Watch Australian Open 2022 highlights: Ashleigh Barty becomes the 1st Aussie to win the title since 1978

Ashleigh Barty on Saturday ended a 44-year drought for an Aussie to win the Australian Open as she clinched the title by beating Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 in the final.

This is Barty's maiden Australian Open title. She had previously won the Wimbledon and the French Open. The World number 1 won the first set with one service break but was down 5-1 in the second set after dropping serve in the second and sixth games. Collins had two chances to serve for the set but was broken both times. Barty dominated after taking the set to a tiebreaker, racing to a 4-0 lead.

Barty was the first Australian woman into the singles final of the Australian Open since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is now the first Australian champion since Chris O’Neil in 1978. Interestingly, Barty didn't drop a single set in the tournament.

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