Li wins 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 to win title
First set took 70 minutes; second 27
Li wins her second Grand Slam title
Cibulkova was in her first Grand Slam final
* Denotes next server
Will Cibulkova get on the board in this game? There's a sniff of a chance at 15-30, but Li snuffs it out with some heavy, deep hitting. Two well-worked points later, Li's back in her chair just one game away from her first Australian Open title and second major success.
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park
"'Come on Li, bagel her!' Not the most gallant of cries from the crowd but it looks a distinct possibility at the moment as Li has found her forehand, to add to her already potent backhand. The Chinese fans are certainly more vocal now and flags are being unfurled around the arena in anticipation."
Image source, Getty ImagesCibulkova successfully challenges a Li forehand which was called in but just drifted long to go 15-0 up but she's pegged back to 30-30 and then faces another break point after a second successive backhand winner. A third on that flank, which has been awesome for her all match, secures the double break. The person who engraves the trophy better get ready...
John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two
"You would have thought Li Na, having won a Grand Slam, would have come out and been more relaxed but she was tight in the first set. She looks like she's relaxed now, but Grand Slam finals can do that to you. No matter how much experience you have, you can still get tight out there."
Li races to a 40-0 love lead, but drops a point as Cibulkova passes her at the net. The Slovakian takes control of the next, sends a sizzling forehand down the line, but she can't consistently secure a good depth of shot and Li whips a midcourt forehand into the corner to consolidate the break.
STAT ATTACK: The last player to lose the first set on a tie-break and still win the Australian Open title was 30 years ago. Chris Evert 6-7 6-1 6-3 versus Helena Sukova.
Cibulkova looks to be cruising at 30-0 before Li hits back with a couple of very well-worked points. A break point follows as Li hammers a forehand winner off a weak second serve and then sees it converted when Cibulkova makes her 24th unforced error of the match. The Slovakian smashes a ball back across court in frustration. What has she got left?
FrazzaB:, external This must be the most nervous I've ever seen two finalists at the same time. Very tense final.
The standard has gone up in the opening game of this set, with Li sending a punishing forehand down the line and putting away the resulting smash to recover from 15-30 down to 40-30. Cibulkova goes long and Li heads for the chair for a quick drink between games.
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou
"That set was well deserved because Li is the one creating the game, going for the shots, opening the court up and taking a chance. She made too many errors because she got emotional, which is why the set went to a tie-break, but she is the one playing aggressive tennis and hitting winners while her opponent is waiting for her to make mistakes."
John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two
Image source, Getty Images"It's not good when you see the winners category way behind the unforced errors. Li Na had 22 winners, so she was the one dictating play, but she made 25 unforced errors. Not good stats, but the bottom line is she won the first set. There were positives for both players. For Cibulkova, it is her first Grand Slam final and she's close. She knows her opponent isn't playing particularly well. It could be interesting."
Li made five more unforced errors than Cibulkova in that first set, most of them on her forehand, but it was the winners which really did the damage. The Chinese made 22, to Cibulkova's seven. She also benefitted from the Slovakian's six double faults to her two.
Li takes a big chance by challenging a call on the baseline mid rally. Hawkeye is called into action for the first time in the match and it's bad news for the Chinese. The ball just caught a smidgen of the line so it's Cibulkova's point. The Slovakian still trails 5-2 but could that be a turning point?
Cibulkova takes the next with some good running to the net to whip a forehand cross-court, but a deep return from Li forces the Slovakian to dump a backhand into the net. Three set points for Li and she takes the first to bring a lengthy 70-minute set to an end.
Can Dominika Cibulkova become the 43rd woman to win a Grand Slam title in the Open era or will Li Na clinch her second Grand Slam title?
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Li steals the early advantage with a mini-break on the first point and while Cibulkova breaks back, it's Li who takes charge of the next few points to open up a 3-1 lead. Cibulkova fires wildly into the tramlines and another forehand error sees Li hold a healthy 5-1 lead at the changeover.
Image source, ReutersChance for Cibulkova as she gets her second break point opportunity of the match, but Li gets a huge stroke of luck when a mishit backhand just drops in. Cibulkova doesn't get enough on the return and Li puts the ball away with a crunching forehand. Deuce. And deuce again.
Another break point for Cibulkova after a brilliant return of serve. Li struggles with her ball toss again, and though she gets her first serve in, the Chinese looks nervous and tamely dumps a backhand into the net to gift the break back. We've got a tie-break on our hands, folks.
Big moment this. Cibulkova finds herself 15-30 down and dictates the next point, only to hit one loose shot which Li drives back into the corner. The Slovakian is suddenly on the defensive and could do nothing as Li sends a backhand winner crosscourt for two break points. Li's husband nods his head in approval and takes to his feet when Li secures the break in the next point. The Chinese will serve to take the set.
Image source, Getty ImagesLi is struggling to get to grips with her misfiring forehand, but her first serve finally comes to the rescue and the Chinese sneaks through the game to 30.
John Lloyd
Former British number one on BBC Two
"You've got to give Cibulkova credit for hanging in there. She's not played particularly well but what she's doing is getting her balls back. Li Na, with her experience, should be up a set already. It's a strange performance from Li Na, she's either up or down, there's no middle ground with her game at the moment."
Image source, Getty ImagesThe momentum looks to have swung back in Li's favour as it's Cibulkova who is under pressure on her serve. Li forces deuce with another beautiful backhand winner, but sends a forehand long to give the Slovakian game point. Ouch. Another double fault brings up a second deuce and Li latches on to a weak second serve and then puts away the return ball to bring up break point.
"No," screams Li, who sends a simple forehand way out of court. Deuce three. Cibulkova gets a huge slice of luck, as she watches the ball hit the top of the net and dribble over and then seals the game as Li fires long again. Li to serve to stay in the set. The Slovakian fans roar their approval.
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park
"At 17C it's about 25C cooler than it was in week one, which appears to be to the local wildlife's liking as something enormous and almost certainly deadly just tried to crawl down my shirt. Maybe Li is having similar issues. She's struggling with her first serve - just six in out of 21 so far - and 17 errors is a pretty sizeable number this early on. Li is generally either 'on' or very much 'off'. Worrying signs for her at the moment."