Henin into Australian Open final

Justine Henin is one step away from completing a fairytale return from retirement after she won through to the Australian Open final with a straight-sets win over Zheng Jie today.

The 27-year-old raced to a 6-1 6-0 win in just 51 minutes to book a final meeting with defending champion and world number one Serena Williams on Saturday night.

It was a hugely disappointing end to Zheng's tournament after her countrywoman Li Na was also eliminated in her semi-final clash with Williams.

Henin is playing just her second tournament following a 20-month retirement and is on course to replicate fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters' remarkable return when she won the US Open after coming back from retirement and becoming a mother.

Henin's win today was the most routine of her difficult run to the final so far that has seen her overcome world number five Elena Dementieva, Yanina Wickmayer (16) and Nadia Petrova (19).

After Zheng held serve in the opening game Henin, who won at Melbourne Park in 2004, strung the next 12 games together to dominate her unseeded rival.