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)

Live Reporting

Katie Falkingham

  1. Rybakina 4-4 Sabalenka*

    Relief for Sabalenka as Rybakina puts too much behind a forehand return on the first break point.

  2. Break points Rybakina

    Rybakina 4-4 Sabalenka*

    Another double fault creeps into Sabalenka's game and she quickly finds herself 0-30 down. She stares into space as she tries to compute what's happening.

    She takes a point back, drawing Rybakina out wide on the serve before firing a forehand back in to the opposite corner, but nets off the back on the next point.

    Rybakina has the opportunity to break again with two break points.

  3. Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Thumping shots and Sabalenka has her range at the moment. Rybakina was forced to come forward and she almost just stood there, hoping that Sabalenka would miss. She will have to improve her net craft.

  4. Sabalenka breaks back

    Rybakina 4-4 Sabalenka*

    Sabalenka can't convert the first break point but can the second, as Rybakina chooses the wrong shot, coming into the net and allowing Sabalenka to shoot a backhand past her.

    Back on serve.

    SabalenkaGetty

  5. Can Sabalenka break back?

    *Rybakina 4-3 Sabalenka

    Great length on the returns allows Sabalenka to capitalise and go 0-30 up on Rybakina's serve.

    Another errors from the Kazakh then gifts Sabalenka three break points.

  6. Stars come out at Rod Laver

    Good to see the celebrities have turned out in force.

    Russell Crowe is in the crowd with girlfriend Britney Theriot. Former England cricketer and BBC broadcaster Isa Guha is in attendance as is Australian cricketing royalty Steve Waugh.

    Twelve-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King is also enjoying the action with four-time Australian Open winner Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

    Russell Crowe and Britney TheriotGetty Images
    Isa GuhaGetty Images
    Steve WaughGetty Images
    Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Billie Jean KingGetty Images

  7. Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Really interesting to see Sabalenka introducing a few slices to get Rybakina moving. She might have to start introducing some more variety.

  8. *Rybakina 4-3 Sabalenka

    Another double fault off the Sabalenka racquet is greeted by silence around Rod Laver Arena.

    She follows that up with an ace to quickly put a stop to that silence.

    The Belarusian lets out a scream as she goes 40-30 up, coming out on top of a lengthy rally, before a crushing backhand into space wraps up the game.

  9. Rybakina 4-2 Sabalenka*

    Rybakina makes serving an ace look like the easiest thing in the world.

    She gets her fourth and fifth of the day on the board as she bags a love hold.

    A superb start from the Kazakh.

    Elena RybakinaGetty Images

  10. Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The ball tends to come out of Sabalenka's strings at the same trajectory - low, hard and flat. She just goes for broke on everything.

  11. *Rybakina 3-2 Sabalenka

    Better from Sabalenka, who is growing louder by the second.

    She concedes off the backhand while 40-0 up, but holds with a lovely backhand into the corner.

  12. Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Rybakina has been dominant from the back of the court. There have not been many long rallies but she has won them all.

  13. Rybakina holds

    Rybakina 3-1 Sabalenka*

    Errors off both sides of the Sabalenka racquet give Rybakina a 30-0 lead, before she brings up game point with a serve that her opponent can only bash back into the net.

    She can't wrap the game up just yet, an engaging rally ended as she nets a forehand, but she gets the hold on the next point.

    Rybakina has the upper hand at the moment.

    RybakinaGetty Images

  14. Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The second serve is the opportunity to get back in the point and Rybakina was standing well inside the line. She is thumping the return and that is just putting doubt into Sabalenka's mind.

  15. Rybakina breaks

    *Rybakina 2-1 Sabalenka

    Rybakina gets the early break, Sabalenka skewing a forehand wide.

  16. Break point Rybakina

    Rybakina 1-1 Sabalenka*

    Uh oh, another double fault from Sabalenka at a far from ideal time.

    Rybakina break point.

  17. Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

    Gulls squawk over Rod Laver Arena. A noise heard often round these parts.

    Maybe Sabalenka's screams might scare them away.

    But not before she glances up north after being put off her service motion, leading to a few guffaws from the fans.

  18. Rybakina 1-1 Sabalenka*

    Sabalenka opens with an ace and then doubles her lead as Rybakina returns a serve long.

    Another ace down the T before Rybakina avoids losing the game to a love hold with a fine backhand.

    She scoops a forehand past Sabalenka, and then the Belarusian sends a backhand out of bounds.

    Deuce for the first time today.

    SabalenkaGetty Images

  19. Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I think if there is a vulnerable side to Rybakina, it is going to be the forehand side. I think Sabalenka will be fully aware of how dangerous the backhand side is.

    That is a massive serve from Rybakina. It is not just the movement, it's the placement. She has been talking about how slow the balls are, but it doesn't look like that at the moment.

  20. Rybakina 1-1 Sabalenka*

    Rybakina gets her ace count going with three back-to-back in her opening service game.

    You love to see it.

    Like Sabalenka, she holds to 15.