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Right then, that's me done and dusted. Thanks, as ever, for your company. It's been an absolute pleasure.

Don't go too far, mind, as Britain's Andy Murray will be in action shortly. Aimee Lewis will be in the live text hot seat for that one, with his semi-final against Tomas Berdych kicking off at 08:30 GMT.

Until next time, it's good morning from me. Bye!

And news just in, Britain's Laura Robson is targeting a return to the WTA Tour in Indian Wells in March.

The 21-year-old, who has not played for over a year because of a left wrist injury, is on the entry list for the tournament in southern California.

So top seed Serena Williams will play second seed Maria Sharapova in Saturday's final. Williams has won the title five times and never lost a final in Melbourne. Sharapova has won the title once, in 2008, and reached two other finals.

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Williams has been struggling with a cold the last few days, but the American reports that she is feeling better. "I'm a lot better, every day gets better," she says. "Have a day off tomorrow so hopefully by Saturday I'll have recuperated."

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

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"It was a more of a test than the scoreline might suggest but Williams did a superb job of coping with one of the very few players who can match her for power.

"With the pair averaging within 1km per hour of each other on serve, Williams managed to break three times while Keys failed to repeat her break of the very first game.

"The top seed will now take on the second seed with a record that is far more lopsided than their rankings would suggest - Williams leads Sharapova 16-2, with no defeats since 2004."

"She pushed me really hard in the first set and I had to dig deep mentally to get through that," says Williams who will play Maria Sharapova in the final.

"She came up with some great shots every time," adds the American with regards Keys saving seven match points on her serve. "I could have done a little more in terms of being aggressive, but it's a good sign she played so well when she's down - she never ever gave up."

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"I'm really excited to be in the final again," says Williams, who will contest her sixth Australian Open final. "I didn't come here with that expectation so it's really exciting.

"Madison is obviously a great player, she is going to be winning this tournament and lots of other Grand Slams very soon.

"I'm happy to see her do so well and be such a great sport at the same time."

"Come on," roars Williams as she recovers from 0-15 to 30-15 with some brilliant serving. But she then takes something off her next effort and Keys takes advantage to level at 30-30.

A real impressive stretching backhand from Williams bring up her eighth match point - first on her own serve - but a blistering return almost knocks Williams off her feet as she tries and fails to get something on it. Deuce.

A ninth match point for Williams now - and she takes it with her 13th ace of the match.

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Keys is battling bravely against a Williams onslaught and hangs on when the top seed gets her first match point to force deuce.

Williams conjures up a second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth match point, but Keys has an answer to everyone of them. She then chases down a forehand and whips it down the line for a winner and game point.

This is turning into a lengthy game as we head back to deuce. And deuce again. A seventh match point for Williams now, but Keys saves this one, too, dealing with a classy overhead.

There's a standing ovation as Keys wins the next two points to make Williams serve for the match. Her coach Lindsay Davenport, a former world number one, smiles and applauds from the stands.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

"Breaking news from the media centre - Lleyton Hewitt says: 'I plan to play the Aussie Open next year and most likely finish there.' It comes as Pat Rafter steps down as Australia Davis Cup captain to be replaced in the interim by Wally Masur, with Hewitt taking over 'when he's ready'. Rafter becomes director of performance for Tennis Australia next month and says he can't fill both roles.'"

A love game for Williams and she is now just one away from a place in what will be her sixth Australian Open.

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Williams has the bit between her teeth right now - she really wants this - and attacks the Keys serve, earning two break points for her trouble.

Keys bravely fights back to deuce, but an error of the forehand and a double fault undoes her hard work. Williams breaks again. It'll be a long way back now for the young American...

Williams fires a 120mph serve out wide to seal another service hold. Victory in this match will ensure she will remain at the top of the world rankings.

Keys is bidding to become the first teenager to reach a Grand Slam final since Caroline Wozniacki achieved the feat at the 2009 US Open and she keeps herself in with a chance of doing so as she races through her service game to love.

Supreme response from 19-year-old Keys, who looks at home on the big stage, as she rustles up two break points. Williams saves the first with an ace and is back to deuce when Keys hits a backhand wide.

Both players have served impressively throughout the match and that continues, Williams hitting her ninth ace to bring up game point. The game is hers when Keys' makes her 25th unforced errors. Williams has made just 11.

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Nightmare for Keys as her forehand deserts her, the American teenager making four successive errors on that flank to hand Williams the break.

Keys goes big with a cross-court forehand but it drifts long and it's three set points for Williams. The unseeded 19-year-old saves the first two with two aces but Williams is jumping for joy as she watches a Keys' return drift long. The top seed wins the first the hard way in 45 minutes.

Williams steps up to the mark in the tie-break, the first both she and Keys have played in this tournament. The American gets the mini-break early on to lead 4-2 at the changeover.

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Keys races to 40-0 on serve but then gets caught out by the blustery conditions. The young American is unfazed, mind, firing her fifth ace of the match to win the game. Tie-break anyone?

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

"News from court six, where British junior Katie Swan has made it through to the girls' semi-finals. The 15-year-old from Bristol but based in Kansas beat American Raveena Kinglsey 6-4 6-3, with Fed Cup captain Judy Murray watching from courtside. Swan, seeded 14th, will play Hungarian fifth seed Dalma Galfi in the last four."