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 12:40 · Dan Austin]

*Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 5-4 Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

Purcell and Ebden just about hold on!

Having led 15-0, Purcell hits his first double-fault of the match following the pause in play due to crowd trouble, and the next point is lost to an unforced error. Kokkinakis sends a comfortable forehand wide for 30-30 before a great volley from Ebden caresses the ball over the tape for game point.

Purcell hits the net with a very low volley after a strong return from Kokkinakis, taking us to deuce, before a very poor choice of shot of Kyrgios sees him send a high backhand volley wide on the Purcell side.

Kyrgios takes it back to deuce though with some unbelievable defence to stay alive in the point off a Purcell overhead, Ebden eventually send one wide after a long rally. Kokkinakis hammers a forehand past both opponents for championship point, but Purcell hits two excellent first serves to run things around, The first in unreturnable and the second ends with Kyrgios sending a shot long after a great Ebden volley.

They see out the final point comfortably and force Kyrgios to serve for the match, and the championship.

[29 January 2022 12:33 · Dan Austin]

Umpire warns crowd as fans thrown out

The crowd at the Rod Laver Arena is raucous and the umpire is having to step in to calm things down. “One or two spectators are totally ruining the game by screaming,” he bellows over the microphone as as number of spectators are ejected from the stadium.

[29 January 2022 12:30 · Dan Austin]

Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 5-3 *Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are just one game away from the championship now!

The former plays an inconsistent service game, including both an ace and double-fault, forcing Purcell and Ebden into a series of weak returns which allow him and Kyrgios to charge up their shots from the baseline and take the early points.

There was some smart net play from Kyrgios in there too in an intense rally with Purcell which the 26-year-old ended up winning, but some unforced errors from Kokkinakis and Kyrgios allowed their opponents a potential route back into the match.

At deuce, though, Kokkinakis unleashes a squeezed forehand down the line past Ebden to move to advantage, with Ebden hitting a tight volley into the net.

[29 January 2022 12:23 · Dan Austin]

*Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 4-3 Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

The Ks break in the second! They race into a 0-40 lead thanks to some iffy serving and net play from Ebden, who gives Kyrgios too much time on the ball to pick his shots and place them perfectly.

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are now just a couple of games away from the championship.

[29 January 2022 12:20 · Dan Austin]

Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 3-3 *Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

An even quicker game this time around as some swashbuckling serving from Kyrgios sees off Purcell and Ebden with a minimum of fuss.

No we’re on the Ebden serve again, which is the one the Ks will be targeting most fervently.

[29 January 2022 12:18 · Dan Austin]

*Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 2-3 Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

Purcell’s impressive run continues with another very quick service hold, as the second set moves at much faster pace than the first.

Purcell and Ebden’s doubles experience has been showing in some key moments where they have launches sharp change-ups to win points, whereas Kokkinakis and Kyrgios are using their superior power and shot placement. An intriguing battle of two contrasting styles.

[29 January 2022 12:15 · Dan Austin]

Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 2-2 *Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

Kokkinakis enjoys another impeccable service game, including one especially impressive forehand from the outside of the court which cut narrowly over the net and beat a snoozing Ebden on the near side.

We remain on serve in the second set, with Purcell up next.

[29 January 2022 12:11 · Dan Austin]

*Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 1-2 Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

Max Purcell is playing superbly so far in this match, and helps Ebden see out his service game to love with some relentless net play which Kokkinakis and Kyrgios cannot respond to.

The 23-year-old is highly-rated in his homeland.

[29 January 2022 12:08 · Dan Austin]

Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 1-1 *Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

Kokkinakis and Kyrgios struggle with communication early on in this game, leaving a baseline shot for one another before Kyrgios eventually swings too late and hits the net.

Kokkinakis positions himself poorly at the net and allows Purcell to slam a foreheand down the centre of the court for 15-30, but the following three points are easily won by the Ks thanks to excellent serving from Kyrgios.

[29 January 2022 12:04 · Dan Austin]

*Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 0-1 Ebden/Purcell (7-5)

Ebden stays in the opening point of the second set by playing an excellent tweener that forces Kokkinakis back and eventually ends with him hitting an overhit lob, with Ebden revelling in his showboating and riling up the Melbourne crowd.

Bar a brief error from Ebden which sees a volley hit the net, Purcell sails through his service game and they hold the game to 15.