Women's Final Highlights Australian Open Tennis

SUE BARKER: To be number one in any

sport is a dream. Dann's Caroline

Wozniacki is a former number one.

Remainiac's Simona Halep is the

current number one. -- Romania's.

There may be a new number one. But

to win a major, that's for all time.

Neither has, but one will today.

Neither has, but one will today. For

Halep, a chance to become

remaining's first Australian Open

champion. For Wozniacki, victory

would see her become the first gain

ever to win a Grand Slam singles

crown.

crown. Today's final is about more

than fulfilling a dream. It's about

feeding a hunger, filling a void,

preserving a place in the game's

history forever.

What a Davies is. For years, these

two have been chasing the sport's

most elusive prize, so how fitting

that they face each other to find

out which one will win the big one.

The journey to this point hasn't

been easy for either of them -- what

a day this

been easy for either of them -- what

a day this is. Both had to come from

match point down, Simona Halep twice

in that epic counter against Davies.

And against Angeli Kerber in the

semifinal. She also dispatched

Discover in straight sets. She has

spent 11.5 hours on court. That is

an hour and a half longer than her

opponent today.

She had another 3-set match against

Carla Suarez Navarro in the

quarterfinal.

Carla Suarez Navarro in the

quarterfinal. Now, after all the

hype it is the moment of truth for

Caroline Wozniacki, will this be her

best tennis memory or her worst?

There is no in between. That is very

much the same for Simona Halep as

well, who walks

much the same for Simona Halep as

well, who walks onto court in her

favourite red dress, with no

clothing sponsor for the start of

the year, she found the dress on the

Internet. If she wins today, she

might frame it. Caroline leads the

head-to-head 4-2, including their

last meeting three months ago, this

promised to be a test of strength

and stamina, and to make it harder,

it was played in searing heat and

humidity. In the first set,

Wozniacki broke serve early on and

served, but Halep broke back. It was

decided on a tie-break, that is

where we join the action.

COMMENTATOR: What a point. What a

start to the tie-breaker.

Halep tried to get Wozniacki on the

back foot but couldn't. The ground

stroke from Wozniacki so accurate in

that rally.

Once again, it's the forehand down

the line from Wozniacki that gets

the job done. The previous point

following one in for a drive volley.

There, the folly not required. --

the volley. It had pace and decent

direction on it. Worrying times for

the Romanian player.

Not known as a big piece server,

Halep, but I think she has managed

to find the line for another piece

here.

She certainly well, two aces

in the previous game, back-to-back.

A bit wasteful, that one. That is

the tactic she has walked on court

with, if you see her second serve,

go for it.

Those two points were a bit of a

gift. Wozniacki wasn't made to

play-the-ball.

Did she cover some miles in that

point!

And yet, didn't Halep have

the courage of her convictions as

well.

Just shot after shot from Halep.

She's not the tallest, but she packs

a punch on these ground strokes, and

she hits from this solid base.

she hits from this solid base. And

that is a modern volley.

Yeah!

That

literally didn't exist in the 70s.

Try that with the wooden rackets!

That could be key. That point, wow,

they have covered some ground.

Backhand down the line, it has been

a big shock for her in the finals.

"

Oh, yes. Electing to not go either

way. That was like a well taken

penalty.

penalty. A big Liverpool fan.

Wozniacki write down the middle with

the forehand and she has four set

points.

Brilliant tie-break. And she held

her nerve magnificently. The world

number one position is at stake, but

so is a first slam title for one of

these two players. 40 minutes,

excellent entertainment for us, a

set to Wozniacki.

SUE BARKER:, so advantage Wozniacki.

In the second set, there was worry

for Halep as she called become a

doctor as she felt faint. The good

news was she was fit enough to

continue, so we rejoined the match

with no breaks in set two.

COMMENTATOR: The second set just a

little flatter than the first, no

less intensity, still some excellent

tennis, but it's building to

something here. Set two, Wozniacki

on a brilliantly held tie-breaker.

It would surprise no one if this

match went the distance. Already,

Simona Halep has gone the distance

in round three against Lauren Davis,

15-13 in the third. Against Kerber

in the semifinal, 9-7 in the third

set eventually.

Nice change up in that rally there

from Halep, with the topspin- and to

change the pace.

change the pace. She needed to be,

she got very aggressive again. Big

point, this one coming up.

Limping a

bit?

That is beside to go to -- the side.

What's happening there? With maybe a

bit of clap or something, I don't

know. She has had such a tough two

weeks.

We thought the calf might be

something that the umpire called

through to the physio room about,

but they didn't look at the calf.

