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) 1-1 Wozniacki
Anything you can do...
Wozniacki drifts into the net this time and cracks a punishing backhand volley across the blue surface.
And now she has a break point.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 1-1 Wozniacki
Fantastic. Caroline Wozniacki slams a backhand winner across court at the tightest of angles to take the point.
It's a punchy response from Simona Halep, thumping a forehand winner down the line.
The Romanian then steams into the net, and that powerful volley is too hot for Wozniacki to handle - 30-15.
*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 1-1 Wozniacki
A loose Halep backhand and then a forehand into the net.
That's a love hold for Wozniacki.
Halep 6-7 (2-7) 1-0 Wozniacki*
Caroline Wozniacki stormed into this match with a potent serve, it's not quite as quick at the start of this second set but the world number two makes allowances for that with a well-placed forehand winner to go 30-0 up.
Halep 6-7 (2-7) 1-0 Wozniacki*
Barely any backlift on Caroline Wozniacki's return as she pops a Simona Halep second serve back with venom.
The Dane scrambles back to 40-30, but her next effort is long and Halep holds.
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Halep has played enough big matches to know that she can wipe away disappointments and get on with the job.
Image source, AFP*Halep 6-7 (2-7) 0-0 Wozniacki
Simona Halep is fighting to hold on to the number one spot, fighting to win a first ever Grand Slam...
That should do it, dipping into her arsenal and selecting a ferocious backhand winner.
40-0.
Jill Craybas
Former world number 39 on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Even though Halep lost the first set she can take confidence from the way she fought back from 3-0 down and made it such a close set.
Jill Craybas
Former world number 39 on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Great quality hitting and use of the court from both players but Wozniacki is always dangerous when she can get into position to hit that big backhand down the line.
Halep 6-7 (2-7) Wozniacki*
The Dane only needs one!
She takes the first set in this Australian Open final.
Image source, ReutersHalep 6-6 Wozniacki*
Four set points Wozniacki...
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Wozniacki has served very well in the last 10 minutes. Lots of first serves landing.
Halep 6-6 Wozniacki*
Wozniacki is just getting everything back, scuttling side to side and somehow pulling out a return - that is at least until Halep rushes to the net and volleys a forehand winner.
Great point.
Another mammoth rally follows, and this time the Dane comes out on top.
Wozniacki leads 5-2 in the tie-break.
*Halep 6-6 Wozniacki
And now Halep is shaking her head in disbelief, another misjudged baseline stroke, this time sending a forehand long.
The Romanian then clips the net and finds herself 4-1 down.
Halep 6-6 Wozniacki*
Image source, ReutersWozniacki is digging in now, and Halep is getting frustrated.
The Romanian goes long, before rattling down an ace.
2-1 Wozniacki.
*Halep 6-6 Wozniacki
Wham. Wozniacki speeds on to a Halep short ball to smash it home and take the tie-break lead.
1-0 to the Dane.
*Halep 6-6 Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki scuttles deep beyond the baseline to wrap a double-handed backhand across court, but it drifts wide.
The Dane has the number of that next serve, though, straight batting down the line.
Simona Halep finds a little extra to hold and take this to a tie-break.
Image source, EPA*Halep 5-6 Wozniacki
Fist pump time for Simona Halep, gobbling up a half-court return with a worthy forehand winner.
The world number one makes it eight points in a row on serve after slinging down another scorcher, before going wide with a miscued backhand - 30-15.
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
That was a very good service game from Wozniacki. She's a typical Scandinavian player in that she keeps getting the ball back and keeps coming at you - like Mats Wilander used to do to me 30 years ago!
Image source, Getty Images
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park
We’ve just passed 8pm local time and it’s still 31C and a very sticky 52% humidity on Rod Laver Arena. Fans are fluttering and drinks being taken as the two finalists hurtle around the court below us.
Wozniacki’s transformation from a brilliant defender into an aggressive player, backing up a newly-found big serve with a punchier forehand, has been quite remarkable. It used to be all about the wheels, now she has the weapons too.