The world No. 3, who was crowned champion in 2003 and 2007, battled from a set down to defeat Russian Alisa Kleybanova in today’s semi final 4-6 6-3 7-6(1) in a two hours and 38 minutes.
Eighth seed Li won the first semi final earlier in the day, defeating Serbian qualifier Bojana Jovanovski 7-6(5) 6-3.
Three time Grand Slam champion Clijsters said she was pleased to make it through a tough three set match ahead of the Australian Open.
“It was fun to play a match like this, because my first matches were all two sets. So it was nice to have a match like that,” Clijsters said.
“Another Medibank International Sydney title would be great. I’ve always enjoyed playing here and hopefully I can repeat it one more time tomorrow.”
Li, a semi finalist at last year’s Australian Open and the first Chinese player to reach a final in Sydney, said she was happy to have started the year well.
“I have played well in Australia before and always enjoy playing here,” Li said.
“Kim is a great player and I have played her many times so I have nothing to lose. I just want to show my best on the tennis court.”
The women’s singles final gets underway at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre at 7.30pm on Friday night. It will be the third time the pair has met at the Medibank International Sydney, with Clijsters having won the two previous meetings in 2006 and 2007.
Clijsters and Li have played five times. Overall the world No. 3 leads their head to head 4-1.
They last met at the 2009 US Open quarter-finals and eventual champion Clijsters won that encounter 6-2 6-4.
Li’s only victory over Clijsters came in Miami in 2007, just before the Belgian announced her retirement from the sport.
Should Clijsters win tomorrow night’s final, it will be her 41st career WTA title. Li has three career titles to her name but Medibank International Sydney 2011 would be her first Premier title.
Following the women’s singles decider tomorrow night, third seeds Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia will play unseeded Czech pair Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the women’s doubles final.
RESULTS – JANUARY 13, 2011
Women’s Singles – Semifinals
[3] K Clijsters (BEL) d A Kleybanova (RUS) 46 63 76(1)
[8] N Li (CHN) d [Q] B Jovanovski (SRB) 76(5) 63
Women’s Doubles – Semifinals
I Benesova (CZE) / B Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) d [2] L Huber (USA) / N Petrova (RUS) 57 76(1) 10-6
[3] K Peschke (CZE) / K Srebotnik (SLO) d K Jans (POL) / A Rosolska (POL) 63 61
ORDER OF PLAY – FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011
KEN ROSEWALL ARENA start 11:00 am
L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Hanley (AUS) vs R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs J Chela (ARG) / G Garcia-Lopez (ESP)
G Simon (FRA) vs [3] E Gulbis (LAT)
[5] R Gasquet (FRA) or [4] V Troicki (SRB) vs F Mayer (GER) or P Starace (ITA)
Not Before 7:30 PM
[3] K Clijsters (BEL) vs [8] N Li (CHN)
[3] K Peschke (CZE) / K Srebotnik (SLO) vs I Benesova (CZE) / B Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)
