The 2015 Australian Open women's final saw old enemies Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova face off for the 19th time.
Rain interrupted the first set in Melbourne, but Williams, who struggled with a cold throughout the match, held firm to move 6-3 ahead.
The second set was a lot closer, with both players showing flashes of their best tennis. However, it was Williams that came through 7-6 to win her 19th Grand Slam.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's game-by-game live commentary of the action below.
Morning all! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for live commentary of the 2015 women's Australian Open final between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Williams's head-to-head record against Sharapova is so strong, but the Russian has been in strong form in Melbourne. The match is due to get underway in around 30 minutes time. Let's hope for a cracker as the women's tournament draws to a close.
In the professional game, these two players have met on 18 occasions. Williams has won 16 of those matches, with the American unbeaten in her last 15 against Sharapova. It was the Russian that won two of the first three meetings, but her last win was way back in 2004. The pair have met twice before in the latter stages of the Australian Open, with Williams triumphing on both occasions.
One of those wins came in the 2007 final in Melbourne, with Williams seeing off Sharapova 6-1 6-2 in comfortable fashion. The pair also clashed twice last year – Williams won 6-2 7-6 in the semi-finals in Brisbane, before winning 6-4 6-3 in the semi-finals in Miami. In fact, Williams has dropped just one set in her last five meetings with the world number two. It has been a dominant run.
As it stands, Williams has 18 Grand Slam titles to her name – five of which have come at the Australian Open, but the American has not won this competition since 2010. Incredibly, she reached just the fourth round in 2012 and 2014, but there is no question that the 33-year-old will enter this match as the favourite to pick up a 19th Grand Slam title, even against an in-form Sharapova.
Williams breezed through her opening two matches without dropping a set, before meeting Elina Svitolina in round three. A 4-6 6-2 6-0 win set up a clash with Garbine Muguruza in round four, where Williams also came from a set down to triumph. She then beat Dominika Cibulkova in the quarter-finals, before overcoming Madison Keys 7-6 6-2 to book her place in another Grand Slam final.
Sharapova, meanwhile, overcame Petra Martic, Alexandra Panova, Zarina Diyas and Peng Shuai in the opening four rounds, before comfortably beating Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-2 in the quarter-finals. Ekaterina Makarova waited in the semi-finals, but again it was fairly straight-forward for the Sharapova, who advanced 6-3 6-2 against her fellow Russian. She has been in good form this month.
The 27-year-old, meanwhile, is bidding to win her sixth Grand Slam title. She has an Australian Open to her name, but that came back in 2008. The Russian went out in the first round of this competition in 2010, but reached the final in 2012 and semi-finals in 2013. Last year, however, the world number two crashed out in the fourth round of this particular competition.
WEATHER UPDATE! Melbourne: Possible showers, high of 21C.
Here's a word from both players ahead of the match. Williams told ESPN: "It's going to be important for me to get off to a good start, I think. With that being said, if not, I'm going to be ready to fight. I think she really wants this. I can see that she wants to do well. She wants to improve her game. She wants to take it to the next level. So, you know, I have to know that she wants to win probably a lot.''
Sharapova, meanwhile, told ESPN: "It's been a really difficult matchup for me, but I am a competitor... I will go out and I will do everything I can to change that result around.''
Both players have just joined us on court. Stunning atmosphere here it must be said...
Williams has been suffering with a heavy cold in the last few days, while she has also been struggling with an ankle complaint and received treatment during a training session on Friday. It will be interesting to see whether the American's performance is affected in Melbourne.
Both players are currently warming up ahead of the start, which is fast approaching here.
PREDICTION! For me, Williams will win this battle fairly comfortably. Sharapova simply HAS to start well in order to stand a chance, but Williams looks in the mood. Let's go 6-2 6-3 Williams.
Sharapova to serve first...
BREAK! Fast start from Williams as the American races 0-30 ahead as Sharapova nets then fires long. Williams then hits a forehand long for 15-30, before following suit in the next point for 30-30. Sharapova then moves onto 40-30 as Williams hits a rash forehand wide of the court, but deuce arrives following a stunning forehand from the American. Sharapova then hits an ace for advantage, but Williams answers back with a super forehand. Williams has advantage when Sharapova hits a backhand wide and the American breaks when Sharapova double-faults. Wow.
Sharapova nets in the first point to hand Williams 15-0, but the American then double-faults for 15-15. Williams has 30-15 when Sharapova fires another backhand long, but Williams then clips one past the baseline for 30-30. The world number one races to the net in the next point to move 40-30 ahead, before hitting a stunning forehand to move 2-0 ahead in games.
Sharapova moves 15-0 ahead when Williams nets, before watching the American fire a forehand long for 30-0. Williams nets for the second time to had Sharapova 40-0 and the Russian holds with a super forehand. The world number two is on the board here.
Sharapova wins the first point on the Williams serve after hitting an excellent drop shot, which the American cannot return. The server responds, however, with a measured forehand. An ace then moves Williams 30-15 ahead, but 30-30 arrives when Williams hits the next point wide. Another ace then hands Williams 40-30 and she holds when Sharapova hits the net.
Sharapova fires just wide of the court to hand Williams 0-15, but 15-15 arrives when Williams fires long. Williams then nets for 30-15, before hitting another forehand long to hand Sharapova game point. The Russian takes it when Williams can only drop an overhead wide.
Williams is not comfortable here as that cold/illness takes its toll.
Sharapova whips an excellent forehand past Williams to move 0-15 ahead, but the server responds with a powerful forehand of her own. Sharapova then kisses the line in the next point for 15-30, but 30-30 quickly follows. The rain is starting to come down now and play has been stopped here...
RAIN STOPS PLAY!
The roof is going to have to be closed here. It is just pouring down at the moment.
