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Australian Open 2018, women’s singles final between Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki: There’ll be a first-time Major winner after the Australian Open women’s final, with top-ranked Simona Halep and No 2 Caroline Wozniacki vying for a breakthrough Grand Slam singles title. Both will be playing their third final at a major, and their first in Australia. The winner also is assured of being No 1 when the next rankings are released. Both have saved match points to reach the final — with Halep having to do it in the third round and in the semi-finals. Halep, who has lost two French Open finals — including last year when she led by a set and a break — says she’s had a change of mentality at Melbourne Park. “I was not afraid of losing,” she said after her win over semi-final win over 2016 champion Angelique Kerber. “I won those balls, and then I got the confidence back that I’m still alive and I can do it.” Wozniacki, who has lost two US Open finals, says “I always believed in myself. I was just giving myself time. I think if you don’t feel like you can go all the way in tournaments, then to me there’s no sense in playing.” Here’s the Order of Play for Day 13: Rod Laver Arena Not before 7:30 pm (2 pm IST) Women’s singles final Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x2) v Simona Halep (ROM x1) Men’s doubles final Oliver Marach (AUT)/Mate Pavic (CRO x7) v Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah (COL x11) With inputs from agencies
Highlights, Australian Open 2018, women's singles final: Caroline Wozniacki wins 1st Grand Slam title
Top-ranked Simona Halep and No 2 Caroline Wozniacki are vying for a breakthrough Grand Slam singles title. Follow our live blog for scores and updates from Australian Open.
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Thank you so much for following along with our live blog today.
Do tune in tomorrow for the mixed doubles and men’s singles final.
Can India’s Rohan Bopanna win his second title? Can Roger Federer win his 20th?
Join us tomorrow to find out.
We got a cracker of a match today. Here’s hoping we get the same on Day 14 as well.
Take a look at the schedule for Sunday
Mixed doubles final – 4:00 pm (10.30 am IST)
Timea Baboa (HUN)/Rohan Bopanna (IND x5) v Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN)/ Mate Pavic (CRO x8)
Men’s singles final – Not before 7:30 pm (2 pm IST)
Marin Cilic (CRO x6) v Roger Federer (SUI x2)
There’s still one final singles match to go in the first Grand Slam of the year
What an incredible women’s final match to cap of an even better tournament
Wozniacki was down 15-40, 1-5 in her second round against Jana Fett. She saved two match point and now she has been crowned the Australian Open champion.
Here’s a recap of that epic match:
Caroline Wozniacki has captured her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, rebounding in the third set to beat Simona Halep 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4.
Halep was broken in her opening service game of the third set to go down 2-0, just as she was in the first set. This time, however, the top-seeded Romanian was able to recover and break Wozniacki back in the marathon third game on her sixth break chance.
Wozniacki then called a trainer for treatment on her knee after being broken for the third time in the set to go down 3-4. Halep waited behind the baseline, bouncing the ball with her racket and trying to keep her legs loose.
When they returned to the court, Wozniacki immediately broke back to level the match at 4-all and then broke Halep in the Romanian’s next service game to take the match.
Both Halep and Wozniacki had previously lost two Grand Slam finals — Halep twice at the French Open and Wozniacki twice at the US Open.
Wozniacki will also regain the No 1 ranking next week, six years after she previously held the top spot.
Halep’s coach congratulates Wozniacki in the corridor. Class.
Well played.
‘Sweet Caroline’ blaring on the speakers as Wozniacki does a victory lap with the trophy.
We see you, DJ!
Take a look at the final stats from the women’s final. Only two point separated Halep and Woznaicki.
Caroline Wozniacki becomes the first Danish player in history to win a Grand Slam
Halep with the runner-up trophy
This is what it means to win your first Grand Slam and become world number one again.
Wozniacki: “I am taking a second to hug Daphne (the trophy). This is a dream come true. I am shaking it’s very emotional. I think I might cry. This is such a special tournament.”
Halep admits she is really sad at losing but gives a great runner-up speech!
“It’s been a great tournament for me…I couldn’t win today but for sure I will fight and I have many years left. I’m sad that I couldn’t make it the third time, but maybe the fourth time will be with luck."
Caroline Wozniacki will regain the number one spot six years after last holding the position.
This is the longest gap between stints at the top since computerised rankings were introduced in 1975.
