11:32 GMT – AFP IS CLOSING THIS LIVE REPORT after Serena Williams produced one of the great performances of her career to beat fierce rival Maria Sharapova and win her sixth Australian Open final, sealing her 19th Grand Slam title.
The Russian world number two pushed the 33-year-old American hard but ultimately had no answer to her incredible power.
Williams now stands behind just Steffi Graff (22) on the all-time Open-era winners’ list.
11:30 GMT – Victory speech – More from Serena Williams’ victory speech, where she spoke of family support.
“Growing up I wasn’t the richest, but I had a rich family in spirit and support, and standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen.
“I went on the courts with a ball, a racquet and a hope. That’s all I had. So all you guys who want to do something or be something, just never give up. You never know what can happen or who you can inspire. I’m just so honoured.”
11:25 GMT – Twitter reaction – Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki tweets: “Big congratulations to my big sis on #19! Such an inspiration! “
Kim Clijsters tweets: “Serena showed why she is the number one!”
10:56 GMT – Trophy – Williams is now making her way around the court with the silver cup, a broad smile across her face as the camera flashes light up the stadium.
10:54 GMT – 19 slams – Just a reminder that Williams has now overtaken Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova to go a clear second on the all-time Open-era winners’ list with 19 Grand Slams, three behind Steffi Graf on 22.
It also extends her staggering decade-long dominance of arch-rival Sharapova, with the world number one posting her 16th straight victory over the Russian.
At 33, she is also the oldest woman to win the title in the Open era, taking her tally at Melbourne Park to six titles in six appearances in the final.
10:51 GMT – Emotional speech – An emotional Williams says Sharapova “really, really pushed me”. “I think this is the longest speech I’ve ever made,” says the American, thanking her coaching staff.
“I love you with all my heart and all my soul,” Williams tells the fans.
10:47 GMT – WILLIAMS LIFTS AUSTRALIAN OPEN TROPHY FOR 19TH GRAND SLAM
10:47 GMT – ‘The best’ – Sharapova says Williams has been “the best” and says she is proud of her own efforts at the Australian Open.
10:36 GMT – Serena celebrates – Williams seals the tie-break 7-5 with an ace after Sharapova saves another match point. A handshake at the net is followed by leaps of joy from the American. Phenomenal performance. But what a great final despite the straight-sets win.
10:30 GMT – SERENA WILLIAMS WINS AUSTRALIAN OPEN 6-3, 7-6 (7/5)
– Tie-break –
10:25 GMT – Williams 6 Sharapova 6* – You’ve got to hand it to Sharapova here. She thunders a forehand past Williams to get to the tie-break.
10:21 GMT – *Williams 6 Sharapova 5 – A yell from Williams as edges in front 40-30 but then it’s back to deuce. Sharapova is looking more and more impressive here. If she levels the match the third set could be very interesting. Another roar from the American. Pure passion. She’s one game away again.
10:19 GMT – Williams 5 Sharapova* 5 – Impressive nerves from Sharapova who saves a match point to level the set again.
It’s the third match point the Russian has saved during the tournament after being pushed to the brink in her second round encounter. She looks relieved.
10:17 GMT – Saved! – Sharapova saves match point with a blistering forehand.
– Match point saved –
10:15 GMT – Match point – Williams one point away.
10:09 GMT – *Williams 5 Sharapova 4 – More awesome serving from Williams. Difficult to imagine she’s often played better than this in her illustrious career. Game to love and she’s one game away from a 19th Grand Slam title
10:05 GMT – Williams 4 Sharapova* 4 – Impressive stuff from Sharapova, who builds a 40-0 lead but then double-faults, before sealing the game with an ace.
10:00 GMT – *Williams 4 Sharapova 3 – Getting to the business end of this set now. Williams seals the game with an ace and again has her nose in front but we’re still on serve. How long can the world number two hang in there?
09:55 GMT – Williams 3 Sharapova 3* – This is an astonishing show of force from Williams. 0-30 down on the Sharapova serve, the top seed powers her way back into the game but the Russian holds her nerve to level the set.
09:49 GMT – *Williams 3 Sharapova 2 – Sharapova gets to 0-30 on the Williams serve but the American storms back to win the game.
A lot of “c’mons” from both women as the pressure starts building. Williams gives Sharapova a killer stare at the end of that game
09:45 GMT – Williams 2 Sharapova* 2 – Sharapova lets one go at 15-0 but it drops on the baseline and the scores are level at 15-15. The Russian is a ferocious competitor but how long until her head drops? She’s not playing badly but winning points is taking a prodigious effort. A wonderful backhand down the line wins the game. We’re level at 2-2.
09:42 GMT – *Williams 2 Sharapova 1 – That didn’t take long. Game to love for Williams.
09:40 GMT – Williams 1 Sharapova* 1 – Sharapova, who let’s not forget is the world number two, battled back hard in that game to stay in the hunt in this second set. Fantastic serving from the Russian to level at 1-1. She stops the American’s momentum.
09:36 GMT – *Williams 1 Sharapova 0 – Williams up and running again here in the second set. Feels like the match is racing away from her opponent on the blue court in Melbourne.
