Australian Open: Victoria Azarenka may face Li Na and the crowd

Victoria Azarenka might well have to win over the Melbourne crowd as well as combat the dangerous Li Na if she is to retain her Australian Open title on Saturday.

Both women will be looking to win their second Grand Slam titles when they meet at 08:30 GMT on Rod Laver Arena.

And it is a fair bet that most of the 15,000 spectators will be favouring the Chinese player, who has been such a hit with her engaging on-court interviews since finishing runner-up in 2011.

Azarenka received a slow hand clap when she took a controversial late medical timeout during her semi-final against Sloane Stephens, and ironic cheers on her return, before breaking the American's serve to win the match.

Li, 30, has enjoyed a much more positive run into the final, playing one of her best ever matches as she thrashed second seed Maria Sharapova in the semis.

She is looking for Grand Slam number two after becoming the first Asian player to win a major singles title at the French Open in 2011, just five months after losing to Kim Clijsters in the Melbourne final.