Azarenka beats Clijsters to reach first Grand Slam final

Jan 26, 2012, 5:16 GMT

Melbourne - Victoria Azarenka fell to the court in joy as she reached her first Grand Slam final with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 defeat of holder Kim Clijsters on Thursday at the Australian Open.

The Belarus third seed remained in with a chance at taking the world number one ranking if she can win the Saturday final against either Maria Sharapova or second seed Petra Kvitova, playing the second semi.

That pair of Grand Slam champions are also both in the chase to claim the honour after Caroline Wozniacki went out in the quarter-finals to Clijsters and lost her position.

Azarenka had some drama in serving out the win in two hours, 12 minutes. Holding three match points, she double-faulted on the first but screamed with joy when Clijsters sent a backhand out to lose.

'It felt like my hand weighed 200 kilograms,' said the winner. 'And my body about 1,000. Everything was shaking,' said the player who won Sydney coming into the major but has never been beyond the semis in a Grand Slam.

'The feeling when you finally win is such relief. I can't believe it. I just want to cry.'

Azarenka's match win was her 11th of the season without a loss.