They've had very different paths to the Australian Open final. So can Danielle Collins crash Ash Barty's party?

Amid a turning of the tides at the top of women's tennis, a local hero looks to become the shining beacon of the sport.

After five years of the most even competition at the top end of women's tennis ever, Australia's Ash Barty is looking to cement her name at the top of the rankings.

A win at the Australian Open — the first for an Australian since Chris O'Neil won in 1978 — would see Barty locked in the number one spot for the foreseeable future.

The past half-decade has been historically even at the top. For the first time since World War II, no woman has won more than one grand slam title in a year. Nine women have held the number-one ranking in this time, one more than the entire decade prior.

In these years, only Naomi Osaka has won more than two grand slam titles. Barty, who has been forced to miss tournaments due to injuries and travel issues, is seeking to chase down the Japanese star and build her case as the game's most dominant star after Serena Williams.

Blocking her path is Danielle Collins, a 28-year-old American who has endured a long and twisting route to the upper echelons of the women's game. Collins, a former semifinalist at the Australian Open, has forged a path unique in the modern game.

Surging into the top 10 due to her performance in Melbourne, Collins will be seeking her maiden grand slam title, and to add to the chaotic mix at the top.

The 2022 Australian Open final shapes as a classic battle between the local champion and the unexpected challenger, with the world watching at the ready.

As William Shakespeare once wrote, some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

The path to greatness for Ash Barty, a Ngaragu woman from Ipswich in south-east Queensland, has been a