Tennis: Classy Clijsters to face Li Na in Australian Open final

Clijsters was broken in her opening service game but from there on in it was plain sailing as she moved Zvonareva all over Rod Laver Arena while also venturing regularly to the net where she displayed a lovely touch.

She broke back straight away and then again for a 5-3 lead before serving it out.

Clijsters threatened in the Russian's first service game of the second set, two break points coming and going as Zvonareva rallied, but the world No.?2 could not keep her at bay for long and the third seed made the breakthrough by establishing a 2-1 lead.

Zvonareva rarely looked like she would get back into it and it was no surprise when Clijsters clinched the match with another break to move into her second final in Melbourne, she was runner-up in 2004.

"I tried really hard on every point and I knew I had to because Vera is a tough player," she said. "I knew I had to be on top of my game and lift my level from the other matches I have played here so far."

Li Na became the first Chinese player to reach a grand slam singles final after saving a match point on her way to beating Caroline Wozniacki.

The ninth seed looked down and out when Wozniacki served a set, 5-4 and 40-30 up, but she escaped the danger with a booming forehand down the line before going on to break and eventually claim the second set. A topsy-turvy deciding set could have gone either way but Li prevailed 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Andy Murray, meanwhile, is hoping the 2011 Australian Open will be the tournament in which he can dent the grand slam domination of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

The world's best two players have combined to win 21 of the last 23 majors, with Novak Djokovic's victory in Melbourne three years ago and Juan Martin Del Potro's surprise success at the 2009 US Open the only blemishes.

Murray and Djokovic - who was set to face Federer in this year's first semi-final today - have been their closest pursuers for some time and the British No.?1 believes it is time they made more of an impact at the biggest tournaments.

He said: "I think I have played well against Roger, Novak and Rafa. I've had a lot of close matches with Rafa and a lot of good wins against Roger. I haven't played Novak for quite a long time. I think everyone does beat everyone."I just think Roger and Rafa have been better in the slams and that is something that Novak and I want to change."

Nadal certainly will not be adding to his tally of grand slam wins in Melbourne - he arrived in Australia hoping to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four major titles simultaneously - but he lost to David Ferrer in the quarter-finals yesterday, although he was severely hindered by an early hamstring injury.

That means Murray will now face Ferrer with the winner going on to meet either Djokovic or Federer in Sunday's final.