Li Na makes Australian Open final

Li Na of China celebrates after winning women's singles semifinal against Eugenie Bouchard of Canada at 2014 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan 23, 2014. Li Na won 2-0. (Xinhua/Li Jundong)

Two-time runner-up Li Na advanced to her third Australian Open final with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard on Thursday.

The experienced Li jumped to 5-0 in the first set with Bouchard only managing to win four points in those opening games. She broke Bouchard three time, winning all by love-game and sealed the first set in 28 minutes.

"I just wanted to get into the match a little bit more. I feel like Li was really hitting her shots. I was kind of just letting her do all these winners side to side. It wasn't really my game," said Bouchard.

Bouchard found her range to snatch two games late in the first set and she continued that momentum as she took a 2-0 lead in the second set.

But Li then rattled off three successive games to deny the recovery. She won six of the final eight games to set up a final against Dominika Cibulokova of Slovakia, who beat fifth seed Agnieszka Radwansha of Poland 6-1, 6-2.

"I think I played well in the beginning. Second set was a little bit tight because I was feeling one feet already in the final," said Li Na.

"Li played really well. You have to give her credit. All of her groundstrokes were like a foot from baseline and she was very consistent. Even her serves were really solid," said Bouchard.

Li made into finals at Melbourne Park in 2011 and 2013, losing to Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka.

"I think Cibulokova was pretty fast legs on the court. She was also a hitter. We play pretty similar," said Li. "So the final will be a tough match. Yeah, another challenge."

This is Li's Grand Slam to lose after the exit of the three seeds above her, Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova.

"I didn't have any experience by the first time come to final. I just feel so exciting. So when the problems came to me, I can't face to them because nobody can help me." said Li. "But now I played more and more and got experience. So right now final is special, but still just one match."

The 19-year-old Canadian had advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinals after an impressive run through the tournament, including beating 2008 French Open champion and former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic in quarterfinals.

"I'm proud of how I've improved throughout the tournament," said Bouchard. "But I'm never satisfied with losing. I'm always disappointed."