Australian Open 2012 live stream

Roger Federer will play in his 22nd Grand Slam final against Andy Murray at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. Nobody in the Open era has played in as many.

Against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday night, Federer turned in a typically devastating display. At times toying with his opponent, Federer dominated the Frenchman from the outset and put the match to bed in just 88 minutes, with the third set lasting about the time it takes to watch a sitcom. But for Tsonga, this was no laughing matter.

After going down to the Swiss maestro 6-2 6-3 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena, Tsonga said he was surprised by how well Federer played - and that if he plays like that on Sunday, nobody can beat him.

Unfortunately for Federer’s opponent in the final, Great Scot Andy Murray, Tsonga was all out of ideas on how to deconstruct the world No.1’s game.

“I don’t know. I don’t know,” was all Tsonga could offer. When asked if he had any advice for Murray, Tsonga had some simple words of wisdom: “Be ready to run”.

Federer, speaking ahead of his fifth final in seven years at Melbourne Park, was a picture of calm.

“Obviously I feel good about my game, you know. I didn't expect something even close to this kind of scoreline, so obviously it feels great,” he said.

For Murray though, the pressure will be building. At every Grand Slam, Great Britain’s championship drought is dredged up and bandied about by players and media alike. And many are looking to Murray to end this barren run, something that Federer believes could be sitting heavily on the 22-year-old’s shoulders.

“That's the question he probably gets asked quite a bit. [I] wouldn't be surprised if he's a bit fed up by it. I think he's done really well, you know, handling the pressure and considering, you know, sort of the media in England is very strong. So I think he's done great, you know, under the pressure,” said Federer.

“I don't feel like the pressure's really on me having to do it again, because I did it before. I think he really needs it more than I do, you know. So I think the pressure's big on him.

“But we'll see how he's gonna handle it. It's not going to be easy for him, that's for sure.”

Federer is a Grand Slam final specialist. Out of the 21 he’s played, he’s won 15, a record. And just because Federer has won more majors than anyone doesn’t mean he’s going to start handing them out freely.

“I feel a need for myself that I spent three weeks here and I don't want to just give away a match,” he said.

“So I will make sure I will make it as hard, as tough as possible for my opponent. [I] hope I can play another good match.”

And Federer knows that he will need to be at his best against an opponent who has beaten him more often than not – a rarity.

“He's consistent,” he says of Murray. “He's one of the best return players we have in the game. He's been able to improve many things in his game that make it harder today to beat him.

“I'm really where I want to be. Being back in a Grand Slam final is always an amazing thrill for me.”