That's it. That's a break, and Halep

with that piercing forehand down the

line will serve for the second set.

And if she spends less time thinking

about her tennis and just allowing

it to happen, she might become even

more dangerous. Beware the injured

golfer, certainly. Perhaps beware

this slightly injured tennis player?

Certainly, there's a freedom that

comes when you have a little

deterioration sometimes.

We'll see whether she is hampered in

anyway my Halep, physically.

No. That was certainly going to test

the Romanian's legs, and heart and

lungs. It was a wonderful series of

strikes from Wozniacki.

Wozniacki served for the first set,

couldn't get the job done. Now,

Halep facing two break points in the

same situation.

Great serve.

Not sure whether that

was in or not, but it's too late

now. Very close, that was.

Oh, yes!

This is the final match of the

tournament, whatever it takes to get

through this game and this set,

Halep as to think, "Look, I will pay

this prize." Concentration can leave

you if you are hurting. Two points

away from the set, though.

UMPIRE:

Advantage Halep.

Oh! She had more than half of the

court to aiming to. Wozniacki had

gone the other way. Oh, that was

tense.

All the way back from 15-40, all

away back to set point. And then

that.

Take that. Two set points have come

and gone for the Romanian player.

UMPIRE:

Miss Halep is challenging

the call on the right baseline. The

call was out.

What if is troubling Simona Halep,

be it physical, or between the ears,

who knows from here?

UMPIRE:

Advantage, Wozniacki.

We do know she has had two set

points that she has seen go.

UMPIRE:

Miss Halep has no more

challenges remaining.

UMPIRE:

Advantage, Halep.

And this time, she gets the job

done. Halep, at the third time of

asking, takes the second set 6-3. If

there is something wrong with her,

and long may it continue as far as

her Van Zyl -- her fans are

concerned.

SUE BARKER: The Romanian was back in

the match. Wozniacki held in the

opening game of the third set, where

we rejoined it at 1-0, Halep

serving.

Well done in the end there. A shaky

backhand volley from Halep. Not that

comfortable on that side. You can

see, just pushed that, really, down

the middle, nothing on it.

APPLAUSE

Well done them. Set up by the short

second serve from Halep. The

overhead here wasn't easy. Stayed up

there a long time. Cut that around

the outside.

That second serve was so short,

nothing on that ball at all.

Coming

in at 112 kph as well.

Round about 70 mph, 65-70, that's

very pushy. Of course she's nervous.

You have do resist that urged to

protect on the second serves. You

are up a game point, didn't want to

miss it, and decelerate. But you

can't do that. Not at this level.

One shop that changes rallies around

so quickly. Again, Halep, she looked

like she was dominating that rally.

The two handed backhand from

Wozniacki changed the point. She is

so good when she gets both sides,

the forehand from Halep, and the

backhand from Wozniacki have been

the two big shots in this final. --

one shot that changes rallies.

Just away. And the most...

UMPIRE:

The ball was called up.

It

is a challenge, but she will not get

anywhere with it, I'm sure.

Just a

tactical challenge. Getting herself

time to reset after losing the

point.

The most testing service

game, the longest service games in

this matchup come on the Halep

serve. It's training going many

deuces, trying to hold.

And that second serve got the

treatment. Wozniacki gets the break,

2-0. She eases ahead, early stages

of this decider.

She won the first three games of the

first set before sealing Halep mount

her fightback. It's got all the

ingredients for a classic, this one.

Well, that was a risky shot she

tried there. Drop shot from this

position on the court from Wozniacki

with this pace coming at her, that's

a risky shot.

APPLAUSE

Just over two hours play in these

testing conditions of heat and

humidity. Simona Halep in the third

round against Lauren Davis, three

hours and 44 minutes. 15-13 in the

third, saving match point. She's

been over three hours, almost four.

Just wide. Just wide.

UMPIRE:

The ball was called out.

Wozniacki buzz longest match, two

hours and 31 against the Croatian,

the qualifier. She is also down

match point, second round match. 5-1

in the third set she was down.

UMPIRE:

Miss Wozniacki has two

challenges remaining.

APPLAUSE

Well, this would be a body blow to

Halep if she plays three games at

the start of this deciding set in

one of the most important matches in

her life and doesn't win any of the

games.

Especially at 15-40 in this

game, this would be psychologically

huge if she loses this game.

That's tight.

From Adelaide, living in Las Vegas,

Darren Cahill working with Simona

Halep, used to work with Andre

Agassi amongst others. Spent some

time with the British Davis Cup team

years ago. Came over and practised

on some clay with us.

