China’s Li Na declined to pass judgement on Victoria Azarenka’s controversial medical time-out during her Australian Open semi-final match, but said she would not do it herself when match points were at stake.

Defending champion Azarenka was accused of gamesmanship by former players and pundits for taking a nearly 10-minute medical time-out after blowing five match-points in her 6-1 6-4 defeat of Sloane Stephens.

The Belarusian top seed denied the charge, however, saying a rib injury had led to breathing difficulties during the tense phase of the match.

Asked whether a medical time-out was appropriate when match points were in play, Li told reporters:

“You know, everyone is different. Because for me, I would never use that.

“But I don’t know how it is with another player because everyone is different. I couldn’t say, ‘Oh, it’s wrong’ or ‘it’s right’.”

Li will play Azarenka for the women’s trophy this morning, with both players bidding for their second grand slam title in their second final at Melbourne Park.

Compared to the media storm surrounding Azarenka’s semi-final, sixth seed Li has had the perfect build-up and headed into the final brimful of confidence after trouncing last year’s runner-up Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2 in their semi-final.