China's Zhang Shuai into the Australian Open women's doubles final

China's Zhang Shuai and her Australian partner Sam Stosur are through to the Australian Open women's doubles final, after a thrilling three-set victory over Czech duo Barbora Strycova and Marketa Vondrousova on Wednesday that ended 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.

While it was a nervous start for the Sino-Aussie duo, falling behind in the first set 5-2, the pair managed to find their rhythm and eventually fight their way back to go one set ahead.

China's Zhang Shuai (Left) reaches her first women's doubles final at a Grand Slam event. [Photo: IC]

With the Czech combo mounting their own fight back in the second, it all came down to a deciding third and final set.

Although Zhang and Stosur got the early break, Strycova and Vondrousova were able to win it back in a see-sawing back-and-forth contest that had fans in Melbourne on the edge of their seats.

In the end however, Zhang and Stosur were able to get the break at 5-5 and serve out the match to snatch the win.

"My heart rate is so high at the moment," Stosur said after the match.

"That was amazing. It was a really tough match for us. Shuai picked it up for us at the end and I'm so pleased we're into a final here together in Australia."

"We're on a bit of a roll and hopefully we can keep it going in the final. It would be amazing for us, we'll do everything we can to be ready and we'll give it a good crack."

The pair will now take on reigning Australian Open champions Timea Babos from Hungary and Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic in the final.