Australian Open 2012 live stream

Li Na had just about woken herself up for her third-round match against Anabel Medina Garrigues when it was suddenly all over.

The 2011 Australian Open finalist had spent the hours preceding her match sofa-surfing as Bernard Tomic and Alexandr Dolgopolov kept her waiting in the locker room.

Finally on the court at 11.17pm, Li determined to make an inroad into her losing record against the Spaniard, it was all going the witty Chinese's way as she took an early break to go 2-0 up.

But then, just as Medina Garrigues was settling onto the baseline, beginning to find her grinding-it-out range, at 15-15 in the third game of the match she fell heavily on her ankle, flat on her back with the pain.

The Spaniard bravely returned to the court after a medical timeout, determined to see if she could continue, but as former Spanish great Arantxa Sanchez Vicario looked on anxiously, Medina Garrigues decided the task was too great.

Tears in her eyes as she retired from the match on the same court that she tore the cruciate ligament in her right knee in 2002, she went straight into the physio room for immediate treatment.

For Li, who knows full well the perils of injury, it hands her an easy pass to the fourth round. But she may well have preferred the match practice.

"I mean, it was really tough, because after she has the tape and then she tried to continue play," Li said. "After two point I saw she couldn't running and she start to cry.  I have to say so sorry for her, because I know the injury for tennis athlete is bad thing. So I wish she was soon as possible come back to the court."

Li's reward is a repeat of last year's final, a mouth-waterer against Kim Clijsters on Sunday.

"Someone make good draw," Li joked.  "This only I can say.  Also, I think last year in the final I think for me was good remember for the match. After that match I was feeling I really can win the Grand Slam.  Of course it was tough match, so just another challenge for myself."

"I think we play the same way, like play against a mirror.  What can I do?  Only one day, so I couldn't change anything.  Only thing is I just try my best tennis on the court."

It will be one to watch.