Raven flying high in Melbourne

Raven Klaasen has ended the five-year absence of South Africans from the final of a Grand Slam.

In the early hours of yesterday morning the 31-year-old became the first South African since 2009 to reach the final of a Grand Slam when he and American doubles partner Eric Butorac continued their fairy-tale run to the Australian Open final.

The pair beat the experienced Canadian Daniel Nester and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic (seeded eighth) 6-2 6-4, setting up a showdown against Poland's Lukasz Kubot and Swede Robert Lindstedt.

Wesley Moodie, in 2009, was the last South African to reach a Grand Slam final - the French Open at Roland Garros. If Klaasen wins, it will be the first Grand Slam victory for a South African since Moodie and Australian partner Stephen Huss won the Wimbledon doubles crown in 2005.

"I must say, I was quite surprised to come off the court with a 6-2 6-4 score because they are toughopponents. The start was key; we couldn't allow them to get into a rhythm. We now expect a lot harder battle. These guys [Kubot and Lindstedt] have won five on the trot," Klaasen said yesterday.

"That was probably our best performance of the tournament - just the way we played from start to finish. We are really liking the conditions and just how we have been playing together."

It took Klaasen and Butorac only 64 minutes to dispose of their opponents in the semi.

The King William's Town-born tennis star has his eyes set on lifting the trophy, which, he said, would be more precious than the lucrative prize money. The winners of the doubles final will take home $250000 each, while the runners-up will get $120000 apiece.

"The prize money is a great incentive, but becoming the Australian Open champ is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life," he said.

Klaasen's achievement here has also assured him of a climb up the world doubles rankings to his career-best placing. He will move to 15th if the pair win the final.

The match will take place immediately after the women's singles final tomorrow.