Caroline Wozniacki beats Simona Halep to win Australian Open

Caroline Wozniacki claimed her maiden grand slam title with a 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4 win over top seed Simona Halep in the Australian Open final on Saturday.

The second-seeded Dane also claimed the world number one ranking from Halep, exactly six years after relinquishing it at the 2012 Australian Open. 

Caroline Wozniacki won the first set of the Australian Open women`s final 7-6 (7/2) against Simona Halep as she attempts to claim a first-ever Grand Slam title on Saturday.

The imposing Dane got an early break to go 2-0 up and it went with serve until Halep pounced to break back for 4-5 and take it to a tiebreak. 

Wozniacki quickly took charge, winning the tiebreak 7-2 when Halep sent a forehand into the net.

Halep and Wozniacki are looking for their first. They are both in their third major decider but have never won.

Wozniacki, 27, has long carried the unwanted moniker of best player never to claim a major, having reached the US Open final in 2009 and 2014, and first becoming number one in 2010.

She is in her 43rd Grand Slam appearance and desperate to get off the mark.