Serbian Ana Ivanovic will face Russian Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open women's final on Saturday.
Ivanovic, the fourth seed, outlasted Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova in three tough sets - 0-6 6-3 6-4 - in their semi-final showdown in two hours 10 minutes.
Fourth seed Ivanovic looked frozen with nerves as she dropped the first eight games of the semi-final but as Hantuchova's level dipped, she recovered strongly to set up a final against Russian fifth seed Maria Sharapova.
In the other semi-final fifth-seeded Sharapova overwhelmed injury-hit Serb Jelena Jankovic in straight sets, winning 6-3 6-1 in one hour 18 minutes to reach her second straight Australian final.
Hantuchova, 24, had never been past the third round at Melbourne Park in three previous appearances.
Ivanovic had beaten her in the past two of their three meetings on the circuit but today the Slovak dominated their clash early before the Serb hit back to snatch the second set and go on to serve out the match.
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