Who will win the 2013 Australian Open?
Azarenka is the defending champion with a chance of maintaining her number one status. This is her third Grand Slam final and she has always played well in them, crushing Sharapova here last year and serving for the match against Serena at last year's US Open. She is on an eight match winning streak, having made the semis in Brisbane before withdrawing and has only dropped one set all fortnight; to Jamie Hampton in the third round. However, she hasn't played an opponent ranked higher than 25 and also has had a few injury problems, some related to nerves.
Li is a former finalist here, leading a set before losing to Clijsters in 2011. This is her first chance of winning a slam since she won her only slam to date in Paris 2011. She already has one title this year in Shenzhen and has only lost one match; a fatigued beating to Radwanska in the Sydney semis. However, she's back and better than ever, not dropping a set in beating the likes of world number 4 Radwanska and world number 2 Sharapova. Can she beat the top two in the same tournament for the first time?
Azarenka lead the head to head 5-4, winning the last 4 between the WTA Championships 2011 and 2012. However, twice in that period it went to three sets and Li has won both of their past Grand Slam matches, at the Australian and French Opens 2011. Ironically, the two finals they've played have both come on Australian soil, in the Gold Coast 2008, which Li won in three and Sydney 2012, which Azarenka won in three. To me, Li is in the best form of her life and I favour her to go the whole way here in Melbourne this time. I think she will win, but it will have to be in straight sets. If it goes the distance, I think Azarenka will win.
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