Safin overcomes Haas to enter final

Russian ninth seed Marat Safin capitalised on a lengthy rain break to fight back and overhaul Tommy Haas of Germany and win the second men's semi-final in five sets at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday.

Safin benefitted from the stoppage when he trailed two sets to one and came home powerfully to beat Haas 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 to reach Sunday's final against Sweden's 16th seed Thomas Johansson.

The German seventh seed appeared headed for victory before rain forced a 50-minute stoppage, allowing the Russian to regroup and hit back under the closed stadium roof.

Safin won 11 of the 13 games after the rain break.

It is his second Grand Slam final after he beat Pete Sampras to win the 2000 US Open.

Safin appeared flattened by the searing on-court temperatures and looked relieved when the rain arrived to snap the German's momentum.

When he came back on court refreshed, Safin was a different player and turned the tide of the match to deny Haas, who was playing in his second Grand Slam semi-final.

Safin, who will be 22 on Sunday, played three loose shots on his second service game and on triple break-point double-faulted to hand the early advantage to Haas.

The Russian had already committed 10 unforced errors but he broke back immediately when the German found the net with a forehand to end a long rally at break point.

Safin had a set point in the 11th game with a series of strong serves to send the set into a tie-break.

The German's great court speed and signature backhand got him to two set points. Safin saved one, but Haas won a scramble at the net to take the opening set in 53 minutes.

Safin's frustrations bubbled over when he lost serve in the third game and slammed his racquet into the court in anger.

The racquet was twisted out of shape and he received a racquet abuse violation by English umpire Mike Morrissey as he returned to his chair.

Safin appeared to signal to his supporters in the players' box that he was lethargic and unable to move freely in the stifling heat.

At the next changeover the trainer was called for Safin, who complained about being slow and having no reaction in his legs. He received an injury timeout and the trainer massaged his legs.

Safin then got to two break-points and then a third before Haas found the net with a backhand for the break back much to the German's disgust.

But Safin, threatened with a near-impossible task of coming back from two sets down in the hot conditions, gave himself a lifeline when he won the tiebreaker 7-4 to level the match after the one-hour set.

Safin fell behind to a break point in the second game of the third set, but he thundered down two 200-plus km/h serves along with a smash to hold serve.