The Latest Breaking News from Danielle Collins

Ash Barty's decision to step away from tennis at the peak of her powers came as a shock, but it's the right call to retire on her terms, writes Russell Jackson.

Ash Barty dropped a bombshell on the tennis world on Wednesday as she announced her retirement from the game at just 25.

The tournament has ended, but the story goes on. Danielle Collins is not the Australian Open champion — Ash Barty beat her 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) early Saturday morning — but that’s just a minor plot twist. It arrives somewhere after the struggle but shortly before the breakthrough.

The 25-year-old defeated American Danielle Collins to become first Australian woman to win her home tournament since 1978.

The world number one defeated Danielle Collins 6-3 7-6 (2) to win her third grand-slam title

Throwing off the burden of 44 years of history with a little help from the crowd, Ash Barty rose to the occasion in the Australian Open final

Newly crowned Australian Open champion Ash Barty inverts the cliches of the nation's sporting psyche: she never stops smiling, yet her rivals fear her, writes Russell Jackson.

Barty, the world number one, beat American Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) to send Australia into delirium.

Beaten by Ash Barty in the Australian Open final, Danielle Collins says she'd love to 'implement' some of the world No.1's variety in her own game.