Slowly but surely, that roof is closing, while the court is mopped up. Job well done there.
Sharapova has remained on court, but Williams has taken a breather inside. It should be around 10 minutes before this match gets going again. The stoppage helps neither. Williams is really struggling with her illness, while Sharapova had just started to get into her groove before the rain.
Ball kids and officals mop up the rain on RLA #ausopen http://t.co/rOh67ubvVr
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 31, 2015
Both players are back on court now. A brief warm-up will take place...
... Williams moves 40-30 ahead with a super ace, before holding with an excellent forehand.
BREAK! Williams has 0-15 when Sharapova hits the net, before the Russian follows suit in the next point for 0-30. A double-fault then hands Williams 0-40, before Sharapova fires long to hand Williams another break.
Williams has won all six points since the roof was closed here.
BREAK! Not the best start from Williams as she double-faults for 0-15, before firing long to hand Sharapova a two-point lead. Williams then hits the net for 0-40, but the American has 15-40 when the Russian cannot return a forehand. An ace then moves the score to 30-40, but Williams double-faults once again to lose the game.
SET! Williams has 0-15 when Sharapova hits the net, before Williams wins a super exchange to move 0-30 ahead. Sharapova then hits a forehand wide to hand Williams three set points and the American takes the first to move one set ahead. Big step for the American.
It was a real battle, but Williams manages to move one set ahead here.
Williams starts with an ace to move 15-0 ahead, before producing another ace for 30-0. A third straight ace then arrives for 40-0 and Williams holds with a running forehand.
Sharapova drops a backhand just wide to hand Williams 0-15, before Williams hits a wonderful volley for 0-30. Sharapova registers, however, when Williams drops a forehand wide. Sharapova then nets for 15-40, but responds with an ace for 30-40. Another clever serve brings the score to deuce and Sharapova eventually holds with a couple more strong points. Game on here!
Another ace brings Williams 15-0, before Sharapova fires wide for 30-0. The server then has 40-0 following another excellent serve and the hold is secured when Sharapova fires long. Super response from Williams, whose eyes narrow as she walks off the court.
Sharapova hits a super backhand to move 15-0 ahead, but the Russian then leaves a Williams forehand, which drops just in for 15-15. Sharapova then clips a backhand wide for 15-30, but 30-30 arrives when Williams hits the net. A rash forehand then hands Sharapova 40-30 and the Russian holds with another excellent backhand. On serve in the second set here.
Williams hits a forehand long to hand Sharapova 0-15, before 0-30 arrives when the Russian hits another excellent forehand. An ace cuts the score to 15-30, before another ace levels it at 30-30. Sharapova then nets for 40-30 and Williams holds with YET ANOTHER ACE.
Strong start from Sharapova as Williams nets for 15-0, before the American hits a forehand long for 30-0. Williams responds with a strong forehand, before watching Sharapova fire long for 30-30. Williams then fires a backhand past Sharapova for 30-40, but the American then fires wide for deuce. Williams then nets to hand Sharapova advantage, before firing long as Sharapova manages to hold.
Sharapova moves 0-15 ahead with an excellent forehand, before Williams hits a routine forehand long for 0-30. Williams responds with three sensational serves, however, to simply turn the game around. Sharapova has deuce in the next point though, as the Russian hits an excellent forehand. Eventually Williams holds with another super ace. Wow, what a hold from the American.
Sharapova moves 15-0 ahead when Williams hits a backhand long, before Sharapova fires a forehand past the world number one for 30-0. Williams again fires long in the next point for 40-0, but the server double-faults in the next point for 15-40. Sharapova, however, holds with an ace.
Super forehand from Williams as she moves 15-0 ahead, before producing yet another ace for 30-0. Another strong serve brings 40-0 and Williams holds when Sharapova nets.
Williams has 0-15 when she fires a super forehand past Sharapova, but Williams then slices wide for 15-15. Sharapova then hits an excellent forehand to move 30-15, but the Russian then double-faults for 30-30. Williams has championship point when Sharapova clips a backhand just wide, but the Russian saves it with an excellent forehand. Williams then nets from close range to hand Sharapova advantage and the Russian holds when Williams fires wide. Some save there!
Williams has 15-0 when Sharapova hits a forehand wide, but the American then hits another double-fault for 15-15. An excellent forehand then hands Williams 30-15, but Sharapova answers straight back following an epic exchange. Williams then hits another ace for 40-30, but deuce arrives following a Sharapova backhand. Sharapova then nets to hand Williams advantage and the American holds with another ace - number 16 for the world number one.
Sharapova has 30-0 when Williams hits two forehands long in quick succession, before another ace brings 40-0. Sharapova then whips a forehand past Williams to set up a tie-break. Pressure on Sharapova to take this into a third set.
Sharapova hits a wonderful forehand to move 1-0 ahead.
Williams answers back for 1-1 when Sharapova nets.
Stunning forehand from Williams as she moves 2-1 ahead on serve.
A 17th ace brings 3-1 Williams.
Sharapova then nets to hand Williams 4-1.
Williams hits the net with a forehand for 2-4.
Williams again fires long to allow Sharapova back into the tie-break.
Sharapova nets for 5-3 Williams!
Williams whips a forehand long for 5-4. Sharapova back in!
Stunning from Williams as she sets up championship point with a wonderful forehand.
Sharapova responds with a powerful forehand of her own. WOW!
Williams hits a sensational ace to win the championship!
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Williams 6-3 7-6 Sharapova: Williams has won the 2015 Australian Open after battling past Sharapova, who really tested the American. It is Grand Slam number 19 for Williams, who battled illness to win this in Melbourne.
Both players must be congratulated for contributing to this match, but it is Williams that beats Sharapova for the 17th time in 19 meetings. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to stick around the site for all of the reaction. Until next time!