They really are testing each other's

spirit and their physicality, their

fitness and desire. It's a great

advert. We always thought it would

be, top two plays in the women's

game, absolutely providing a

spectacle. -- top two players.

Oh! She could have gone down the

line!

APPLAUSE

Massa point. -- massive point.

That's a hard point to recover from.

The drop shot and attempt to finish

the rally. This training exchange.

And she was a sucker for the one

down the line, Wozniacki, Hallett

will regret going cross-court on the

pass.

Or the lob.

Anything, which

she played, to be frank. Pops on the

left, not as big as fiance on the

right.

We see it again. Halep knows too

well. Almost trying to get it in.

She can't do that. When you got

Halep returning second serve,

nothing on it or just sitting there.

Still have to have the courage of

your convictions to hit that second

serve, don't you?

Of course.

That

return of the second. Difference in

the winners on the forehand side.

Massive shocked that side. --

massive shot.

Make that a -- 18.

I just wonder whether Wozniacki is

thinking here, "Maybe I should take

a little bit off the first to serve

and get it in so I can level after

the first shot in the rally"

and get it in so I can level after

the first shot in the rally".

Tried to.

Yeah.

There is the matchplay! Wozniacki's

second serve...

Hotter than the

first.

160 kilometres per hour, 100

miles an hour, even I know that! 100

miles an hour second serve, that is

maxing out, right up with the Pete

Sampras second serves that we came

to see over time.

Fantastic.

Brilliant piece of matchplay.

Two fighters. Unbelievable.

They are

scrapping, now.

They really are.

APPLAUSE

I think Halep should be staying away

from that backhand as much as she

can. Big points. Wozniacki is so

confident on that forehand.

Wozniacki just doesn't do as much

damage. The backhand is deadly.

UMPIRE:

Miss Halep is challenging

because on the left. -- challenging

the call on the left.

What a challenge!

Second service.

Well, I would hate to see at the

Grand Slam championships the

introduction of no ad points, sudden

death at deuce. What a contest. This

is testing in every way. Ten minutes

plus, this one game.

And still it goes on.

This is the true test.

I know some people want to see the

game shortened and tightened up, but

I'm hard pressed to see a finer

contest than this.

APPLAUSE

And this time Halep does go down the

line, that is the place for the

past, if you can. Yes, over the

higher part of the net but the

cross-court would have been an easy

cut off, once again.

A bit of a misfire on that one.

And it did affect her rhythm,

rather. That is an amazing game, a

single game of tennis, to

encapsulate this most brilliant

final. 34 minutes played for three

games. These women are just

hammering it, great to watch.

You cannot bring a contest between

two people like this down to

numbers, stats and percentages,

ever.

You can just see with Wozniacki

there's a couple of shots that she

could have easily got round and hit

forehands in the middle of the court

Becchio next ago the two handed

backhand. That is her big shot -- in

the quarter, but she elected to go.

Beautifully done.

APPLAUSE

Excellent strike of the first

forehand that got her in the

position to go for the big backhand.

UMPIRE:

Game, Miss Wozniacki.

Serving has been hazardous in this

final set. Three breaks. In the

first four games of this decider.

Piotr Wozniacki looking on at his

daughter, who he has been alongside

for my entire tennis career will

stop and every now and again he will

on court during the WTA Tour

matches. And they will have heated

discussions. But always heading in

the right direction for both of

them.

Simona Halep looked a bit tired in

that last game on a couple of

backhands, didn't quite move her

feet to get to the ball. Will she

try and shorten these points the bit

maybe if she is a bit fatigued? --

shorten these points a bit.

Doesn't need to.

INAUDIBLE

It's amazing how difficult is it to

hold serve, four breaks in, five

games, now. Back on terms in this

decider.

SUE BARKER: Halep held serve in the

next game, so we jump ahead to 3-3

will

What a return of serve.

Just a little hesitation after she

hit it, she wasn't sure if it was

going in. She gave a little look and

it just crept inside. Leaning in.

Heart rate has to be high for these

two athletes, it really does. This

humility is 55%.

The body doesn't call down with the

humidity will stop its a big strain.

APPLAUSE

Temperature expected to be even

higher and the heat stress index

even higher for the men's final,

Federer - Cilic.

That was a gift.

And that's why.

Halep breaks again after the valiant

holds to get herself to 3-3. That

break is a big one.

Wozniacki could so easily have run

away with this deciding set. It's a

mini classic.

