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Preview: World number one Ashleigh Barty will look to become the first Australian woman for 44 years to win her home Grand Slam Saturday, but to do it she needs to get past a rejuvenated Danielle Collins in the form of her life. American Collins faces a daunting task in the women’s singles final on Rod Laver Arena in front of Barty’s fiercely partisan Australian Open crowd. But the resurgent American is ready to tackle the top seed, and clear favourite. Collins was in “the zone” and almost flawless as she pummelled Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek into submission in the semi-final. Now the 28-year-old knows if she can find the same sweet spot on Saturday that she has a huge chance. The big-hitting Collins will need to bring more than just raw power to counter the tactical nous of Barty, who has been rampant so far, winning 20 of 21 sets this year. Collins has pushed Barty hard in their previous four matches, winning their last encounter in Adelaide 12 months ago in straight sets. As well as feeling the weight of Collins’ fearsome groundstrokes, Barty could also buckle under the expectation at her home Slam. She 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. The two-time Grand Slam champion – at the 2019 French Open and Wimbledon in 2021 – appears relaxed and ready to accept the extra pressure.
Australian Open Highlights, Women's Final: Ashleigh Barty beats Danielle Collins for third major title
Follow live scores and updates from the Australian Open on Day 13 with focus on the women’s final.
 "Australian Open Highlights, Women's Final: Ashleigh Barty beats Danielle Collins for third major title")
Ash Barty continues in the speech
“To my team, wow! I have said numerous times I am so lucky to have so many people here who love and support me.
“Mum, dad and my sisters, I am an incredibly fortunate and lucky girl to have so much love in my corner.
“No one has changed in our team, we are the best in the business and I can’t thank you for all the time you put into me.
“As an Aussie the most important part of this is being able to share it and you guys have been nothing short of exceptional. This crowd is one of the most fun I have ever played in front of – you relaxed me and forced me to play my best tennis! Against a champion like Danielle I had to bring that today.”
“This is a dream come true to me and I am so proud to be an Aussie, so thank you so much everyone – we will see you next time!”
Presentation ceremony: Ashleigh Barty
“Thank you everyone so much, I have to say congratulations to Danielle, it has been an amazing fortnight for you, I know you will be fighting for many more of these in the future.
“I am a little stumped, I would love to thank everyone who does so much work behind the scenes – it takes a real big village to put on an event like this, this tournament has been one of my favourite experiences, so thank you so much for that.
“To all the umpires, ball kids, everyone who makes it so easy for us players to do what we do – you guys makes it seamless and without you we’d be lost!”
Presentation ceremony: Danielle Collins
“First I think I owe a big congratulations to Ash on a phenomenal two weeks and phenomenal couple of years.
“I really admire you as the player you are, the variety in your game and hopefully I can implement some of that into mine.
“We wouldn’t be standing here without all of the awesome people behind this tournament, it is one of my favourite events to compete at and I am so grateful, it is a childhood dream of mine – I think this is most of the players’ favourite Grand Slams.”
What a beautiful moment!
Barty, Evonne and Daphne. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/5BLkPX7HBB
— Tennis GIFs🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) January 29, 2022
Collins: “Big congrats to Ash on a phenomenal 2 weeks here & a phenomenal couple of years. It’s been tremendous to watch her climb the rankings to #1 & live out her dream. I really admire you as the player you are & variety of your game & hopefully I can implement some of that into mine”
"I really admire you [@ashbarty] as the player that you are."
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2022
All class from Danielle Collins 🤝#AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/PAGzTmL5ls
THE ROAR!
The roar. 🦁 @ashbarty #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3sgLHUo9PB
— Tennis GIFs🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) January 29, 2022
ASH BARTY ‘YOU ROCK! Well done!’
What a player Ash Barty is! Australia lives again…@AustralianOpen #BeautyMate pic.twitter.com/b32T9FHFP4
— Rob Koenig (@RobKoenigTennis) January 29, 2022
ASHLEIGH BARTY IS THE CHAMPION!
