Caroline Wozniacki beats Simona Halep in thrilling final
Wozniacki wins first Grand Slam title 7-6 3-6 6-4
Dane regains world number one ranking
Both players needed treatment
Heat rule applied after second set
Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-6 Wozniacki
A first Grand Slam title for Caroline Wozniacki, she falls to the floor in disbelief before returning to her feet and waving to the roaring Rod Laver Arena crowd.
What an effort.
Image source, Reuters
Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-6 Wozniacki
Great defence from Caroline Wozniacki, as Simona Halep encroaches towards the net.
But the Romanian hits one into the tape.
Wozniacki is the Australian Open champion!
Image source, AFP*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-5 Wozniacki
A first double fault of the final for Simona Halep. Talk about bad timing.
Caroline Wozniacki is getting to every ball, unbelievable, how has she kept that point alive?
Somehow the Dane brings it to championship point.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-5 Wozniacki
Long from Wozniacki? No, there's a correction on that and it's called good... Halep challenges.
It's just long! How important will that be? 30-15.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-5 Wozniacki
Simona Halep is serving to stay in the final, but wraps the net with an under-cooked forehand.
The world number one clips the tape again, but this time it is good and she takes advantage to recover to 15-15.
Jill Craybas
Former world number 39 on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Halep has been serving well but this is the test. Who can hold their nerve?
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-5 Wozniacki
A superb hold from the world number two.
Caroline Wozniacki moves to within a game of her first Grand Slam title and the number one spot.
Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-4 Wozniacki*
That's misjudged from Halep, not enough on the forehand and it rattles the tape.
But a double fault from Wozniacki follows...
Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-4 Wozniacki*
Wonderful from Halep, dipping to pick up a backhand and lashing it down the line with Wozniacki sprinting the other way.
The Dane responds with great depth to claw her way to 30-15.
Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Melbourne Park
This is a thrilling match. They have both given every bit of energy they can, there's tension, extreme fatigue and stifling humidity.
#bbctennis
James Gallagher: Wozniacki has played some great tennis today, but over the tournament as a whole Halep would be a deserving winner. Great advert for women's tennis this final.
Image source, EPAHalep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-4 Wozniacki*
A Halep backhand falls short and Wozniacki takes it.
The sixth break of the final set.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-3 Wozniacki
It's saved!
Halep storms into the net and whacks a volleyed winner beyond her opponent.
But in almost identical fashion, Wozniacki takes the next point.
Another chance to break.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-3 Wozniacki
Wozniacki hangs in as Halep goes on the offensive and the Romanian makes the mistake, popping a forehand into the tramlines.
Break point Wozniacki.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-3 Wozniacki
Great movement from both players, doing shuttles across either baseline before Wozniacki clips one long.
That's 30-30,
#bbctennis
Don Wimble: "Refuse to lose" is Halep's mantra. She's proving it here. Awesome willpower.
Greg: Enthralling match this...good to see the emergence of what might turn into great rivalry. When was last time top two female players met in Grand Slam final.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-3 Wozniacki
Simona Halep can put real pressure on Caroline Wozniacki if she holds here.
But the world number one finds herself 0-30 down, Wozniacki with a superb array of ground strokes to force the Romanian deep before hitting a backhand winner into the space left behind.
Gigi Salmon
Radio 5 live sports extra commentator at Melbourne Park
Halep leads and has the momentum but have we seen the last of the drama in this match? I don't think so...
Jill Craybas
Former world number 39 on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Simona still looks the one that looks a little bit more tired but she's being a little smarter than Wozniacki and taking more chances while Wozniacki has got a little bit more defensive.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 4-3 Wozniacki
Wozniacki has some tape applied to her left knee.
Two hours and 33 minutes into this one, it's no surprise the joints are feeling a little tender.
Simona Halep won't mind the breather either.
Image source, AFP