It's just a myriad of possibilities

around the left knee area. The

trainer called for. A few minutes

ago. At the end of a long rally that

saw him as a forehand on the

baseline.

There's obviously all the cartilage,

meniscus in the Kneebone and

sometimes pay doesn't present around

the knee in the area that actually

is injured. If a tough diagnosis for

the medical staff.

UMPIRE:

Time.

APPLAUSE

UMPIRE:

Thank you, ladies and

gentlemen, the players are ready.

What a get from Halep and what a

reply from Wozniacki. Fantastic.

First two points, Wozniacki very

close to the baseline. Halep being

driven back.

Oh, testing rally again. A lovely

change of direction mid-rally from

Wozniacki. I thought she might have

done enough to win the point.

How well did she defend in that

rally? Wozniacki was in big trouble.

Three or four times.

This is a combination of years,

isn't it, of training the right way,

resting correctly rehabbing

properly.

To win points just like that.

That ball did not want to come down.

Halep was desperate to put that

away, couple of other chances, bit

caution on the forehand but got away

with it. -- a bit cautious on the

forehand.

I think they're just going to start

lobbing rackets at each other. It's

incredible. Best shots from both

being returned, questions being

asked, its tennis at its best,

really.

That break of serve, after the

medical time-out where she had her

left knee strapped, I think it's

brilliant. She came out with

concentration. Not for a moment did

she use that time out as any sort of

excuse. It was straight into it.

Halep close to pushing ahead, but,

once again a break.

APPLAUSE

This is a poor phase for Halep,

Wozniacki is on a roll.

Unlikely to see big serves winning

three points at this point. --

winning three

. No, you can't keep momentum going

with a couple of aces.

It makes it more interesting than

the men's game at the latter stages

of tournaments, I think, frequently,

now.

UMPIRE:

Thank you.

Well, this would be a precious hold

of serve, a rare commodity indeed in

this deciding set. No wonder she's a

little nervous. Go on, serve and

volley. For the first time in the

match!

First time in her career!

I

don't think so.

Going wide until it hit the net,

perhaps.

And there is the hold. Gutsy stuff,

two straight games. Caroline

Wozniacki, no wonder bad saluting

that effort there. She's a game away

from what she wants more than

anything in the game.

Just pull up on that forehand. She's

rushing a bit here, Halep.

Paul was good, no complaint. As long

as Halep has heard the call, I'm

sure she has. No, she hasn't.

UMPIRE:

Miss Halep is challenging

the call on the left line.

That is excellent, because she had

turned away and not heard there had

been an overrule. It wasn't

instantaneous. It wasn't in a timely

manner.

manner.

The umpire needs to stay

away from it.

Getting involved at a crucial stage

like this.

Quite.

Ball toss just drifted to the right

there.

No! Oh!

Best point of the match.

And it brings up the biggest point

of Wozniacki's life. What a backhand

in the middle of that. She Vogt one

crosscourt, found the angle.

crosscourt, found the angle. -- she

hoiked one crosscourt.

Oh! She's done it! Two phenomenal

points!

points! And you will not see a more

popular winner on tour. Wonderful.

Oh, boy. Superb. Superb, I'm so

sorry for Simona Halep begin. It's a

third time this has happened in a

major final. The new world number

one, world number one again,

Caroline Wozniacki. Her fiance

there, they got engaged in the

winter. Her father. These successes

are never achieved entirely alone,

of course.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Been a long time coming.

It's a

lifetime's work.

The first player from Denmark to win

a Grand Slam title, and back to

number one in the world, ladies and

gentlemen, Caroline Wozniacki.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

I am taking a second here to hug

Daphne.

I have dreamt of this moment for so

many years. To be here today is a

dream come true. My voice is

shaking, I never quite, but today is

a very emotional moment. I just want

to congratulate Simona today, it was

a top day. Sorry I had to win to

date, but...

LAUGHTER

I'm sure we'll have many matches in

future, and it was an incredible

match, and Nuttall fight, and again,

I'm sorry.

LAUGHTER

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Last but not least, I want to thank

my team, my dad, who has been there

since day one, you have coached me

from the start and we have been

through ups and downs, but you have

stood by my side every step of the

way, so thank you. Thank you,

everyone, for coming out today. It

is such is Bush moment. Thank you.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

SUE BARKER: Hugely emotional,

Caroline Wozniacki, what a moment

for her, what a match and a great

advert for women's tennis.

Andrew and John are with me here.

Andrew, that was quality tennis, but

also in tense drama rolled into one.

