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

I don't think we are going to be getting long drawn-out points. The fact Sabalenka served a double fault and had a smile - she's taking responsibility right there.

A much better start to how she started that semi-final a couple of days ago. Just what the doctor ordered.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, BBC Sport

As always here, the Rod Laver Arena roof stays shut until the players come out for atmospheric effect.

Once it slides open, a slate grey sky is revealed and the wind enjoys the chance to whistle through the locks of the expectant fans.

More important than messing up lackered barnets will be the effect on the play.

Playing in the wind can take a little bit of time to adjust.

That ball is already getting a pounding.

Sabalenka crashes down another ace to hold to 15 in the opening game.

A double fault from Sabalenka to start the final...

And then an ace.

Aryna Sabalenka serves first and gets her first Grand Slam final under way.

The players are on court and warming up.

We're just moments away from the Australian Open final starting.

Are you ready?

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The big question for both of them is who is going to dominate with the power. We know how hard Sabalenka hits the ball - sometimes at an inappropriate time - but she has got better at when to go for the big shots.

Rybakina is not as good a mover as Sabalenka. She is getting better but when a ball comes in very fast she can easily get out of position.

They both serve well, are both powerful off both wings and both volley well. For me, it's a toss of the coin as to who handles the pressure moments best.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, Getty Images

This time 12 months ago, Ashleigh Barty was about to walk out onto Rod Laver Arena with the hopes of a nation resting on her shoulders.

The Australian was bidding to end the home nation's 44-year wait for a Grand Slam women's singles champion in Melbourne - and she did exactly that by beating American Danielle Collins.

But, with life having changed considerably for Barty, she has occupied a much different role tonight.

Six weeks after winning the title, the world number one announced in a shock move she was retiring.

And there was more big news shortly before this year's tournament when she revealed she is pregnant and expecting her first child.

So, instead she has just brought out the Daphne Ackhurst Memorial Cup - the trophy given to the women's champion - leading to what might just be the loudest cheer of the night.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

You can listen to live commentary of the final on Tennis Breakfast by clicking on the icon at the top of this page, or via BBC Sounds.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, Getty Images

We've already talked about Rybakina's dominant serve, but it is actually Sabalenka who has won the most service games in the women's draw (89%).

While the Belarusian can still coughs up double faults - which has been her Achilles heel - she has also showed a resolute mentality to stave off more break points (81%) than anyone else.

And the powerful Sabalenka is likely to be the one - if anyone can - to negate Rybakina's serve.

Sabalenka has hit 28 winners on a return of service, which is well clear of the rest of the field, and her tally of winning 46% of return games is above the tournament average.

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

I think Rybakina's experience will hel. She has that first Grand Slam experience at Wimbledon to get used to the nerves, the pressure, the expectations, and to be able to deal with it.

I feel she is going to handle it a bit better, whereas Sabalenka was in four Grand Slam semis and finally got through this one, but in that semi she had some really wobbly moments and vulnerability.

Even though she is the form player, she now has won these six matches to get to the final and she hasn't dropped a set yet but she has had yips on the serve in the past. She's rebuilt her serve, but it may just rear its ugly head again.

You could argue a case for both of them.

There will be a new name on the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in just a matter of hours - but whose name?

Tweet your predictions and thoughts via #bbctennis

Tim Henman gave his verdict on today's final earlier on Eurosport:

"There is no doubt that in this women's final, these are the two best players of the fortnight. They've played unbelievable tennis, I think they're confident and may the best woman win.

"They are both unbelievable competitors in all elements of their game. I just think how aggressive they've been, their mentality, the confidence they've got this year with so many matches and so many wins, and they are incredible athletes.

"Those are all the pieces of the puzzle which are set for an unbelievable match and now it's about one of them coming out and taking their chance."

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, Getty Images

As when she won the Wimbledon title, a key factor in Elena Rybakina's success has been her strong service game.

Rybakina has won 84% of her service games throughout the tournament and tops the ace count with 45.

The world number 25, who did not receive ranking points for winning Wimbledon, has won the most first-serve points (80%) and the most unreturned first serves (53%).

"Because I am tall I have always had a good serve, but I needed to work on this a lot," she said.

"When I started working with my coach Stefano [Vukov] four years ago he gave me some more details - changes of technique and biomechanically - teaching me how it would be easier to generate power and use the full body."

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

Rybakina was one of the quietest champions we've ever seen [at Wimbledon]. There was no celebration whatsoever. She literally just sauntered to the net, shook hands with her opponent.

I wondered if it was because she is from Kazakhstan but everyone knows she has Russian parents and was born in Russia, and maybe she just didn't want to make a big thing about it.

She's a very quiet personality anyway. She's a very sweet girl, you hear her talking and she's incredibly likeable but she's not got a massive personality that's going to impose itself on the match. She's very calm.

You couldn't have two more contrasting characters out on the court. Sabalenka is going to be noisy, loud and making her presence felt - a huge character on the court and desperate to win her first Grand Slam title, so there is a lot at stake.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, BBC Sport

The calm before the storm.

Not a literal storm, according to the Melbourne weather forecast, but the metaphorical storm of a final where there is expected to be lots of thunder.

The air has been warm and heavy today, but the temperature is expected to drop to about 20C by the time the final starts.

So, as Rybakina discussed the other day, the conditions tonight might see placement rewarded more than the brute power which these two can produce.

Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent at Melbourne Park

Both Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have ferocious power, so we are expecting the rallies to be short but explosive.

Sabalenka this time last year was having horrendous problems with her serve. She ended up serving 428 double faults by the time the year was out, but she started the season fantastically, winning all 10 matches and all 20 sets.

Rybakina has been unhappy with her scheduling as the Wimbledon champion but she has certainly caught everyone's eye - she's beaten the world number one Iga Swiatek here in Melbourne.

It's pretty one-sided.

Sabalenka and Rybakina have met on three previous occasions - the last at Wimbledon in 2021 - with Sabalenka winning each time.

However, every match has gone to three sets, so we could be in it for the long haul today.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Image source, BBC Sport

The headline in one of Melbourne's leading newspapers sums up this contest rather neatly.

'A power struggle' - is how the Herald Sun sees today's final.

Both players can lace their groundstrokes and finish points at any given opportunity with a howitzer winner.

Pity the balls which are being lined up for impending doom.

Fifth seed Sabalenka is through to her first Grand Slam final, having previously fallen in the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.

She's played 10 matches so far in 2023 and won every single one of them in straight sets. Should a tie-break be required in the final, Sabalenka would go into it having won nine of her last 10 tie-break sets.

The Belarusian will move to number two in the world rankings on Monday.

Image source, BBC Sport