Ashleigh Barty ends Australia’s 44-year wait for a women’s champion on home soil. She beats Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 coming from 1-5 down in the second set. And she wins the title without dropping a set!
Tiebreak
Collins sends her forehand wide and it brings up FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS! Barty finds the deep end of the court with a forehand winner and she wins it!
Tiebreak
Barty with a drop shot and a couple of shots later, she closes the point out with a smash. The crowd goes MENTAL! Collins gets into the tiebreak with Barty mishit on the return. 4-1 to Barty. Collins goes for the backhand cross on the Barty serve but sends it into the net. 5-1 to Barty. Deafening noise inside the Rod Laver Arena!
TIEBREAK!
Barty with a mini-break to start with and follows it ip with a point on serve as Collins looks to attack but overcooks it. Big serve and then Barty goes cross for a forehand winner. Huge shot once again! A 144kmph winner that. Crowd making plenty of noise.
Barty 6-3, 6-6 Collins (*denotes next server)
Barty serving to force a tiebreak. Collins keeps the onslaught going and thrashes a second serve to bring the game to 15-30. Barty’s big serve gets her out of the cage, for now. And again. This time she goes down the T and the return is into the net. Now out wide and another unreturnable serve. TIEBREAK!
Barty* 6-3, 5-6 Collins (*denotes next server)
After seeing her double break lead vanish, Collins ends the rut with a hold. Just the one point dropped in the game and she’s kept her concentration intact.
Barty 6-3, 5-5 *Collins (*denotes next server)
Barty’s forehand in the last game was 10kmph bigger than it had been in the rest of the match. She uses that weapon to go cross, brings the game to 40-15 and has a chance to hold. Collins with a thundering return into the feet of Barty and the short ball is thrashed to make it 40-30. A 175kmph ace out wide gets the hold!
Barty* 6-3, 4-5 Collins (*denotes next server)
Collins serves for the second set again. She starts off well. Up to 30-0 by digging in and keeping the rally going before Barty erred on the backhand. On the second serve, Barty attacks and plays a forehand winner down the line. Yet another forehand winner brings the game to 30-30. Pinging the absolute edge of the baseline there! Barty has an opportunity to break once again. She rocks on the forehand on the second serve and sends it cross court, forces Collins into a miss. Collins comes up to the chair umpire about something. The chair umpire asks the crowd not to shout during the point. BREAK! Back on serve! Collins sends her backhand into the net and this has turned right around.
Barty 6-3, 3-5 *Collins (*denotes next server)
Barty races off to 40-0 with comfortable points. And then Collins thunders a huge forehand deep into the court and allows no time to react. At 40-15, much of the same and Ash nets the backhand. Barty does hold in the end as Collins sends her forehand long
Barty* 6-3, 2-5 Collins (*denotes next server)
This has flipped rather remarkably and disastrously for the local crowd. Barty making plenty of errors and Collins barely missing. She serves for the second set on the back of a double break. But Barty keeping herself in it with a forehand down the line but sends the next one long. It is 30-30. A deep slice backhand into Collins’ backhand and Barty has a chance to break. Crowd gets behind her. BREAK! A deep return into the backhand and Collins nets it. The American still in command though
Barty* 6-3, 1-4 Collins (*denotes next server)
Comfortable and quick holds for both players. Collins with her trademark yells towards the box after each point. She has turned things around after dropping that first set. Not allowing Barty to get in and more importantly, being more aggressive
Collins is PUMPED!
