Henin raced into an early lead and played immaculate tennis to take a one-set, 4-2 lead.
Kim Clijsters has beaten compatriot Justine Henin to book a place in her first Grand Slam final.
The 17-year-old finally prevailed over her fellow Belgian in a three-set encounter after recovering from a set and a break down.
She is the first Belgian to reach a Grand Slam final and the win gives her double cause for celebration as it is her 18th birthday on Friday.
"It is a great piece of history for Belgian tennis - I think the whole of Belgium is upside down right now," Clijsters said after her victory.
Henin raced into an early lead and played immaculate tennis to take a one-set, 4-2 lead.
"She was just too good for me in the first set but I kept trying and trying," Clijsters said.
But from break point up for a 5-2 lead the number 14 seed's form deserted her.
Henin's powerful serves and searing backhands were replaced by numerous unforced errors as she tightened up on the threshold of victory.
Clijsters took advantage and the match was turned on its head as she increased her effort and eradicated the unforced errors that had riddled her game.
Clijsters broke back to 4-4 when Henin uncharacteristically double faulted and she broke again to seal the set at 7-5.
The third set stayed with serve until Henin, at 2-3 down but leading to love, served four forehand errors to give Clijsters a break point that she duly converted.
The younger Belgian held on to win two match points, the first of which she took with a smash, to earn her place in Saturday's final as well as the history books.