Aryna Sabalenka fights back to beat Elena Rybakina 4-6 6-3 6-4
First Grand Slam singles title for fifth seed Sabalenka
Sabalenka will rise to second in world rankings with win
Wimbledon champion Rybakina had been bidding for second major title
Women's singles final at Melbourne Park
Live Sports Extra commentary on Tennis Breakfast (UK only)
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-6 Sabalenka
The best hug she's ever had.
Image source, Getty ImagesThat's all from us today. We'll be back tomorrow for the men's final, as Stefanos Tsitsipas looks to be the man to stop Novak Djokovic from winning a record-tying 22nd Grand Slam title.
We'll see you then.
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-6 Sabalenka
Want to re-live that epic final again?
Rybakina 6-4 3-06 4-6 Sabalenka
More from Aryna Sabalenka: “Thank you so much for everyone who made this tour happen. The tour director, the referees, line umpires, ball kids... everyone who helped me do this week. Thank you for an amazing atmosphere. It was enjoyable to play in front of you.
“And my team - the craziest team on tour. We’ve been through a lot of downs last year. We worked so hard and you guys deserve this trophy. This is more about you than about me. Thank you so much for everything you do for me. I love you guys.
“Thank you for an amazing atmosphere. I hope next year I can come back stronger, can show you even better tennis and you guys will support me once more.”
Image source, Getty ImagesRybakina 6-4 3-6 4-6 Sabalenka
And here is the Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka: “First of all I want to say sorry for my English as I am still shaking and am super nervous!
"Secondly, it's such an inspiration to receive this trophy from you [Billie Jean King]. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for our sport. I couldn’t be more thankful.
“I want to congratulate Elena [Rybakina] for an incredible two weeks. You are such a great player. I hope we have many more battles and hopefully in finals of Grand Slams. Congratulations to your team. You guys are amazing and have done such a good job."
Image source, Getty ImagesMore from Elena Rybakina: "A big thank you for this atmosphere. I felt really good playing here and I had goosebumps when everyone was cheering for us. I am looking forward to coming back next year.
"Last thing of course to the organisers for making this tournament possible, to the ball kids, umpires and all the volunteers.
"It was a good year for me and hopefully next year I am going to have the same result and (do) even better."
Let's hear from the runner-up, Elena Rybakina.
"First I would like to congratulate Aryna on the title and a great start to the season. I know how hard you have worked for that and your team.
"Good luck for the rest of the season and hopefully we are going to have many more battles.
"I want to say a big thank you to my team for the great job we have done; to my family, coach and president of the Kazakhstan Federation, thank you so much for the support."
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Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-6 Sabalenka
Elena Rybakina is presented with her runners-up trophy by the legend that is Billie Jean King.
What a tournament Rybakina has had.
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Ian B: Competitive matches with new names rising to the top, loving women's tennis after Serena
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live
It is wonderful to see and it is hard not to feel emotional watching all that unfold. So nice to see Rybakina walking around the other side of the net to embrace her.
Sabalenka has almost been convulsing with emotion and just how brave she was in that final game, battling some demons there.
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Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live
It took a heck of an effort mentally for Sabalenka and she needed to make some adjustments and she had to pull back a little, work the points around.
Sabalenka did not shy away from the way she plays, and she still went for it but Rybakina's forehand let her down today in the rallies.
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-6 Sabalenka
The moment Aryna Sabalenka's life changed.
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Joanne Pen: Congratulations to Aryna Sabalenka. She's been nervy in a few finals but today she was brave and finally gets the big title her game deserves. Great stuff
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live
Sabalenka is the hardest working player you have ever seen on the practice court. The hours that she spent to fix the serving yips.
Talk about hard work paying off.
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-6 Sabalenka
Lovely scenes as Sabalenka climbs up to her box to hug her coach and loved ones.
Her coach, Anton Dubrov, is sobbing into a towel.
Image source, Getty Images
Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent at Melbourne Park
Aryna Sabalenka is a Grand Slam singles champion, on her back behind the baseline sobbing tears of delight.
She promised to put boring back into her game to take drama out of her game.
Well that was far from boring.
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-6 Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka wins the Australian Open final.
The Belarusian is now a Grand Slam singles champion.
Image source, Getty ImagesRybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
FINALLY.
Rybakina shoots a forehand long, which means...
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
Fourth time lucky maybe?
A forehand winner from Sabalenka hands her yet another championship point.