Hear her roar 💥💪
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2022
Danielle Collins breaks Ash Barty and consolidates for a 3-0 lead in the second after dropping the first. #AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/58FOnT0rqy
Barty* 6-3, 0-3 Collins (*denotes next server)
Barty has the opportunity to break right back and it goes begging. Barty has the chance to make Collins play a volley but she finds the net on the backhand. Another chance though as Collins misses. She is certainly very animated now. Serve into the body and a lengthy rally ensues. Barty does well to open the court up but misses a straightforward volley. That was there for the taking. Could be a decisive point. On deuce, Barty goes for too much on the return and Collins has the chance to hold. And she does. Ruthless backhands once again and she consolidates the break
Barty 6-3, 0-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)
A loose service game from Barty and Collins capitalises. Two break point chances for the American. Barty saves one with an ace down the T. She goes after the second serve on second break point and all-out attack helps her to a smash put away. BREAK!
Set 1 in numbers
First set: Ashleigh Barty 6-3
Ashleigh Barty closes the first set out with an ace and 15 of the last 22 points. She is yet to drop a set this fortnight and Collins would need something special to stage another comeback
Barty 6-3 *Collins (*denotes next server)
Collins stops the run with a hold and now Barty serves for the opening set. Starts with a big serve, follows it up with a forehand winner and then another big out wide. Set points! And she gets the job done with an ace down the T. SET!
Celebrities on Rod Laver Arena
📸 In attendance for the women's final are: Olympic champion Aussie swimmer Ian Thorpe and actor Russell Crowe#AusOpen Live: https://t.co/n1VbQTUzxN pic.twitter.com/njNsLSlO5t
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 29, 2022
Barty 5-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)
Barty drops a point and consolidates the break of serve. Crowd erupts every time she wins a point and for good reason
Thundering backhands from Collins earlier
Danielle Collins has the ball on a string 🪀
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2022
🎥: @wwos • @espn • @Eurosport • @wowowtennis@Kia_Worldwide • #Kia • #MovementThatInspires pic.twitter.com/IeMsWN5u7o
Barty* 4-2 Collins (*denotes next server)
Now Collins has the serve under pressure. Barty not playing her typical best and Collins has plenty to do with that. On 30-30, she moves up and smacks a forehand winner to bring up break point. Double fault! BREAK!
Barty 3-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)
Like Barty’s backhand slice, Collins’ backhand is her weapon and it is off to a thundering start. She whips it cross court and brings the game to 40-30. On the next point, Barty sends her forehand into the net. Deuce. Barty does exceptionally with deep backhand slices, goes cross on the forehand and then mishits the forehand to bring up break point. Saves it with an off forehand winner. Collins looks to attack the first serve on deuce but she misses, that wasn’t far away. A 177kmph ace out wide gets the hold
Barty* 2-2 Collins (*denotes next server)
Fortunate close to that service game for Collins. Hits the top of the net and the ball trickles over. She quickly has her hand up in apology. Another straightforward hold
Team Collins with unique T-shirts
Each of them have something unique written on their tee. Danielle Collins#AusOpen | https://t.co/rC0MF9EtwE pic.twitter.com/8Jg0iqjAkj
— Tennis GIFs🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) January 29, 2022
Barty 2-1 *Collins (*denotes next server)
Barty with back-to-back aces and she’s off to a brilliant start on serve. Gets the angled serve on 40-15 and the mishit return doesn’t come back. Good hold
Barty* 1-1 Collins (*denotes next server)
Collins drops just the solitary point on serve and she is off to a confident start in her first Slam final. Showing no signs of early nerves that one can except from a debut finalist
Barty 1-0 *Collins (*denotes next server)
Barty races off to 40-0 before Collins roars back to make it 40-30. The American doing to Barty what she did to Swiatek – thumping the second serve with disdain. Barty does close the game out by getting the first serve in and seeing Collins return into the net
Ready, set, go!
Ashleigh Barty has won the toss and will serve first. Marijana Veljovic from Serbia is the chair umpire for the final
Chris O’Neil, the last Australian woman to be crowned champion here, brings the trophy on to Rod Laver Arena
🏆✨
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2022
🇦🇺 Christine O'Neil, the last Australian woman to win an #AusOpen women's singles title, delivers the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup to Rod Laver Arena 💙#AO2022 pic.twitter.com/ymtHZwhruY
Head-to-head: Barty leads 3-1
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