“First, I have to say congratulations to Danielle and her team I know you will be fighting for many more in the future. You guys have been nothing short of exceptional. You relaxed me and forced me to play my best tennis,” says the champion.

“This is just a dream come true. I’m so proud to be an Aussie.”

“I really admire you as a player… This is most of the players’ favourite grand slam,” says Collins along with thanking the medical staff, coach, and her boyfriend.

READ DETAILED MATCH REPORT: Ash Barty beats Danielle Collins to claim maiden Australian Open title, ends Australia’s 44-year wait

Ash Barty’s victory has ended Australia’s 44-year wait for a home winner since Chris O’Neil won the women’s title in 1978. She was 5-1 down in the second set but came storming back to win on a tiebreak and sweep past Collins 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) to clinch the Australian Open crown.

Barty defeat Collins 6-3 7-6 to become the first Australian woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam title at home!

Barty defeats Collins to clinch the Australian Open! Barty stormed to take a 3-0 lead and made it four in a row with a smash out of Collins’ reach. It was 5-1 after Barty’s excellent serve. and a forehand error from Collins offered Barty four championship points.

Collins raced to a 30-15 lead but Barty’s ace pushed the American on her backhand. Another ace from Barty tilted it 40-30 in her favour. She sealed the game with a brilliant serve as the home crowd erupted in joy. Tiebreak awaits!

This ain’t over yet! Collins’ volley made it 15-15 before she won a long rally to take the lead. She followed it up with a crashing serve to claim the game.

What a recovery!!! The World No. 1 takes the game to level it. Barty guides home a winner for 40-15. Collins uses her backhand to make it 40-30 but Barty serves to seal the game.

Collins stormed to take a 30-0 lead but Barty made a remarkable recovery to take a 40-30 lead. Break point for Barty and she takes the game! The crowd is up on its feet. We may see Barty taking the lead again!

A 181 kmph ace helped Barty go 40-0 up but two backhand errors helped Collins cut the deficit and make it 40-30. Barty eventually took the game with Collins making an unforced error. The pressure is back on the American!

This is turning into a real heavyweight clash. Barty is still in the contest. It was 40-30 in Barty’s favour and the local favourite took the set. Collins’ missed first serves to offer a breakpoint that Barty grabbed.

Collins takes the game! She’s got the look of defiance on her face! Great defence from the American to make go 30-15 up, and a double fault from Barty made it 40-15. Another error from Barty and Collins extended her lead. A few misses from Barty and Collins has pushed her way into this. The crowd has also got a bit silent.

Collins continues her fight! She got her angles wrong on a backhand to get pushed to 30-15 but was able to take the game.

Exquisite! Barty claims the game in over a minute. She relied on her serves to dominate her opponent. Huge roar from the crowd again. Also, huge credit to Collins to neutralize Barty’s backhand slices today.

Collins extends lead! Barty was up 40-30 but an unforced error led to Collins’ recovery. Barty made another error to give the advantage to Collins and the American grabbed the opportunity to take the game. A neat comeback from Collins.

Two break points for Collins and she takes the game! An aggressive approach from Collins and she follows it up with a trademark celebration. Barty saved one with an ace but Collins took the second with a smash.

Collins starts the second set with a win! A forehand winner helps Collins make a great start while being a set down. She took a 30-15 lead with a whipped backhand and later made it 40-15.

Barty looks unbothered by the pace generated by Collins. She gained a 40-0 lead and eventually took the set 6-3. What a start! She went up 30-0 and sealed the set with an ace. Home fans are up on their feet.

Collins takes the game! Barty is controlling the direction along with adding more depth. But Collins isn’t giving up so easily. Collins made it 40-30 before coming up with an ace to stay alive in the contest.

Barty extends lead! The crowd favourite is off to a blistering start. She is looking full of confidence after taking the game. She’s on the verge of claiming the opening set & the noise from crowd is getting louder with every point. Barty went 40-0 up but a double fault held her back. But Collins’ backhand error helped Barty seal the game.

A little more tension coming to Collins approach, failing to capitalize on opportunities on her own serve. Barty made it 40-30 with a 141 kmph winner before taking the game. A double fault from the 28-year-old American. But full credit to Barty for turning the tables.

Brute power! Collins with an excellent backhand to cut the deficit to 40-30 and an unforced error from Barty made it 40-40. Great defence from Collins to force Barty to make a forehand error but the home favourite made up for it with an unreachable forehand – a baseline winner.

Barty has taken the lead again.

It’s all square. Collins roared back to take a 40-15 lead, and later got Pdfhelp from the net to take the game.

The local favourite continues to dominate with her serves. She made it 40-0 and then served it to the left-hand corner to seal the game.

