Sunday's Australian Open final between Roger Federer [Images] and Marcos Baghdatis is looming as a classic battle between the master and his apprentice.

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Baghdatis is the sentimental favourite, an unlikely but charismatic figure who has defied the odds to reach his first Grand Slam final.

His incredible odyssey has captured the imagination of tennis fans the world over, drawing huge support from Melbourne's large Greek community and putting his homeland of Cyprus in the sporting spotlight.

He has already beaten some of the biggest names in the sport including Andy Roddick [Images] and David Nalbandian, but knows that Federer is an entirely different proposition.

If the experts are right, Federer is on his way to tennis immortality. The 24-year-old Swiss has already won six Grand Slam titles and a seventh will take him halfway to Pete Sampras's record tally of 14.

Federer doesn't like talking about history, but seems to have no problems rewriting it.

He already has 34 career titles, including the 2004 Australian Open, is on a 51-match winning streak on hardcourts and victory over Baghdatis will give him a third Grand Slam in a row after winning last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles.

Only the French Open has eluded him.

"I've always got to keep on performing," Federer told a news conference.

"I only think about what I have to do in my next match, not about what I still have to achieve to be a legend... I have a long way to go for that."

Federer has beaten Baghdatis in all of their three previous meetings, including the quarter-finals at Doha earlier this month, but said he never imagined he would be facing him in the Australian Open final.

"In the past two weeks, he's improved incredibly," Federer said.

"I think we're all surprised he got so far because there's other very talented youngsters who I thought would make the break before him, but he proved us all wrong," he said.

PATCHY FORM

Federer's own form has been patchy throughout the tournament.

After winning his first three matches in straight sets, he was taken to five by Tommy Haas in the fourth round then four against Nikolay Davydenko and Nicolas Kiefer in the quarters and semis.

However, the signs are still ominous for Baghdatis.

Whenever Federer was in trouble, he managed to find a way out and he looked to have rediscovered his best when he raced through the final two sets against Kiefer.

"I didn't think I played too bad up until now, but maybe it was good to be pushed so much," he said.

"It's a long road to make it here but now I'm in the final and feeling good physically after a couple of tough matches."

Baghdatis, ranked 54th in the world, knows the odds are stacked against him beating a player that he looks up to.

"He's a great champion, a legend of the sport of tennis," Baghdatis said.

"He's given a lot to this game and I think he loves the game.

"He's just playing great tennis. I would like to be like him one day, maybe better."

The former junior world champion, however, has not abandoned hope of pulling off an upset, saying he was approaching the match as though he had nothing to lose.

"Maybe he should be worried about me," said Baghdatis, whose never-say-die style saw him recover from two sets down to beat Nalbandian.

"I'm really quick on the feet. I move very well in the court. I have a great eye. I see the ball very fast. I can adapt to any players, any style of players.

"I wasn't waiting (expecting) I would be in the final but that's life. When you work, work, work, just one day you wake up and you're there.

"It's amazing. I'm proud of me, proud of my team. I think I deserve it."

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