Serena Williams to face Henin in final

Justine Henin.

AAP

JUSTINE Henin will take on defending champion Serena Williams in a dream Australian Open final at Melbourne Park.

In just her second tournament back after 20 months out of the game, Henin crushed China's Zheng Jie 6-1 6-0 in their semi-final on Thursday.

Williams earlier edged out another Chinese player - Li Na - 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-1) to reach her fifth final in Melbourne.

The world No.1 has won every one of those finals - in 2003, 2005, 2007 and last year.

Henin, 27, trails 28-year-old Williams 7-6 in their career series, but holds a 4-2 winning record over the American in grand-slam encounters.

As has been the case for much of the tournament, Williams played with strapping on her left knee and right thigh in her match.

At times the world No.1's movement around the court seemed laboured, but she lifted when it mattered, dominating the second-set tiebreak after blowing four match points in the 10th and 12th games.

Williams screamed in delight after finally wrapping up the match with her 12th ace.

She had also finished the first-set tiebreak with a second-serve ace.

"I really should have won sooner," said Williams, who had to back up for a doubles semi-final with her older sister Venus later on Thursday.

"But (Li) played really well. Every time I had match points she came up with some big serves and great shots.

"She just goes for broke when she has match points (against her)."

Despite the loss in her first-ever grand slam semi-final, the 16th-seeded Li will move into the top 10 in the world for the first time when the rankings are updated on Monday.

Henin is hoping to better fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, who won her second grand slam title at last year's US Open in her just her third tournament back from more than two years in retirement to start a family.

The seven-times major champion she was happy to spend far less time on the court swatting aside her Chinese opponent than in her earlier round matches at her comeback slam.

"It was perfect - I've had enough tennis in the past two weeks," Henin said.

"It was good to get an easy match.

"It is an amazing feeling to have the chance to play another final in Melbourne. It is more than a dream.

"It's also a surprise."

Henin and Williams last met at a grand slam in the 2007 US Open quarter-finals, with the Belgian triumphing on her way to the title.

The unranked Open wildcard said she was delighted to be meeting the American again on one of the sport's greatest stages.

"I am very happy because she is the best in the world and I will have to be at my best to win," Henin said.

"She is a champion and a grand slam final is very special. I hope we can be at our best physically so that we can play a good match."