Australian Open 2022 LIVE result: Ashleigh Barty defeats Danielle Collins to clinch title

Relive all the action as Barty ended Australia’s 44-year wait for a singles champion on home soil

Ashleigh Barty poses with the Australian Open trophy (Getty)

Ashleigh Barty brilliantly fulfilled her country’s expectations by defeating Danielle Collins to become the first home player for 44 years to win an Australian Open singles title.

The world number one recovered from 5-1 down in the second set to clinch a 6-3 7-6 (2) victory over first-time grand slam finalist Collins and claim her third grand slam title.

She ends the long reign of 1978 champion Chris O’Neil as the last home winner of the women’s or men’s singles and, by maintaining her perfect record in slam finals, becomes the only active player other than Serena Williams to have won major titles on three different surfaces.

Having shrugged off the pressure to breeze through to the final, Barty had to use all her competitive instincts to overcome 30th-ranked American Collins, who brought the best out of her opponent in a terrific second set.

Barty now just needs the US Open to complete a career Grand Slam having won the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon last summer, and it seems clear that women’s tennis has found its consistent champion.

Relive all the action from the women’s final below:

Australian Open women’s final

• Barty becomes first Australian winner since 1978
• Barty fights back from 5-1 down in second
• Barty wins first set

[29 January 2022 12:00 · Dan Austin]

Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 7-5 Ebden/Purcell

We’re back on the Kokkinakis serve and it’s an extremely comfortable hold to love for the Ks, with a series of powerful forehands from both men helping them take the first set in just over an hour.

Midway through the set it seemed as though the doubles experience Ebden and Purcell have was beginning to give them the advantage, as a few smart net plays won them crucial points and helped them defend break points.

But, ultimately, Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are the better tennis players and their talent told eventually with a series of excellent, powerful forehands both men hit which their opponents were unable to return.

Purcell has played strongly in the opening set but Ebden needs to step it up before the match is taken away from them.

[29 January 2022 11:56 · Jack Rathborn]

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis during the final against Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell (REUTERS)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

[29 January 2022 11:55 · Jack Rathborn]

*Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 6-5 Ebden/Purcell

“Sorry mate!” Kyrgios bellows at the start of this game as a return ricochets off the net and wins him the point. Ebden’s serve looks week as Kokkinakis returns well to make it 0-30, before a net ball brings the serving pair back into it at 15-30.

Purcell sends a volley long after an excellent return from Kokkinakis before saving the first break point at the net, and at 30-40 overcooks a short forehand that lets Ebden and Purcell off the hook.

At deuce, a rip-spin spot from Kokkinakis forces a long volley from Ebden, who responds with a serve down the T-line that gives Purcell a comfortable return to volley home and send us to deuce for a third time.

Kokkinakis hits another excellent couple of rip-roaring forehands to give he and Kyrgios the advantage, which they finally make count on at the fourth time of asking as Ebden hits the net following another superb Kokkinakis return.

The Ks need to serve out the set now.

[29 January 2022 11:48 · Dan Austin]

Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 5-5 *Ebden/Purcell

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios look to be racing away with this game before a superb double-handed backhand return from Purcell and an overhit forehand from Kyrgios take the game to deuce.

Ebden gets the better of Kyrgios at the net to take us to deuce for a second time, before Pucell and Ebden overhit one return each to ensure we’re still on serve at 5-5.

[29 January 2022 11:43 · Dan Austin]

*Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 4-5 Ebden/Purcell

The first real moment of panic for Ebden and Purcell, but they manage it well.

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios take it to 0-30 at the start of the game with a two strong returns on the second serve from Purcell, but a couple of hits into the body pull him and Ebden back to deuce eventually.

The former pair are attacking Ebden with pace when he is at the net and finding success with that advantage. A ricochet off the net from a Kokkinakis shot takes us back to deuce for a second time, before two sweeping volley from Ebden see the game out, and we remain on serve in the first set.

[29 January 2022 11:37 · Dan Austin]

Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 4-4 *Ebden/Purcell

Thanasi Kokkinakis is serving extremely well right now and a combination of an strong ace and a series of openers his opponents are unable to return takes us to 4-4 in the opening set at the Rod Laver Arena.

Second serve is a different story but this is still a relatively comfortable hold to 30.

[29 January 2022 11:29 · Dan Austin]

Kyrgios now on court in front of home crowd

The Melbourne crowd hasn’t had long to wait for another home favourite to have a shot at winning the Australian Open, with four Aussies currently on court in the men’s doubles final.

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are facing Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell. It’s 3-3, on serve, in the first set.

[29 January 2022 11:16 · Dan Austin]

Rivals send congratulations to victorious Barty

Ash Barty is unquestionably the best player in women’s tennis right now, and will no doubt go into the three Grand Slams later this year as strong favourite to win, barring injury or an unexpected loss of form.

The rest of the players on the women’s tour must be daunted by the strength of Barty’s performances in Melbourne, but the 25-year-old’s personality make her a popular figure on the circuit and plenty of her rivals have rushed to congratulate her.

Ons Jabeur tweeted: “Congrats @ashbarty so happy for you champ! This one is very special and you really deserve it,” while Victoria Azarenka wrote: “There is just no better tennis player at the moment than @ashbarty Most complete and focused! The way she is able to put pieces together and add a bit more to her game is absolutely admirable! What an example! Congrats champ to you and all your team.”

[29 January 2022 11:08 · Dan Austin]

Barty joins exclusive list of Grand Slam all-rounders

By beating Danielle Collins in Melbourne this morning, Ash Barty has won her first ever Grand Slam played on a hard court.

That means the 25-year-old has now won majors on clay, grass and hard surfaces, putting her in an exclusive club of present-day players who achieved the same success.

The only others active tennis players to have won a Grand Slam on all three surfaces are Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams.

[29 January 2022 11:01 · Dan Austin]

Barty revels in home victory in front of raucous crowd

Ash Barty has been celebrating her victory in front of a delighted crowd at the Rod Laver Arena, where fans saw an Australian win their home Grand Slam for the first time since Chris O’Neil in 1978.

Only victory at the US Open remains now for the 25-year-old, who won Wimbledon in 2021 and the French Open at Roland Garros in 2019.

“It’s just a dream come true for me. I’m so proud to be an Aussie, so thank you very much everyone. I’ll see you next time!”