Final appearance no surprise for Serena

Serena Williams insists her appearance in the Australian Open final should not come as a surprise.

Williams, a former two-time champion at Melbourne Park, has struggled since her last title in 2005 but will meet top seed Maria Sharapova after beating number 10 seed Nicole Vaidisova in the semi-final.

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Her Russian opponent will be out to win back-to-back grand slam titles when she steps out onto the Rod Laver Arena after she crushed Belgian Kim Clijsters in the last four.

But the American, who entered this year's tournament with a world ranking of 81, insisted: "I wouldn't say for me it's an astonishing achievement. I would say I am happy more than anything.

"It's not astonishing or surprising. It's definitely something I have always expected.

"[To get to the final] rates really high in my list of achievements, especially with my ranking. I think this is the lowest I've been ranked getting into a grand slam final.

"I think more than anything that's really exciting. I just love the competition and love the game."

Williams appeared to struggle initially in her semi-final against Vaidisova before emerging a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 winner. She belied her place in the rankings to eventually take the second set but not after she had let a 5-1 lead slip.

Vaidisova held off five match points before succumbing, and Williams will have to overcome her uncertainties to beat the US Open champion.

Sharapova, who will return to world number one next week on the back of her performances in Australia, said: "Physically I feel good. It's normal to be sore in some spots after playing six matches - I expect that when I go into a tournament. But that's normal, I've dealt with it before.

"As for serious injuries, so far so good."

She added: "I'm going to be playing against a player that didn't really expect too much coming into this tournament. She's playing some really good tennis.

"I think she has nothing to lose going into the match. Those are always dangerous opponents."

The pair are tied at 2-2 in head-to-head meetings and Williams won their last encounter - an epic semi-final in Melbourne two years ago that saw Sharapova miss four match points.

But the former Wimbledon champion said that would have no bearing on Saturday's final.

"It was just a loss in my career, just one match that I lost," she said. "I had the opportunities to be in another Grand Slam final. I didn't take them. I've had wins against her. I've had losses against her. That was just a loss."