Australian Open 2012 live stream

It’s hard to believe that Australian Open 2010 will be the first time that Serena Williams and Justine Henin have met in a Grand Slam final.

The pair has played each other 13 times, with Williams winning on seven occasions. In finals, they have met four times, with the honours evenly split.

On the world’s four biggest stages – the Grand Slams – they have played each other six times, with Henin leading the head-to-head 4–2. And while these matches are important, it doesn’t get any bigger than a final.

“I think it'll be a defining match for both of us,” said Williams ahead of the decider to be played at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.

“For me, I feel like I have no pressure. You know, I'm still here and I'm still alive, and that's anything less of a miracle. So I feel good.”

Williams should have been feeling good on Friday; she’d only just stepped off court with sister Venus after winning the women’s doubles crown – their 11th together.

“Yeah, I'm still here, and I feel like I really, really peaked against Sam Stosur, which was – I played amazing. Hopefully I'll be able to pull that tennis out again.”

If Serena can pull off another win, she’ll be the first No.1 seed to win the title here since Henin in 2004. She’ll also be the first player to defend her crown since American Jennifer Capriati in 2002.

And if she wins her 12th major here on Saturday night, she’ll tie with Billie Jean King on the all-time women’s Grand Slam singles title leaders list. But for the woman who amasses records like an eagle-eyed collector, she says her career is not about records.

“I have a chance to tie Billie, Billie Jean, which would be great. But at the end of the day, I don't really think about that, because I'm okay with where I'm at, too.”

But first, Henin. The Belgian has slotted straight back in to where she left off – playing in finals. In her press conference on Friday afternoon, she described this final as a “perfect challenge”.

“I see it as an opportunity to play the No.1 player in the world in a Grand Slam final. It's more than a dream for me. It's a perfect challenge. And I love this kind of situation.

“We had great battles in the past. We played our best tennis when we played each other. At the beginning it was quite difficult for me to face Serena. Then slowly but surely I could change it a little more.”

Williams agreed – it will be a big challenge, one that could be played out in both players’ heads as much as on the court.

“It definitely will be mental and who wants it more and wants the title more and who's willing to go the extra step,” said Williams.

“I think we both want it, you know. But we'll just see who's playing better tomorrow.”

Even with 11 major singles titles already sitting on her mantelpiece, Williams is just as desperate to win now as when she played in her first Grand Slam final at the US Open in 1999 (a 6-3 7-6(4) win over Martina Hingis).

“I definitely feel like I am hungry … I'm getting geared up. I feel like I have one more match to go and that's it, I'm done, the tournament is over, and I'm off to something new.”