World No.3 Victoria Azarenka has won the Sydney International after outlasting defending champion Li Na 6-2 1-6 6-3 in a scintillating women's final on Friday night.
In a match of the highest quality, Azarenka dominated the first set before Li responded to some stern words from her coach to level at a set apiece.
Li threatened to run away with back-to-back titles when she broke the Belarusian's serve in the opening game of the final set.
But Azarenka's newfound mental toughness shone through as she hit back immediately before earning the vital break in the eighth game.
The 22-year-old survived two break points in the final game to secure her ninth career singles title.
It was really difficult because the first set I was having it my way, second set she turned around and was having it her way," Azarenka said after the match.
"She was really aggressive and playing some incredible tennis so I really tried to stay in the moment, tried to play every ball because I knew at some point I'm going to have a chance."
"I just had to stay with here and try to fight and that's what I did, I really kept my composure."
"It (the win) brings a lot of confidence ... I'm glad the way I played here through those battles that I went through."
"I really tested myself through a big event and I'm just going to try to keep going the same way with the same attitude."
Asked what went wrong, an upbeat Li said: "I don't think it was something wrong, I think it was a very good match in the final and I think both players showed their best tennis on the court."
"I'm feeling more confident now, I think now is much, much better than the last half of last year right?"
She added of her chances at next week's Australian Open: "Just because I did well here doesn't mean I'll do well in Melbourne so I still have to (climb) rung by rung, but I made the final last year so I think I should be ok."
Both players traded breaks to start the opening set but it was Azarenka who consolidated to take an early 3-1 lead.
Li, who had the Sydney crowd on her side, finally held her serve for the first time in the fifth game.
But Azarenka continued to time the ball to perfection off both wings and earned the double break two games later.
The Belarusian held her nerve to clinch the opening set with a crushing forehand winner in just 34 minutes, as Li called her coach and husband to the court for crisis talks.
Whatever he said paid immediate dividends as the Chinese No.1 held serve to love.
Li continued to raise her level of play, and her luck started to change too, setting up a break point in the fourth game after a fortuitous net cord.
She converted when Azarenka sent a backhand floating well over the baseline and consolidated the break, despite producing consecutive double faults, to lead 4-1.
Azarenka called for the physiotherapist in the changeover due to apparent leg soreness.
It didn't help, Li sealing the double break with a backhand winner after a marathon sixth game before levelling at a set apiece.
Meanwhile German qualifier Mona Barthel has reached the final of the Hobart International after shocking fourth seed Angelique Kerber.
The 21-year-old had eliminated fifth seed