Andy Roddick said it best.

Speaking before his Australian Open quarter-final against Marat Safin, Roddick noted that no-one in the know took any notice of the prodigiously talented Russian's current world ranking of 86.

"He's got the game," said the American.

"His talent didn't go anywhere."

"He was injured - it's as simple as that."

It was that talent, combined with self-belief and a new-found dedication, that carried Safin through successive five-set classics against Roddick and Andre Agassi and into the final.

His opponent is new world No.1 Roger Federer, arguably the only player in the game with as much natural ability as the big Russian.

Federer will start as the short-priced favourite, having spent eight hours less on court than Safin in advancing to his second grand slam final.

Friday night's straight-sets demolition of Juan Carlos Ferrero confirmed that Federer would claim the world No.1 ranking for the first time, replacing Roddick.

It was the type of performance to put fear in the heart of any opponent.

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