Aryna Sabalenka gets the first serve in and Elena Rybakina can't get it back.

Deuce.

But here's another break point...

Five points in and already evidence of the power that both players possess.

Aryna Sabalenka sends down an ace to move 30-0 up but Elena Rybakina responds with two return winners and some hefty groundstrokes to earn the first break point of the final...

Image source, Getty Images

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

Aryna Sabalenka has huge personality and character. She is noisy, effervescent and energised. She always makes her presence felt, has a twinkle in her eye and is always smiling. She loves her life, loves what she does and is hungry for more success.

She is searching for a piece of history in the women's game and she is going about it in a really professional manner, with a fantastic team behind her.

Elena Rybakina couldn't be more different though. She is a subdued and quiet character and she barely lifts her head up. That makes this match-up really interesting.

Warm-ups are done and we're about to get under way.

Aryna Sabalenka, appearing in her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, to serve first.

Image source, Getty Images

Many pundits are seeing this final as too close to call.

If any of the sets played today go to tie-breaks, Aryna Sabalenka will be a strong favourite to see them through.

She has kept up her extraordinary record in breakers during the Australian Open - setting a new record of 20 consecutive tie-breaks won at Grand Slams.

Sabalenka got to the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams in 2025 and reached three finals, but only took away one trophy - the US Open.

At a time when she is the dominant force in women's tennis, she will surely be desperate to add to her current tally of four major singles titles.

Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

The humidity has finally built up and it is raining here in Melbourne.

The roof is closed on Rod Laver Arena, which will be conducive to really big ball-striking and good serving.

We were going to see some big shots blasted anyway, but it will be interesting to see who these conditions favour. The last time these two played indoors, Elena Rybakina was the winner.

It has been raining in Melbourne today - a huge contrast to the 40C temperatures from earlier in the week.

It also means the roof on Rod Laver Arena will be closed for the women's final.

Image source, Getty Images

The first win of the day goes Aryna Sabalenka's way - she wins the coin toss and elects to serve first.

Here come the players onto Rod Laver Arena. Big cheers for Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka from the Melbourne crowd.

We're just a few minutes away from the first point of the women's singles final.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

There has been such a big build-up to this match all day.

We have had an incredible light show, some entertainment with music and singing, and then the trophy was brought out on to court.

There is a real electricity about this final. The lovely thing is nobody knows who is going to win. I don't think there is a clear favourite, it is 50/50 for me.

Aryna Sabalenka's recent record at hard-court Grand Slams is ridiculous - in a good way.

Since the start of 2023, she has never failed to reach the final of either the Australian Open or the US Open - stretching that run to seven straight finals by reaching this year's decider in Melbourne.

The Belarusian has won four of the previous six finals she has contested at those events.

Image source, Getty Images

Elena Rybakina's serve is likely to be a decisive factor if she is going to win a first Australian Open title today.

The 26-year-old Kazakh served more aces than any other player on the WTA Tour in 2025 (516) and her total of 41 aces is the highest of any female singles competitor at this year's Australian Open.

She has also won 74% of points behind her first serve.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Click on the link at the top of this page or head to BBC Sounds to listen to live commentary of the Australian Open final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.

Neither of the two finalists have lost a set so far at this year's Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka's run to a fourth straight Australian Open final has consolidated her position at the top of the world rankings, while Elena Rybakina will move up to third spot as a result of her performances in Melbourne.

This will be the 15th meeting at tour level between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina.

Sabalenka leads the head-to-head 8-6 but their most recent meeting - the deciding match of the WTA Finals in November - was won in straight sets by Rybakina.

The last time they met at a Grand Slam was in the 2023 Australian Open final, which Sabalenka won 4-6 6-3 6-4 to claim her first major singles title.

Image source, Getty Images

Yes, a couple of British players have lifted junior wheelchair titles in Melbourne!

Lucas de Gouveia and Belgian partner Alexander Lantermann were victorious in the boys' wheelchair doubles, while 12-year-old Lucy Foyster won the girls' wheelchair doubles event alongside Seira Matsuoka of Japan.

Image source, Getty Images

Where will today's final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina be won and lost?

BBC Sport's Jonathan Jurejko takes a look at their contrasting personalities and argues why both have a fine chance to be lifting the trophy in a couple of hours' time.

• Read more.

BBC Sounds

There's a daily podcast available on BBC Sounds which rounds up every day's play at this year's Australian Open.

Friday's episode reflects on those two amazing men's semi-finals and the news that Emma Raducanu has split with her coach following her second-round exit in Melbourne.

There was also a one-hour tennis special on BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday, previewing the men's and women's finals. If you missed it, you can listen back at your leisure on BBC Sounds.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will contest the Australian Open men's final on Sunday after coming through marathon five-set semi-finals.

World number one Alcaraz overcame physical issues and a resurgent Alexander Zverev, who had fought back from two sets behind, in five hours and 27 minutes to reach his first Melbourne final.

Then 38-year-old Djokovic outlasted two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in another epic match that lasted four hours and nine minutes and ended close to 01:30 local time.

So on Sunday, it'll either be a career Grand Slam for Alcaraz or a record 25th major title for Djokovic. It's one not to be missed...

The common consensus is that this year's Australian Open has taken a little time to spark into life.

That definitely happened on Friday...