Fish sets up Tomic clash

American Mardy Fish will meet Bernard Tomic in the final of the Kooyong Classic after he beat Jurgen Melzer on Friday.

The world number eight overcame Austrian Melzer 6-2 4-6 6-1 in their semi-final, setting up a clash with the teenage Australian.

Tomic, who has beaten Tomas Berdych and Gael Monfils to reach the decider, edged Fish at the Shanghai Masters in October last year in his first win in three meetings against the American.

"I've played him three times now and he's got a great feel for the game," Fish said of Tomic.

"He's got all the shots. He's awkward to play and he's only going to get better."

Fish, who beat Canadian Milos Raonic in his opening game, impressed in the first set, breaking serve twice.

Rain forced the players off court in the second, and Melzer broke in the ninth game before levelling the match.

But Fish raced to a 5-0 lead in the decider and saw out a comfortable win to book a place in Saturday's final against 19-year-old Tomic.

In a one-off match at the exhibition tournament, Andy Murray overcame Argentine David Nalbandian 6-3 7-6 (10-8).

The Brit eased through the first set before being forced to come from a break down in the second.

World number four Murray was untroubled in the tie-break, easing to a win in his last outing before the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.