MELBOURNE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Second seed Victoria Azarenka cruised into the final of the 2012 Australian Open on Thursday by beating defending champion Kim Clijsters 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

"Aussie Kim", who claimed the title a year before by beating Chinese No.1 Li Na, enjoyed more enthusiastic crowds support than Azarenka, but she could not catch up the movement of the 22-year-old Belarussian on court and conceded the match in two hours and 12 minutes.

Azarenka will clash against the winner of the other semifinal between fourth seed Maria Sharapova and second seed Petra Kvitova later on Thursday.