Rybakina is not making this easy for Sabalenka.

She keeps toe-to-toe with her opponent until 30-30, when Sabalenka unleashes another ace for set point.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

Anything can happen when the nerves start to jangle. Sabalenka will have to control that first serve to try and get some free points.

A skilfully-played drop shot earns Rybakina the advantage but she can't put it to good use, netting off the forehand.

Sabalenka hands her another chance, a ferocious serve simply bouncing back off her racquet and in to the net.

Game Rybakina as Sabalenka shoots too long. The Belarusian will now try to see out this set on the serve.

Image source, Getty Images

Second set point saved by a Rybakina backhand that leaves Sabalenka flapping at thin air.

Deuce.

First set point saved by a Rybakina ace.

An enjoyable rally kickstarts Rybakina's game but the Kazakh gifts the point to Sabalenka with a backhand stroked out.

They exhange the next two points, before Sabalenka earns two set points with a superbly placed forehand into the corner.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Sabalenka apologetically puts her hand up to the section of the crowd into where she laces an overhead with the help of the court.

Don't imagine whoever caught it minds.

One for the bag of Melbourne Park mementoes in the loft.

All of a sudden, it seems as though Rybakina doesn't know how to deal with Sabalenka.

The Belarusian holds to 15 with a smash at the net that bounces high and in to the crowd.

Free memorabilia for that man.

Image source, Getty Images

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

We have been saying how calm and composed Rybakina is - and for the first time in this game, she was looking more irritated.

How significant will that be? Sabalenka will be furious with herself. It will feel like a wasted opportunity.

Three break points saved, Rybakina finally gets an important hold.

Danger averted, Rybakina earns game point but can't capitalise on her chance, a backhand heading out from the moment it left her racquet.

A backhand sent in to the corner brings up another break point for Sabalenka, but again it goes begging as she puts too much power behind a return.

Image source, Getty Images

Rybakina saves both, Sabalenka unable to deal with the Kazakh's speedy serves.

Deuce.

Her forehands might not be in tip top shape but Sabalenka is certainly firing off the backhand.

A winner off the back puts her 15-30 ahead before a mishit from Rybakina brings up two break points.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

Perseverance from Sabalenka, creating a little scoreboard pressure and just taking some time away from Rybakina. The crowd are just getting behind Sabalenka a little bit. They want to see an extended match.

Sabalenka has won the last six Grand Slam matches in which she lost the first set.

This time, it's Rybakina who misfires. Sabalenka can't convert game point but earns another chance with a smash from deep.

She seals the hold with a scorcher of an ace.

Image source, Getty Images

Sabalenka saves it with a backhand in to space and a cry of "COME ONNNNNNNN!".

A Sabalenka double fault, the first of the set, gives Rybakina advantage and break point.

Sabalenka is making more and more errors off the front of her racquet, and gives Rybakina a sniff of a break back as the Kazakh takes a 15-30 lead.

But Rybakina makes the wrong shot choice again, going for the drop shot but not lifting it high enough, and Sabalenka capitalises to go 40-30 up.

But she again sends a forehand spinning out, taking the game to deuce.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Always a shame to see empty seats at a major final and there are a few pockets of cushioned blue plastic on show.

One suspects that is partly down to the two players representing countries over 11,000km away - although there is a small band of Kazakhs here on the upper deck.

Another reason might be the locals don't fancy paying upwards of A$250 (£144) for a couple of hours' entertainment.

The neutrals are trying to gee up Sabalenka and make sure this contest goes into a third so they get more bang for their buck.