It really was, they pushed each

other to the limit physically and

mentally. They have both been in the

situation before, so they came in

not knowing what a Grand Slam final

was going to be, and they put a show

one. After a couple of disappointing

men's semifinals, it was great to

get a great match. It was a great,

great match. I thought Halep would

win it went you

great match. I thought Halep would

win it went you went 4-3. Wozniacki,

coming out with the bad knee and the

knee strap, the concentration was

first class. She was ready to take

victory if she got close, and I

mean, that was spectacular. Two

years ago, she was ranked 74 in the

world, and was asked questions about

whether she would quit. Great

determination.

Fabulous match. She held her nerve

towards the end. She often gets

wobbly towards end of matches, but

not today.

You can't blame her with

the disappointment she has had. She

had been number one in the world but

people would say she hasn't won a

Grand Slam and would say she doesn't

deserve it. I never thought she

would win one a couple of years ago,

she looked done, but she has

improved so much now. She is

aggressive. Serena Williams has

raised the bar so high, the top

within know that if they are going

to compete, they have to attack

more. Wozniacki was fantastic today.

These are wonderful shots of her

walking back to the locker room,

probably beginning to sink in now as

she makes her way back. Her name

will be on this wonderful walk of

Fame next year. She will be able to

see that, proud moment.

She said she

was hugging Daphne, that is the new

name for the cup. Wonderful, a

little piece of sporting history.

Nobody would begrudge her this. She

has been through a tough time losing

two finals, so we feel for Simona

Halep in the situation, because it

is a long flight home. Made to feel

better by the fact she won £1.2

million.

It is the title she wants!

Wozniacki has changed her again, she

is more aggressive now, and she was,

in the penalty point, we

is more aggressive now, and she was,

in the penalty point, we will enjoy

it one more time because it was...

How she got so many shots back, I

don't know. Full marks for changing

her game and being more aggressive.

She was closer to the baseline. She

was chased around the place.

Ridiculous the way, the defensive

player was so good. She attacks

more. This was the shock of the

whole match. This really won have a

match, really. It was absolutely

staggering tennis play.

We talked

about how she has

staggering tennis play.

We talked

about how she has worked on the

aggressive part of her game and that

is absolute right to turn it around

from 74 in the world to number one

in the world and winning a slam.

That point, chasing everything down,

and making her opponent have a

horrible time. That is what she

specialises in. Her wheels are

amazing, she gets around the court.

We have to salute Simona Halep, she

played her part in a magnificent

match.

You have to look at the

accumulation of tiredness she must

have had, the match point she said,

the length of matches she played,

and to come back today in a match

like this, she was going to leave it

all on Court number to what

happened. She tried, and the old

saying of somebody had to lose, and

this was the biggest caper that.

We enjoyed the final, but let's look

at other sport coming up on the BBC.

The world indoor Bowls Championships

continue live this afternoon on BBC

One from 2:30. FA Cup highlights,

join Match of the Day tonight from

10:30. Tomorrow, the FA Cup

fourth-round matches is live on BBC

One, Cardiff City take on Manchester

City. We are back tomorrow for the

men's final, highlights on BBC Two

from 1pm. Federer against Cilic, a

repeat of last year's Wimbledon

final.

# I want that trophy...

# Coming up...

# I want that trophy. #

The vocals agree with the sentiment.

You have to Burnett, that is

deliberately left.

Cilic can win the

match. We remember last year's

Woodward and final, don't forget,

the ATP World Tour final is at the

O2

the ATP World Tour final is at the

O2, he nicked a set. I think he can

win it. He won a semifinal against

him as well.

him as well.

9-1 in the head to

head.

Much as I think Cilic has a

chance, as Andrew said, it is a

small chance the weight Federer is

playing. He is on top of the game,

he does everything Cilic does. But

he has the variety and the

confidence of being their 1000 times

and doing it over and over again.

That is tomorrow, Federer against

Cilic. Thank you very much. Today,

what a ladies final we had. There

can only be one winner. Neither

winning a Grand Slam title before,

but today, it belonged to Caroline

Wozniacki after 13 years on the

tour, 43 appearances in Grand Slams,

she finally got her hands on the

trophy. It is a day she will never

forget. From all of us here,

goodbye.

A world number one position is at

stake.

Impressive start from Wozniacki,

very aggressive.

Halep breaks back.

Brilliant tie-break as she held her

nerve with that magnificent...

Halep gets the job done.

Halep at the third time of asking

takes the set 6-3.

It's all on the line. It's amazing

how difficult is it to hold serve?

Oh!

She's done it! And you will not see

a more popular winner.