Summary

  • Australian Open women's final - listen to BBC Radio Live commentary (UK only)

  • LIVE: Aryna Sabalenka 4-6 Elena Rybakina for trophy

  • World number one Sabalenka bidding for fifth Grand Slam singles title

  • Sabalenka has twice won Melbourne title and beat Rybakina in 2023 final

  • Rybakina aiming for first major trophy since 2022 Wimbledon triumph

  • Sabalenka leads head-to-head but Rybakina won most recent meeting

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  1. Postpublished at 09:27 GMT

    *Sabalenka 4-6 0-0 Rybakina

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

    Ahhh - a wholesome moment in the crowd while we wait for Aryna Sabalenka to return.

    Someone waves a homemade sign emblazoned with a personal message about their dad's 80th birthday.

    So those stood in the same section spontaneously burst into a rendition of 'Happy Birthday'. Cute.

  2. Postpublished at 09:26 GMT

    *Sabalenka 4-6 0-0 Rybakina

    When these two players met in the 2023 Australian Open final, Elena Rybakina won the first set 6-4.

    Aryna Sabalenka fought back to win the next two sets and win a maiden Grand Slam title.

    Sabalenka has left the court for a moment so the TV pictures are focusing on Rybakina deep in conversation with her coaching team by the side of the court.

  3. Postpublished at 09:24 GMT

    *Sabalenka 4-6 0-0 Rybakina

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

    Elena Rybakina has not played in a major final since here in 2023. How she will handle the biggest moments today will be crucial.

    There were a few wobbles against Jessica Pegula in Thursday's semi-final before she dragged herself over the line.

    No bother serving out the opening set - but tenser moments will lie ahead if she is going to take the title.

    Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan servesImage source, Getty Images
  4. 'Rybakina is the crowd favourite'published at 09:24 GMT

    *Sabalenka 4-6 0-0 Rybakina

    Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It looks like Elena Rybakina is the crowd favourite. Maybe they see her as a slight underdog?

    I think people like the way she plays the game. She is very calm and controlled.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:23 GMT

    Click the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    A tough match! I'm glad to see Rybakina in a Grand Slam final again! She has been very consistent recently and it is nice to see high-level of tennis to challenge Sabalenka's dominance of the sport! We are definitely starting the tour with an excellent final!

    Roddy, Ellon

  6. Game and first set - Rybakinapublished at 09:22 GMT

    *Sabalenka 4-6 0-0 Rybakina

    A clenched fist from Elena Rybakina as she clinches the first set of the Australian Open final!

    The Kazakh fifth seed gets Aryna Sabalenka on the run and the world number one pushes a forehand long.

    The break of serve came in the very first game and is good value for that first set, despite needing to save a couple of break points in her previous service game.

    Elena Rybakina celebrates winning the first setImage source, Getty Images
  7. Set point Rybakinapublished at 09:21 GMT

    Sabalenka 4-5 Rybakina*

    Aryna Sabalenka powers away a backhand return winner to start a game she needs to win to extend this first set.

    Elena Rybakina finds a way back into the game but goes just wide with a forehand. 30-30.

    Sabalenka nets a forehand return, so it's set point to the former Wimbledon champion...

  8. Sabalenka holdspublished at 09:18 GMT

    Sabalenka 4-5 Rybakina*

    Aryna Sabalenka has really picked things up on her serve since being broken in the opening game of the match.

    She holds easily again but, after the changeover, it'll be Elena Rybakina serving for a one-set lead.

    Aryna Sabalenka hits a returnImage source, Getty Images
  9. Rybakina's second serves 'so effective'published at 09:17 GMT

    *Sabalenka 3-5 Rybakina

    Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Elena Rybakina's second serves are so effective.

    She gets so much bounce, height and kick off them - and it is just throwing Aryna Sabalenka off a little bit.

    At the moment, her second serves are doing just as much damage as her first serves.

