Victoria Azarenka has beaten Kim Clijsters 6-4 1-6 6-3 to reach the final of the Australian Open.

Despite both players having chances to break serve, it was the Belarusian who seized the advantage to break Clijsters and take the first set.

Clijsters appeared a rejuvenated figure at the beginning of the second set, racing into a 5-0 lead and only offered Azarenka a solitary game in a one-sided set.

Momentum shifted a number of times in the third set, with both players breaking each other's serves.

However, it was Azarenka who made the breakthrough and she served out a nail-biting last game to reach the final for the first time in her career as Clijsters bowed out in Australia for the last time.