Australian Open: Kim Clijsters wants to leave on a high with final victory over popular Li Na

Clijsters admitted yesterday that this is likely to be her final full season on the WTA Tour and, while her plans for 2012 remain sketchy, it is quite conceivable the final against Li could be her swansong on the Rod Laver Arena.

The three-time major winner, 27, has a young daughter and is keen to spend more time at home in Belgium.

But, if it is to be her last Australian Open, she is hoping to go out on a high.

She said: "I know this is probably going to be my last full season on the tour and then we will see.

"It's nice that I am in this spot to reach the final and play for the title. It's a great feeling to have, knowing that I am not going to be able to come here for five more years."

Clijsters and Li met in the final of the Medibank International in Sydney just before the season's first major, with the Belgian surging into a 5-0 lead before Li hit back to win 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

And Clijsters realises there are lessons to be learned from that encounter.

"The first five games I played well," she added. "I stayed very aggressive, stayed on top of my baseline and that's something that she is going to do as well.

"I think it's a matter of who is going to be able to that first, who is going to be a little bit more powerful and with fewer unforced errors that is going to have the best chance to win tomorrow.

"I don't think my mental preparation was ready for me to compete 100 per cent against her in that match in Sydney and she played incredibly well - probably the best that she has played against me. So it will be tough."

Clijsters is one of the most popular players on tour but she will find herself fighting a groundswell of support for her opponent today.

Li's run to the final has caught the imagination in Australia, and she has endeared herself further to the public with her quirky post-match interviews. As the first Chinese player to reach a grand slam singles final, 28-year-old Li is big news back home as well.

She said: "I am so excited to have reached a grand slam final.

"When I went back to the locker room after the win yesterday, I turned on my phone and saw all the messages coming in.

"They showed the match in China and so many people watched. I also got a text from the boss of the Chinese Tennis Federation. She said well done and that she would buy me dinner when I got back."

Li had to save a matchpoint in her semi-final win over top seed Caroline Wozniacki and she is hoping that never-say-die attitude will be in evidence again tomorrow.

"In China we have a saying that means if you have a tough time you will overcome it," she said.

"And it means you have the best of luck.So I hope it comes with me to the final."

In the women's doubles, Argentine Gisela Dulko and Italy's Flavia Pennetta became the first players to have their names inscribed on an Australian Open trophy this year.

They came from behind to beat Belarus and Russian duo Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko two sets to one, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.