Hello and welcome to women's semi-final day at the Australian Open.

That was far from easy for the world number one but she is through to defend her title against Li Na in Saturday's final. That will be at 8am UK time on Saturday morning so join us again then

AZARENKA 6-1 6-4 - GAME, SET & MATCH! This time Stephens cannot quite save the match point, sending her backhand just wide down the line. Azarenka doesn't really celebrate, she just looks relieved. And she is through to the final where she will face Li Na.

AZARENKA 6-1 5-4 - A race up to the net and a forehand winner down the line from Azarenka brings up a sixth match point ...

AZARENKA 6-1 5-4 - Azarenka sends a forehand just marginally long to end a lengthy rally and hand Stephens the first point of the game. But the American slaps down a double fault to get the Belarusian off the mark. Stephens sneaks ahead again with a forehand winner down the line but Azarenka levels with a blistering forehand return of serve winner across court. Stephens earns herself a game point when Azarenka hits long but a forehand long against seed the top seed level. Deuce. Again!

Azarenka has called for the trainer and the doctor on and she is currently being assessed. She looks like she's got herself in such a state that she is hyperventilating almost. She has gone for a full medical timeout, which will be conducted off the court.

AZARENKA 6-1 5-4 - BREAK! And this time Stephens does break back, the American rattling a forehand passnig shot down the line. The American will still have to serve to stay in this match after the change of ends, however

AZARENKA 6-1 5-3 - A huge forehand across court goes just wide from Azarenka (that was a little unlucky for the Belarusian) and Stephens earns herself a break back point with a backhand passing shot winner. Azarenka saves it with a much more solid backhand volley that Stephens can only hit long. Back to deuce. Again. Another forehand goes wide from Azarenka to hand Stephens yet another chance to break...

AZARENKA 6-1 5-3 - Groan. Azarenka puts a forehand approach shot into the net to squander the chance yet again but a fifth chance is presented to her when Stephen's backhand passing shot ends up in the net...

AZARENKA 6-1 5-3 - Again the world number one squanders it, with a forehand long and a squeal, and this time she puts a forehand just wide down the line to hand Stephens a break back point. Azarenka saves it with a great first serve that Stephens can only return long. A forehand drive volley winner earns Azarenka a fourth match point. Can she get it done this time?

AZARENKA 6-1 5-3 - The first goes begging after a great point from Stephens as a retreating Azarenka puts a forehand into the net as does the second when the Belarusian sends a regulation backhand long. Back to deuce. Stephens does all the hard work by setting up the point beautifully but she puts her forehand approach shot long to hand Azarenka a third chance...

AZARENKA 6-1 5-3 - Azarenka opens with an angled forehand winner across court before also finding an ace. Stephens sends a backhand wide down the line to hand the Belaruisan two match points ...

AZARENKA 6-1 5-3 - BREAK! Stephens waits an age for the ball to come down only to smash long to drop the first point of the game. And she goes on to hand Azarenka break points yet again and again gives away the game when she fails to land a forehand volley. Azarenka will serve for the match next...

AZARENKA 6-1 4-3 - BREAK! Azarenka explodes at herself after consecutive double faults hand Stephens another break point. And then she slams the ball away in frustration after putting a cross court forehand wide.

AZARENKA 6-1 4-2 - A forehand winner from Stephens followed by a double from Azarenka help the American level at 30-30. Stephens' running backhand on the next point catches the top of the tape and fails to go over letting Azarenka off the hit, only for the Belarusian to send a forehand long. Deuce. A inside-out forheand winner across court from Stephens brings up another break point. But Azarenka saves it...

AZARENKA 6-1 4-2 - BREAK! Azarenka finds herself in possession of three more break points when Stephens sends a backhand just marginally wide down the line. Only the one chance is needed though as the American hits another error to concede her serve. Azarenka is a break up once again.

AZARENKA 6-1 3-2 - Azarenka gets her side of the scoreboard ticking over again with a battling service hold. She slaps down another double fault to give Stephens a look-in but recovers quickly enough and goes on to hold to sneak out in front again

AZARENKA 6-1 2-2 - Stephens sends a regulation backhand long to squander a first game point. But Azarenka is still struggling a bit with that ankle and does not move well to the wide ball, instead hitting into the net. Stephens has levelled up this second set

AZARENKA 6-1 2-1 - BREAK! Azarenka pulls up after chasing a ball out wide. It doesn't look like it's too serious as she quickly gets back on level terms at 30-30 after a backhadn wide across court from Stephens and then a forehand volley winner from the Belarusian. The American does pull back at deuce before earning herself a break back point with a forehand volley winner. And sure enough she does get the break back with another trip to the net

AZARENKA 6-1 2-0 - BREAK! Stephens looks like she is only getting more uptight as she slaps down a double fault to hand Azarenka two more break points. The American does well, however, to save the first with a trip into the net and a forehand volley winner. And she saves the second with a much better serve that the Belarusian can only hit into the net. But Azarenka gets a third chance with a Stephens forehand into the net. And this time she does break, another Stephens error causing the damage

AZARENKA 6-1 1-0 - Azarenka eases through a hold to 15, working Stephens around the baseline before finding a cross court backhand winner off a shorter ball.