Li facing final hurdle in Cibulkova

China's Li Na has advanced to her third Australian Open final but will have to beat Dominika Cibulkova on Saturday to win her first title at Melbourne Park.

No 4-seeded Li won the first five games to set up a 6-2, 6-4 victory over 19-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in the first semifinal on Thursday before No 20-seeded Cibulkova trounced 2012 Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-2.

Li, the 2011 French Open champion, was the only major winner in the semis after the fourth-round upsets of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova and defending champion Victoria Azarenka's quarterfinal loss to Radwanska.