WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT on the women's final at the Australian Open, where the holder and world number one Victoria Azarenka plays Li Na, the sixth seed.

China's Li, 30, has been in inspired form over the past fortnight, running through four seeds including Russia's four-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova on the way to her second Melbourne final.

In 2011, the Wuhan native made history on Rod Laver Arena as Asia's first Grand Slam finallist, and later that year she went one step further to become the continent's first and major singles champion at the French Open.

The Belarusian Azarenka, 23, is the hot favourite. She is defending her only Grand Slam title to date, and will extend her nearly year-long stay at the top ranking with victory over Li.

Azarenka has been an unmissable presence in Melbourne, partly because of her trademark shriek when she hits the ball and also because she has been accompanied by colourful LMFAO frontman Redfoo.

But she courted controversy in her semi-final against teenager Sloane Stephens when she blew five match points and immediately went off for a medical timeout. When she returned, she broke Stephens to win the match.