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
*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.
*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.
*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.
Image source, Getty Images*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.
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
*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.
Image source, Getty ImagesSabalenka 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...
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.
Image source, Getty Images*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.
*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.
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
*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.
Image source, Getty ImagesSabalenka 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.
Sabalenka 3-4 Rybakina*
Ace on the first, unreturnable serve on the second.
That's how you save two break points.
Image source, Getty ImagesSabalenka 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.
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.
Image source, Getty Images*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.
*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.
Sabalenka 2-3 Rybakina*
A hold to love for Aryna Sabalenka.
Image source, Getty Images*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...
