of new fans.

The 32 year-old Spaniard gave his challenger an object lesson in the standards he needs to reach with a brilliant, relentless performance in their semi-final that saw him win 6-2 6-4 6-0 in just an hour and 46 minutes.

Nadal was utterly unforgiving from the off, and was left awaiting the winner of Friday’s second semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Frenchman Lucas Pouille in what will be his fifth Australian final.

You can read the full report, here.

McEnroe: Can you play any better?

Nadal: Hopefully yes!

JM: How do you do that?

RN: I think I played very well, every day. After a lot of months without playing, this crowd have given me that unbelievable energy. 

JM: Something of a message to the younger generations? 

RN: They don't need any message. They are good and they are improving every month so it's always a big challenge to play against them. That's the beautiful thing about our sport, we are able to share generations. 

That is an absolute masterclass from the Spaniard.

Tsitsipas is already down the tunnel and back to the locker room. He's clearly disappointed but he's carried himself well. 

The longer it went on the clearer it was that there was just no getting past Nadal. 

A last little bit of resilience from Tsitsipas as he goes 15-0 up, but that's quickly wiped out when he gets an overhead volley wrong.

Nadal has lost just 10 points on serve all match... actually make that 11 as he finds the net for 30-30. 

He can't quite make a volley at the net and Tsitsipas has his first break point of the match!

But nope, Nadal quickly shuts off any fleeting thought of a comeback. Deuce.

Tsitsipas goes long and wide with a back hand and it's match point Nadal. 

Return into the net from Tsitsipas and that's it! 

Errors now creeping in on Tsitsipas' service game.

In the blink of an eye he's 30-0 down, and his little sister can't bear to watch.

More power, more break points - three for the Spaniard. 

Serving for the match, next. 

Nadal is a ball-width away from another miraculous shot around the net. 

A little touch of frustration from Tsitsipas as he fires a loose ball into the crowd. He gets a warning for that.

Matters on the court won't help him much either as he finds himself 40-15 down. He just has no answers to Nadal who has now won seven games in succession. 

The commentators are focusing on Tsitsipas' serve right now. It's easy to see why - it's being torn apart right now.

It's 30-30 when Nadal produces an outrageous lofted shot from the baseline that brings up another break point. 

At the second attempt, the Spaniard takes it.

Just over a quarter of an hour gone in this third set and it's 3-0. 

Nadal hasn't conceded a single break point so far. That doesn't look like changing.

An ace brings up 30-0. The pair swap points before an ace finishes the job. 

Oh dear, not the way Tsitsipas wanted to start this set.

Nadal keeps the pressure on to bring up three break points.

The Grand Slam semi-final rookie saves the first, but nothing he can do about the second as the Spaniard fired a winner across court.

If it was a monumental comeback needed before, what does he need now? 

It's looking bleak for those Greek fans, according to MIKE DICKSON: 

Greek fans here have been singing ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ but this is now going to take a monumental comeback from their player. Nadal has played brilliantly at this tournament – we look very likely to have a Nadal v Djokovic showdown on Sunday.

Nadal serving to go two sets up. This could be a long way back for the youngster.

Into the net from Tsitsipas for the first point, while Nadal reads the game for the second to intercept his opponent's cross-court pass.

Long from the Greek, three set points. He only needs one.

This lead is looking unassailable. Is there anything Tsitsipas can do? 

Pressure back on Tsitsipas to deliver. 

Nadal hits into the net on the first point, but the Greek youngster does likewise with a single-handed backhand on the next. 

A sniff for Nadal now as Tsitsipas fires long, and now two break points for the 32-year-old. 

He saves the first... just. But he can't deal with a return and his pick up from the net can't get back over. 

Advantage Nadal. 

Can the young pretender give himself a chance here? It doesn't start too well for Tsitsipas as he pushes a lazy return into the net off a second serve.

A weird shot selection from the Greek as he overcooks a looping effort, and before you know it, it's 40-0 as Nadal gives his opponent the eyes and tickles a shot back over the net.

Another unplayable forehand and that's another hold. 

Tsitsipas races into a 30-0 lead.

Make that 40-0 as he slams down a volley. Nadal's return on the next point is well wide down the left-hand line and that's a very strong hold. 

Nadal still looks incredibly comfortable on his own serve. No sign of a setback after that missed opportunity.

A small reminder from Tsitsipas that he has the skill set to threaten Nadal with a lovely cross court pass. But Nadal wraps up.

We're past the hour mark. 

A spellbinding shot from Nadal as he fizzes one round the net. What a shot!

Tsitsipas thinks he found the line with a great return, but no! Hawk Eye says out. Trouble now for the Greek.

And it gets worse - Nadal clips the top of the net and it stays in to bring up three break points. 

First is saved, and the second thanks to a ferocious first serve. And the third! Massive show of resilience from the 20-year-old.

He brings up advantage with another phenomenal reach. An ace to see out the hold. Chapeau young man. 

Outstanding reflex volley from Nadal on the first point, although Tsitsipas may be disappointed with his return on reflection. 

He hits long to give the Spaniard a 30-0 lead, but responds with a smart forehand into the far-right corner. 

An ace from Nadal? Hawk-eye says yes - that's miles in. A poor challenge from the 20-year-old.

He has the crowd out of their seats on the next point with a great reach to lift the ball back over. But his looping effort in the next point is long and Nadal takes the game.

Two points though for Tsitsipas against the serve. That's progress. 

A fist pump from Tsitsipas as he takes the first point of his service after a rally. 

He races into a 40-0 lead. Nadal smashes a point off his opponent, but an ace wraps up the game for the Greek. 