Barty 1-1 *Collins. Collins shows her calm demeanour to take the second game! It also featured an ace, which was followed by Barty making an error to make it 40-15 in favour of Collins.

15-0: A great serve and Barty takes the first point.

30-0: Another dominant serve to make it two in a row.

40-0: Barty continues to push Collins on the backfoot.

40-15: An unforced error from Barty and Collins opens her account.

40-30: Collins with the second serve to take one more point with a backhand return.

Game to Barty! What a start from the World No.1!

Finally, it’s TIME! Barty won the toss and elected to serve first.

The warm-up has begun…just a few minutes to action.

Both the players are out for the warm-up at the Rod Laver Arena!

Barty has used her backhand slice to devastating effect so far, and the biggest challenge for Collins will be to get off to a good start against the World No. 1. The game promises to be a cracker!

Collins had beaten Barty in the previous meeting. But the focus will be on the service today. Also, Barty has won 20 straight sets and 81 of her last 82 service games.

Collins, 28, determined to go one better! “We’ve had some incredible battles,” she had said about Barty. “To play the No. 1 in her home country, it’s going to be spectacular.”

In April last year, Collins was undergoing emergency surgery for endometriosis and had suffered an abdominal injury at the French Open. Cut to the present day, the American is playing her maiden Grand Slam final.

Also, Rafael Nadal will be in action on Sunday. The Spaniard, who will play Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final, will become the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles if he defeats the Russian in Melbourne!

Barty comes into the final with a 10-match winning run, making her the favourite to clinch the contest. “It’s unreal. It’s just incredible,” Barty had said about reaching her first Australian Open.

While Barty is potentially one win away from giving the host nation a title, there’s a guaranteed win in another competition. Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis ensured an all-Australian men’s doubles final with 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over third-seeded Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos. The duo will now take on Matt Ebden and Max Purcell.

Collins’ run to the semifinals in 2019 was her best previous result at a Grand Slam tournament, where she was defeated by Petra Kvitová. Three years after her breakthrough Grand Slam run in Melbourne, Collins will be eyeing to claim the trophy this time.

Collins, who dispatched Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-1 in the semi-final, is expected to put up a tough fight against Barty. The American has won her last 11 completed matches and is en route to the world’s top 10.

FIRST ROUND: beat Caroline Dolehide 6-1 6-3

SECOND ROUND: beat Ana Konjuh 6-4 6-3

THIRD ROUND: beat Clara Tauson 4-6 6-4 7-5

FOURTH ROUND: beat Elise Mertens 4-6 6-4 6-4

QUARTERFINAL: Beat Alize Cornet 7-5 6-1

SEMIFINAL: beat Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-1

FIRST ROUND: beat Lesia Tsurenko 6-0 6-1

SECOND ROUND: beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 6-1

THIRD ROUND: beat Camila Giorgi 6-2 6-3

FOURTH ROUND: beat Amanda Anisimova 6-4 6-3

QUARTERFINAL: Beat Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-0

SEMIFINAL: beat Madison Keys 6-1 6-3

“It’s brilliant to be playing in the business end of your home Slam. I’m not gonna lie about that. It’s amazing,” said Barty ahead of the final.

“I think being able to experience it multiple times has been incredible, but Saturday’s going to be a new experience for me.”

She won her first major title on clay at Roland Garros in 2019 and her second on grass at Wimbledon last year. Barty now has a great opportunity to claim her first on a hard court. Serena Williams is currently the only active woman who has claimed a Grand Slam title on three different surfaces.

Top-ranked Barty, who beat Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 in the semis, 20 winners to only eight for her opponent. In six matches so far at the tournament, she has dropped one service game.

2021 Adelaide 500: Collins won 6-3 6-4

2020 Adelaide International: Barty won 3-6 6-1 7-6(5)

2019 French Open: Barty won 7-5 6-1

2019 Madrid Masters: Barty won 6-1 1-6 6-1

Matches played: 4

Barty wins: 3

Collins wins: 1

Ashleigh Barty current world ranking: 1

Danielle Collins current world ranking: 30

Collins is up for the challenge, contesting in her first Grand Slam final. The 28-year-old American was dominant in her 6-4, 6-1 win over 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek in the semis. Can she deny Barty a historic win at home?

Ashleigh Barty is the first Australian woman into the decider in Melbourne since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the first winner since Chris O’Neil in 1978.

Hello and Welcome to the live coverage of the Australian Open 2021 women’s singles final between Ash Barty and Danielle Collins. World No. 1 Barty has a chance to capture her third Grand Slam title and become the first Australian woman in 44 years to clinch a Grand Slam crown at home. The reigning Wimbledon champion has conceded only 21 games in six matches. Collins, on the other hand, is into her first Grand Slam final. The 27th-seeded Collins took only 78 minutes to beat the seventh-seeded Iga Swiatek in the semi-final.