<p class="title">A determined Caroline Wozniacki held firm to shake off a tenacious challenge from Simona Halep, edging a classic Australian Open final 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4 to claim her first Grand Slam title on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After a captivating tussle played out in stifling humidity at a floodlit Rod Laver Arena, the Dane stood firm in a see-saw final set to claim the thriller when Halep wavered on serve.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's not easy to talk now but first of all I want to congratulate Caroline, she played amazing.... It's been a great tournament to me. Of course I'm sad I couldn't win today but Caroline was better than me," Halep told the crowd during the presentation ceremony.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The result ensured Wozniacki swiped Halep's world number one ranking, six years after losing it at the 2012 Australian Open.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After taking the win when Halep netted on the final point, an overwhelmed Wozniacki threw her racket away and collapsed onto the blue hardcourt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both players battled leg complaints in the taxing two hour and 49 minute tussle, but Wozniacki found the grit to make the breakthrough in her third Grand Slam final.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Halep was gallant in defeat but leaves Melbourne Park with a third Grand Slam final defeat.</p>
<p class="title">A determined Caroline Wozniacki held firm to shake off a tenacious challenge from Simona Halep, edging a classic Australian Open final 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4 to claim her first Grand Slam title on Saturday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After a captivating tussle played out in stifling humidity at a floodlit Rod Laver Arena, the Dane stood firm in a see-saw final set to claim the thriller when Halep wavered on serve.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's not easy to talk now but first of all I want to congratulate Caroline, she played amazing.... It's been a great tournament to me. Of course I'm sad I couldn't win today but Caroline was better than me," Halep told the crowd during the presentation ceremony.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The result ensured Wozniacki swiped Halep's world number one ranking, six years after losing it at the 2012 Australian Open.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After taking the win when Halep netted on the final point, an overwhelmed Wozniacki threw her racket away and collapsed onto the blue hardcourt.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both players battled leg complaints in the taxing two hour and 49 minute tussle, but Wozniacki found the grit to make the breakthrough in her third Grand Slam final.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Halep was gallant in defeat but leaves Melbourne Park with a third Grand Slam final defeat.</p>