  10. Postpublished at 09:17 GMT

    *Sabalenka 3-5 Rybakina

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

    We all know about the potency of Elena Rybakina's serve and, even though the underlying numbers are impressive this fortnight, it hasn't always been as damaging as she would like.

    Her first-serve percentage has been lower than usual on occasions - including this evening.

    It was down at about 40% before she laced three in a row to help turn the eighth game around from 15-40.

    That's how vital Rybakina's serve is to her game - even though she has been stressing the importance of sometimes needing to find other ways.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:15 GMT

    Click the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    I've come to love how Rybakina carries herself. I'm sure there is plenty of emotion underneath the surface. She is so cool and it makes a fascinating contrast with Sabalenka, who is often described as being too emotional. It's great to see two women, who stay true to themselves, in a final.

    Becca, Manchester

  12. Rybakina holdspublished at 09:15 GMT

    *Sabalenka 3-5 Rybakina

    I was stunned to see Elena Rybakina was under 50% of first serves in at the start of that game, given how strong she has looked in this final when hitting the first ball.

    She finds some big first serves when she needs them to save two break points and hold serve for a 5-3 lead.

    Elena Rybakina servesImage source, Getty Images
  13. Sabalenka 'getting some rhythm'published at 09:13 GMT

    Sabalenka 3-4 Rybakina*

    Pat Cash
    Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Aryna Sabalenka is getting some rhythm now. She is striking the ball pretty well.

    Elena Rybakina played some unbelievable shots in the first few games, but she sprayed a forehand or two just then. That will be the side Sabalenka will choose to attack.

  14. Rybakina saves two break pointspublished at 09:13 GMT

    Sabalenka 3-4 Rybakina*

    Ace on the first, unreturnable serve on the second.

    That's how you save two break points.

    Aryna Sabalenka reacts after missing a shotImage source, Getty Images
  15. Break points Sabalenkapublished at 09:13 GMT

    Sabalenka 3-4 Rybakina*

    Aryna Sabalenka has been unable to make any sort of impact in her return games until now - Elena Rybakina goes just wide and Sabalenka has two break points.

  16. Sabalenka holdspublished at 09:09 GMT

    Sabalenka 3-4 Rybakina*

    Aryna Sabalenka moves into a 30-0 lead and although she nets a forehand on the next point, she eventually wraps up a comfortable service hold with her fourth ace of the match.

    Her main objective now is to try to find a way to break Elena Rybakina in either of her next two return games, otherwise the world number one will be a set down.

    Aryna Sabalenka servesImage source, Getty Images
  17. Rybakina 'out-foxing' Sabalenkapublished at 09:06 GMT

    *Sabalenka 2-4 Rybakina

    Annabel Croft
    Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

    If Elena Rybakina carries on playing like this, she is unplayable.

    She is getting great depth behind her groundstrokes, a little more impact through the court, and not many people can get Aryna Sabalenka on the move like this.

    She is out-foxing her opponent at the minute.

  18. Rybakina holdspublished at 09:06 GMT

    *Sabalenka 2-4 Rybakina

    One of the points of the match so far as both players hit deep continuously before Elena Rybakina whips a superb backhand away for a winner.

    She repeats that trick on the very next point on her way to securing a 4-2 lead in the first set.

  19. Sabalenka holdspublished at 09:01 GMT

    Sabalenka 2-3 Rybakina*

    A hold to love for Aryna Sabalenka.

    Aryna Sabalenka hits a returnImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 09:00 GMT

    *Sabalenka 1-3 Rybakina

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport tennis news reporter in Melbourne

    Fire versus ice is how I described this clash of personalities before the match.

    We've already seen that.

    Aryna Sabalenka wears her heart on sleeve and her annoyance at a scratchy start is clear. Lots of gesticulating going on with her arms.

    Elena Rybakina is much more robotic. Rarely does she show her emotion. Keep calm and carry on...