Ashleigh Barty defeated Danielle Collins to win the Australian Open, ending a 44-year wait for a Grand Slam women’s singles champion in the home country.
Barty rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the second set to win 6-3 7-6 (7-2) in front of a jubilant Rod Laver Arena.
The 25-year-old Queenslander claimed the title without dropping a set.
“This is a dream come true for me. I am so proud of being Aussie,” said world number one Barty.
“As an Aussie, the most important part of this tournament has been being able to share this experience with the fans.
“This crowd is one of the most fun I’ve played in front of.”
