Postpublished at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
My word, this is mad.
Sabalenka misses her chance again, an off-balance backhand landing long.
Summary
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)
Postpublished at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Postpublished at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
Third time lucky?
Sabalenka has a third championship point as Rybakina nets.
Postpublished at 11:11 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka saves break point with an astonishingly powerful serve that Rybakina can't return.
Few people would be able to, to be honest.
Postpublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 LiveThis is excruciating.
Break point Rybakinapublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
Break point for Rybakina as she outlasts her opponent to plonk a forehand slap bang on the line.
Postpublished at 11:09 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
Another championship point goes begging.
A forehand return skewed wide.
How are your nerves?
Postpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
A second championship point as Sabalenka pings a forehand right on to the line.
Postpublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
It. Is. Not. It.
Sabalenka double faults.
Deuce.
Postpublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
An ace brings up championship point for Sabalenka.
This. Is. It.
Postpublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
Rybakina massively overhits a forehand to bring Sabalenka level at 30-30.
Postpublished at 11:06 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
Rybakina makes a mess of a return on the opening point before Sabalenka snatches a forehand into the net.
Sabalenka then misjudges a deep Rybakina return and can only send it out of bounds.
15-30.
Postpublished at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 LiveI think they both look pretty stressed at the moment. Their facial expressions are saying quite a lot.
Postpublished at 11:03 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 4-5 Sabalenka*
Some great, great rallying between these two.
Rybakina loses a 15-0 lead with a forehand sent careering out of bounds, but has her advantage restored as Sabalenka shoots too long off the front.
Next, Sabalenka again can't control a return of serve, but Rybakina fails to utilise her first game point as she nets. Fear not, she gets the hold on the second time of asking.
Sabalenka to serve next for her first Grand Slam title.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 LiveSabalenka knows she has got a lot of good results going to the Rybakina forehand - she has to keep going there. Time and again that second serve to the forehand is getting way too many return errors from Rybakina.
Postpublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
*Rybakina 6-4 3-6 3-5 Sabalenka
Sabalenka gets the next advantage and then serves it out with yet another scorching ace.
Rybakina will now serve to stay in the Australian Open final.
Postpublished at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 3-4 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka continues to assert control, taking a 40-15 lead on serve as Rybakina scoops a forehand out of bounds.
Sabalenka lets her lead slip a touch, putting far too much oomph behind a return, before inviting Rybakina to bash a winner into open court.
The advantage goes Sabalenka's way as Wimbledon champion Rybakina fails to cope with a serve, but the Belarusian then spins a return well out of court.
Second deuce.
Postpublished at 10:54 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Meanwhile, former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has been spotted in the crowd on Rod Laver Arena.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 10:53 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent at Melbourne ParkSabalenka's heart will be beating a little bit faster now.
Postpublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
Rybakina 6-4 3-6 3-4 Sabalenka*
There we go. Is that the moment?
Sabalenka finally gets the break and has the upper hand in this deciding set.
Third break point Sabalenkapublished at 10:51 Greenwich Mean Time 28 January 2023
*Rybakina 6-4 3-6 3-3 Sabalenka
A third break point for Sabalenka as Rybakina rushes a return into the net.