Australian Open: Ashleigh Barty wins first Melbourne title by beating Danielle Collins

The home nation of Ashleigh Barty waited 44 years for a Grand Slam women's singles champion.

Barty fought back from a 5-1 deficit in the second set to win.

The 25-year-old won the title without dropping a set.

She has now won three of the four majors after winning the French Open and Wimbledon.

With a partisan 12,000 crowd and nation watching on, Barty started and ended the final looking unburdened by the weight of expectation.

Chris O'Neil was the last Australian to win the men's or women's singles title.

When she won the title with a cross-court forehand winner, Barty shouted with joy.

Many with camera phones in their hand captured a long-awaited moment for the nation's sports fans when virtually everyone inside Rod Laver Arena jumped to their feet.

The world number one was relieved to have overcome the burden of history and expectation.

Barty ran to the side of the court where she hugged her former doubles partner, Dellacqua.

Barty won the prize she really wanted after reaching the Melbourne semi-finals in 2020, with quarter-final defeats coming in the years either side.

The 25-year-old Australian had dropped only 21 games on her way to the final and, although the second set looked to have got away from her, she regained her composure brilliantly to turn the match back in her favour.

She has won all 11 of her singles matches this year.

She won the Adelaide International title after beating three top-20 players.

Barty kissed Dellacqua on the forehead when she took a break from tennis to pursue a professional cricket career.

There was a special moment for the home fans when the player's idols came on court to present her with a trophy.

More to come.