( CNN ) -- China 's Li Na set up an intriguing final against defending champion Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open after a comprehensive victory Thursday over world No . 2 Maria Sharapova . The sixth seed -- a beaten finalist in 2011 -- was in imperious form as she romped to 6-2 6-2 win over the Russian in just over an hour and a half . The 30-year old broke Sharapova 's serve three times in the opening set and twice in the second to book her place in Saturday 's final in Melbourne . `` Every time I 'm back in Australia , I always feel something here , '' Li , the first Asian female to win a grand slam singles title , told reporters after the match . `` I always play well here . Everyone can be nervous in a final , so I have to enjoy it . I 'm looking forward to the final . '' Li credited a brutal training regime after she reached the final four in Melbourne for the third time in four years . She began working with Carlos Rodriguez , former trainer of seven-time grand slam winner Justine Henin , after deciding to end her professional relationship with husband Jiang Shan . `` We train every day for five , six hours , but not only playing tennis , '' she told reporters earlier this week . `` Tennis was like maybe two , three hours . Fitness was for two or three hours as well . First time I was training with him , I was so excited , but after three days , I was dying . '' Li said ending her tennis partnership with her husband had caused many people to think they had also ended their personal relationship . `` He was doing a very good job , '' she said . `` But between husband and the coach , it is very tough . Sometimes , if he said 'we should do something ' I was feeling tired ... That 's why sometimes we have to fight . '' Sharapova had lost just nine games coming into the match , a record for the tournament , but her game fell apart as she served six double-faults and made 32 unforced errors while failing to convert six of seven break points . `` She was certainly much more aggressive than I was , dictating the play . I was always on the defense , '' said Sharapova , who lost to Azarenka in last year 's final . `` When I had my opportunities and break points in games that went to deuce , I do n't think any of them really went my way today . '' In the other semifinal , world No . 1 Azarenka ended the run of American teenager Sloane Stephens -- who famously knocked out one of the tournament favorites , Serena Williams . But the Belorussian was forced to overcome an injury scare on her way to a 6-1 6-4 win over her 19-year-old opponent , who saved five match points and broke back to 5-4 in the second set before Azarenka took a lengthy break for medical treatment . Azarenka raised suspicions of gamesmanship when she suggested in her on-court post-match interview that nerves had got to her . `` I almost did the choke of the year right now , '' she said . `` At 5-3 , having so many chances and I could n't close it out . I was a bit overwhelmed realizing I was one step away from the final . Nerves got into me , for sure . '' The 23-year-old clarified her comments at her later press conference . `` I 'm telling you honestly that my back was bothering me , '' Azarenka said . `` It took me too long of a time to call the trainer , which was my mistake . I took it to the point where I could n't breathe , which was causing from my back problem , and I could n't really figure out what was going on on the court . When the trainer told me that was the rib that was blocking that , my back , that 's what happened . `` When you can not breathe you start to panic . I was really panicking , not because I could n't convert my match point . That 's not the case . I mean , I 'm experienced enough to go over those emotions . `` But when you can not breathe , when something 's really blocking you , the stress , that was the stress I was talking about . I just could n't realize what was going on with me . '' Stephens refused to criticize Azarenka , with whom she shares an agent . `` We actually are pretty good friends . I 'm sure I 'll see her and we 'll talk about it , '' Stephens said . She will rise to a career-high 17th in the rankings after her best showing in a grand slam , while her popularity has also grown -- Stephens ' following on her Twitter page has rocketed from 17,000 to more than 55,000 .
China 's Li Na beats Russia 's Maria Sharapova in straight sets to reach final . The former French Open champion also reached the Melbourne final in 2011 . She will play world No.1 Victoria Azarenka , who defeats U.S. teen Sloane Stephens . Azarenka defends herself after taking a lengthy break at crucial point in match .