– Set 2 –
09:32 GMT – *Sharapova 3 Williams 6 – Williams shrugs off the loss of her service game to pummel the Sharapova serve and win the opening set. She hit 11 winners to Sharapova’s three in a dominating display. The Russian is not playing badly but Williams is on a different level her.
09:31 GMT – WILLIAMS WINS THE FIRST SET 6-3
09:28 GMT – Sharapova 3 Williams* 5 – Sharapova makes the most of some scrappy play from Williams to earn three break points. The American looks set to level at 40-40 but a double fault costs her and the Russian has a crucial break.
09:24 GMT – *Sharapova 2 Williams 5 – This looks ominous for Sharapova, who puts the ball long to give Williams the game to love. Serena has won every point since the rain delay.
09:22 GMT – Sharapova 2 Williams* 4 – Williams, apparently not in tip-top health, shrugs off the rain delay to seal the game.
09:21 GMT – Play resumes – The roof is closed, the court has been dried by dozens of ball kids on their hands and knees with towels, and play resumes after an almost 13-minute break
Williams serves
09:16 GMT – Delay – Sharapova is still on court waiting. Serena goes back to the locker room but then re-emerges, coughing. The announcer says play will resume very soon
09:12 GMT – Rain – Heavier rain now, reports AFP’s Martin Parry. Ball kids are busy mopping the court, trying to keep it dry. Serena and Sharapova are under their sun shades, towels around them
There is an official announcement that the roof of the Rod Laver Arena will be closed,
09:09 GMT – Drizzle – There appears to be some light drizzle. Midway through the sixth game, with the score locked at 30-30, the players take shelter on court.
Fans are putting up their umbrellas. It’s not heavy but it looks like the roof is being closed
– Rain delay –
09:05 GMT – *Sharapova 2 Williams 3 – Some absorbing tennis as Sharapova holds again. Both players look in the groove but Williams has the early break, which could prove decisive in this opening set.
A big “c’mon” and fist pump from Sharapova on holding serve.
Serena looks composed at the changeover. A fan holds up a sign saying “Serena’s Arena”
09:04 GMT – Sharapova 1 Williams* 3 – A comfortable hold for Williams, who looks so focused and pumped up.
08:56 GMT – *Sharapova 1 Williams 2 – Sharapova, wearing a red dress and cap, is on the board after an impressive service game. The world number two is back in business.
08:53 GMT – Sharapova 0 Williams* 2 – Williams, in a yellow dress and pink headband thumps a backhand winner past the Russian to go into a 2-0 lead. Williams looks inspired here. Sharapova will have to dig deep.
08:48 GMT – *Sharapova 0 Williams 1 – Serena has been battling a cold during the tournament and was coughing while preparing to face a Sharapova serve in the opening game. It doesn’t seem to be affecting her though, with the world number one winning the opening game on a Sharapova double fault
* denotes server
08:44 GMT – THE 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S FINAL IS UNDER WAY –
08:40 GMT – Countdown – Williams and Sharapova are given three more minutes to warm up before the action gets under way.
08:37 GMT – Coin toss – Williams and Sharapova are now on court, unpacking their bags and taking out their racquets, reports AFP’s Martin Parry. Serena takes her time.
A big moment for the young girl, Jessica, tossing the coin.
It’s tails and Sharapova says she will serve. They pose for the cameras and now are warming up
08:35 GMT – Serena desperate – Speaking on ESPN, former great Chris Evert says Serena “badly” wants to win her 19th Grand Slam. If she does she will surpass Evert and Navratilova.
08:34 GMT – Players out – Here come the players. Serena, carrying a bunch of flowers, follows Sharapova onto the court under cloudy skies.
– Warm-up –
08:32 GMT – Tennis royalty – In the crowd tonight at Melbourne Park are a long list of tennis dignitaries. Among those watching from the President’s Reserve are Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley and Roy Emerson.
08:30 GMT – Tough task – Sharapova last beat her bitter rival in 2004. In 15 straight defeats, Serena has won 30 sets and Sharapova only three.
08:26 GMT – Build-up – AFP’s Martin Parry reports from Melbourne Park that the tension is building, with the Rod Laver Arena rapidly filling up on an overcast and cool evening.
It has just been announced that former great Martina Navratilova will award the trophy to tonight’s winner
08:22 GMT – Serena dominance – The final pits the world’s two best players against one another in a dream decider, although the second seeded Sharapova faces questions over her staggering inability to notch a win over Williams since 2004.
The Russian’s overall losing record against Williams is 16-2, including a crushing straight sets defeat in the 2007 Australian final.
In addition, Williams has won five titles in five final appearances at Melbourne Park, emerging victorious every time she has reached the decider.
08:17 GMT – WELCOME TO AFP’S LIVE REPORT on the Australian Open women’s final between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, with the Russian bidding to turn the tide against the American world number one after tasting defeat for 15 matches in a row.
Victory for Serena would give her a 19th Grand Slam title, putting her a clear second in the Open Era behind only Steffi Graff, who leads with 22, while Sharapova is gunning for her sixth major.