Garbine Muguruza, speaking on court: "You start day by day. That's what I was doing, each match at a time. Very excited to be in the final, it's a long way to go and I have one more match on Saturday.

"I wasn't thinking I was down - I was thinking keep going and at some point you're going to have your opportunity. I knew it would be a hard match, facing Simona, so I was fighting there with all the energy that i had.

"Luckily I have 48 hours to recover. We train all of our career to be able to play on this court and in front of this crowd."

If you're just joining us, it's been a busy night/early morning with two women's semi-finals, as well as plenty of doubles action.

Earlier, Sofia Kenin reached her first Grand Slam final by beating a nervous top seed Ashleigh Barty in straight sets.

The 21-year-old American, seeded 14th, won 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 in sweltering conditions to prevent Australian Barty becoming the first home woman to reach the final in 40 years.

You can read the report on that match here.

Some really, really good tennis in that semi-final. Simona Halep looks hugely disappointed as she trudges off court, while Garbine Muguruza's team celebrate in the box.

She will take on Sofia Kenin in the final.

A big return forces Halep into the net. Muguruza then moves inside and puts away the volley. 0-30...

The Spaniard pulls a forehand. 15-30. But she somehow manages to stay in the rally then slice a forehand to bring up two match points. Stunning!

Muguruza watches the ball all the way as it falls from a height and carefully directs it into the open court.

Halep hooks her backhand wide then cuts one into the net. Muguruza holds as a forehand flies long.

Halep pulls the forehand.

We're level AGAIN in the second set.

Stunning tennis! Muguruza somehow manages to keep the rally alive with a stretched forehand in the corner.

Halep's drive volley isn't good enough.

Halep JUST gets away with a backhand which clips the net on the way through.

Deuce.

Here we go again...

Halep pulls the backhand.

Brilliant! Halep curves a forehand down the line in another good rally. What a point!

Deuce.

Ouch. Wide from Halep.

It's there for Muguruza to hit... she slams it into the net!

That was the chance. Deuce.

Nice! Halep slots the volley into the corner. Muguruza responds with a thumping forehand down the line. 15-30.

Muguruza then smashes another one into the corner and brings up break point.

Muguruza moves into the net and slots away the backhand. She races to a 40-0 lead then serves big to hold for love.

Halep to serve for the set.

Brilliant hitting from Muguruza. A big forehand pushes Halep wide and she puts away the backhand volley.

Halep catches the backhand on the edge of the racquet but it just about loops in. Muguruza returns long and the Romanian holds.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

If this set pans out as it looks like it could do, then the players can have a 10-minute break before the third set.

That's because the Australian Open heat stress scale is now at 4.4, well clear of the 4.0 threshold for the break.

Halep races up to 30-0 to put the pressure straight back on Muguruza. The Spaniard serves big out wide to draw level.

An ace moves her ahead and Muguruza sees it off with an aggressive forehand.

Really nice from Halep, who eventually puts the rally to bed with an overhead volley at the net.

Both players are gasping for air!

Halep holds when Muguruza pulls her backhand over the baseline.