Nadal brings that dominance from the first set into the second.

He drops just his fourth point on serve as he holds with ease.

He was appearing to have a little difficulty against the serve clock. Something maybe worth keeping an eye on.

MIKE DICKSON'S verdict on that rapid first set: 

The hundreds of Greek fans on the main concourse a little bit quieter after that first set from Nadal, which was pretty awesome. It is very hard to play against that forehand when it is firing like it was over that opening 31 minutes.

A response from Tsitsipas at the beginning of the second set. He's still not happy with his shoes though, looks to be fiddling with his laces. 

A long way back for Tsitsipas in this set. He goes 0-15 up but Nadal appears only to be toying with him. 

A forehand across court is followed by an ace. A volley at the net brings up two set points.

He only needs one. Thirty one minutes is all it took for Nadal to wrap that up. A ruthless start to this semi from him.

A change in footwear for Tsitsipas at the beginning of his service game. 

He's talking to himself as Nadal fires long and then wide to give his opponent a 40-15 lead.

A double fault... and another! He needs to pull himself together a wee bit here. From nowhere Nadal has a break point. A drop shot from the Greek isn't cute enough to foil Nadal who gets their to chip back over and take a commanding lead.

He'll serve for the set. 

Nadal has his opponent dancing along his own baseline, his forehand and backhand equally as effective. 

That must be a bit of a psychological blow for young Stefos - there doesn't appear to be any slightest hint of a weakness.

Tsitsipas fires wide across court and that's another game to love for the 32-year-old. 

That's encouraging. Tsitsipas responds by holding his next game to love.

Nadal does seem to ease off, keeping himself for the next game. He only needs to hold his serve to land the first set now. That's all he has to concentrate on. 

Stefanos Tsitsipas has plenty of support. He'll likely need it.

Nadal holds to love to hammer home his advantage. A little bit of early pressure now on those young shoulders. 

Nadal with a wild miss to his right.

Tsitsipas rifles one down the line which is called out. He thinks he's nicked it. Hawk-eye confirms he hasn't. 

The pair exchange points for 30-30. A wonderful forehand down the left brings up break point for Nadal. 

Can he take the early opportunity? Yes! Tsitsipas can't reach a powerful backhand and his return floats up and out. 

An incredible rally starts the second game, ending when Rafa's slice spins just out. 

Any mini-advantage for Tsitsipas is abolished in the next point as Nadal smashes his way back into it.

But he finds himself under a little pressure when he fires long in the next point, using a review which he loses too!

He responds with an ace before Tsitsipas hits long and then wide to give Nadal the game.

What nerves? An assured start from the 20-year-old sees him serve and volley for the first point of the game.

He extends his lead to 30-0, before Nadal gets a point back. But the Spaniard then sends a forehand long before hitting into the net and that's the Greek youngster up and running. 

Practice over, first set is about to get underway... 

MIKE DICKSON is our man inside the Rod Laver Arena. He's caught a glimpse of Nadal trying to play on his young opponent's nerves... 

There has been closed circuit camera footage here of Tsitsipas waiting in a corridor, and predictably Nadal has kept him waiting before coming out with tournament director Craig Tiley to do the court walk-on. After its closure this afternoon the roof has been opened because the event’s heat index indicator has dropped below 5 to 4.5, meaning that the special measures have been withdrawn, even though it is very warm.

It will not faze either man, in fact Nadal will be pleased because his worst results in tennis have tended to come indoors, his least favoured environment. The Spaniard has been very impressive here, especially with a serve that has added some oomph to it. I would predict him winning in four sets, but the Greek putting up a good fight at Melbourne Park, which has again attracted lots of vociferous supporters from this city’s large Greek population.

Tsitsipas is out first, followed by Nadal. 

The roof is open, and there's still a few seats to be filled. But the atmosphere is building nicely on a warm day in Melbourne. 

Nadal on his opponent: 

'When you place these young players, they're always in permanent improvement.

'For me, it's always the same - you are in a semi final and you cannot expect an easy opponent.'

Tsitsipas on Nadal:

'I felt very close to beating him in Toronto, though the score was 6-2, 7-6.

'I remember coming back to the locker room and promising to myself I'm going to do much better against him next time.

'It felt like I understood a bit better what he was doing on the court after that match, and especially on hard court.

'It's going to be interesting. I feel like I can do something good against him.'

OK, apologies for that last gag, but Stefanos has been causing a storm Down Under.

He made everyone sit up and take notice with his victory over Roger Federer in the last 16, a massive achievement considering this is just his second appearance at the Australian Open.

His first came 12 months ago and he was swiftly knocked out in the first round. He's already impressed, but he'll still be desperate to book his place in a first Grand Slam final.

There's been no stopping Nadal at Melbourne Park this year.

The Spaniard has yet to drop, winning each of his matches in straight-sets on his way to the semis.

However, this is around the stage it gets tricky for the 32-year-old. He's made at least the quater-finals in 11 of the past 12 years, but has only made the final four times.

His only triumph here was in 2009. Success this year would see him become the first man to win each Grand Slam title at least twice in the Open era. First though, he has to get past Greece lightning... 

It's a fine day for tennis in Melbourne. A stark contrast to the miserable January we are dealing with here in the UK.

So let's forget about the snow and frost for a bit and focus on the semi-finals of the Australian Open, where it's T shirts and shorts all the way.

We've got the first mens semi-final coming up as Rafael Nadal takes on Greek revelation Stefanos Tsitsipas. 

The action is due to get underway at 8.30am. So until then, let's have a look at the two.