Wozniacki celebrates after winning the Australian Open
Caroline Wozniacki wins her first Grand Slam title!
Wozniacki defeats Simona Halep 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4 and will regain the World No 1 ranking.
Wozniacki breaks and wins the match
First double fault of the match from Halep and it’s 30-30.
Unreal rally from Wozniacki and she brings up CHAMPIONSHIP POINT.
Halep nets an easy backhand and Wozniacki wins.
Wozniacki finally gets an easy hold. 5-4.
Another momentum shift as the Dane wins two games on the trot. Pressure now on the World No 1.
Halep will now have to serve to stay alive in this match.
Who are you rooting for?
So much drama in this tense final!
Just can’t pick between the two players at the moment.
Halep broken and we are back on serve. 4-4.
Wozniacki comes out to win the first two points on Halep’s serve. Looks like she is back in attack mode after a few passive games.
I spoke too soon. At 15-30, Wozniacki again goes too defensive and refuses to pounce on a meek second serve. 30-30.
Lots of running and defending from Wozniacki and she gets the error from Halep this time. Very wild foreahnd from Halep. BREAK POINT.
Some extremely gutsy play from Halep on break point and she saves it by taking the ball out of the air off a short Wozniacki return.
Two points later, Wozniacki break back with her great retrieval skills. All square at 4-4.
Halep is ahead for the first time in the deciding set. Can she hold on to her advantage?
Wozniacki has called for the trainer at the change of ends
She is getting some treatment for her left knee over a medical timeout.
Halep breaks, wins three straight games for 4-3
Halep lets a 0-30 opportunity slip away on Wozniacki’s serve. But she makes it deuce to give herself another chance in this game.
A wild forehand from Wozniacki and it’s break point for Halep. The Dane’s first serve letting her down at the moment.
Forehand errors creeping into Wozniacki’s game now. She sprays one far left for a Halep break. The World No 1 leads 4-3.
Stat update:
Winners:
Wozniacki: 21, Halep: 37
Unforced errors:
Wozniacki: 23, Halep: 37
After two hours and 24 minutes of gruelling play, we are at 3-3 in the 3rd set
Summary of this match
Four straight breaks of serve in the 3rd set. 3-2
Wozniacki falls behind 0-30 on her serve. An unforced error from Halep makes it 15-30.
Halep comes up with some amazing defence and hooks a forehand back into play from one corner of the court and then wins the long rally. Halep breaks once again to bring the third set back on serve.
Really poor game from Halep and she gets broken at love. 1-3
Wozniacki back in the driver’s set.
Wozniacki broken and it’s back on serve at 1-2
Marathon game from Wozniacki that went to SIX DEUCES!
Wozniacki double faults on the SIXTH BREAK POINT for Halep and the third set is back on serve.
Halep’s forehand has kept her alive in this match.
Halep looks like she has nothing left in her legs but she is still winning points. That forehand has been so good.
Wozniacki breaks for a 2-0 lead
Halep clearly still struggling with fitness and is not getting anything on her serves. The World No 1 is trying to keep the point short but can’t get out of this service game.
On break point, Wozniacki pounces on a 113 kmph second serve from Halep and gets the break!
Wozniacki four games away from reclaiming the No 1 ranking and claiming her first Grand Slam title.
Career third-set records (win-loss):
Halep – 83-45
Wozniacki- 139-73
Who wins this all-important third set?
Wozniacki holds for 1-0
Wozniacki drops the first two points at the start of the third set but wins the next four to hold.
Halep is moving quite gingerly between points but she is still attacking at every opportunity. Long way to go in this match.
Both players are back on court for the 3rd set
A test of Halep’s legs and Wozniacki’s nerves. Who do you think will prevail?
Cahill will be happy with that set from Halep
Take a look at the stats from the second set. Halep saved all seven break points that she faced
There’s a 10-minute break before the 3rd set starts due to the heat rule being in effect
Halep has gone off court after she won the second set.
Simona Halep levels the match.
It’s 6-7(2), 6-3 after an hour and 40 minutes.
Halep saves three break points and clinches the second set on her third set point! We are going to a decider.
Quite a passive game from Wozniacki as she can’t take advantage of all her chances, Halep labouring with her left thigh and not moving at her best but she still manages to hold and win the second set 6-3.