World No. 1 Barty beat American Daniel Collins 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) to devastated Australia.
The multi-talented Ashleigh Barty has been a professional cricketer, won a golf tournament and has now taken her place among the stalwarts of Australian tennis after winning her domestic Grand Slam on Saturday.
It was fitting that Chris O’Neill, the last home player to win the Australian Open in 1978, was in the stadium watching Barty end the hoodoo of 44 years and thrill a nation glued to his TV.
World No. 1 Barty beat American Daniel Collins 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) to devastated Australia.
What followed was a wonderful moment for Barty when she received the winner’s Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup from seven-time Grand Slam champion and fellow Indigenous Australian Ivonne Gulagong-Kavli, who won her last of four Australian Opens in 1977.
“She melts my heart, Evonne, to see her on the court, I’m so lucky to have a girl,” said Barty of Golgong-Kawli, Australia’s tennis darling 50 years ago. Melbourne Park Champion.
“To be able to see Evonne, I mean I haven’t seen him since this time last year, so we’ve yet got a few more hugs to celebrate, but it’s incredible to see him.”
Barty was also raised by the presence of another indigenous legend, Sydney 2000 Olympic 400 m gold medalist Kathy Freeman, who was also at Rod Laver Arena.
“Looking at the end and seeing Kathy, I mean she’s an inspiration, she’s been an inspiration to so many people around the world, but to our legacy, to our family, she’s the best,” Barty said. said.
“To be able to share tonight with Evonne and Cathy, it’s a night I’ll never forget.”
Tennis, Cricket, Golf
Few athletes can boast such a diverse sporting CV as the down-to-earth Barty.
Widely viewed as one of the best players on the tour, the 25-year-old began playing tennis as a child in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland state.
But it was a trip to the Australian Open for a training camp when she was “11 or 12” that proved to be the spark that propelled her to where she is today.
“To see how professional it was and to see everyone go about their business was really eye-opening. My first taste of it was in Juniors and I loved it,” she said this week.
“That kind of flame lit.”
The Australian won the junior Wimbledon title in 2011 as a 15-year-old.
But the expectations that came with success took a toll and she made a shocking decision to quit tennis for cricket three years later, signing for the Brisbane Heat in the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League.
“In short, I guess I just need to find myself,” Barty said.
While cricket gave him “a different perspective on the game”, the allure of tennis was never far away. She returned after a season out.
Barty secured her first Grand Slam win at the French Open in 2019, becoming Australia’s first female world number one since Golgong-Kawli and finally winning a cherished Wimbledon crown last year.
She has been so impressive that she finished 2021 as the top-ranked player for the third year in a row, becoming the only woman to achieve the feat, joining Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams and Chris Evert.
Barty should have returned to Paris to defend his Roland Garros title in 2020, but has brushed off coronavirus fears and opted for his own golf clubs instead.
And on a course designed by Greg Norman near Brisbane, she won the Brookwater Golf Club women’s title with 7 and 5 wins in the matchplay final.
“Is there anything you can’t do?” At that time asked a social media user.
Barty and longtime partner Gary Kissick got engaged in November, prompting congratulations from fellow tennis stars.
Barty credits much of her success to her close team, which includes not only Kissik but also her family and longtime coach Craig Tizer, who regularly uses “we” instead of “me” when it comes to her tennis adventures. “refers to.
“Everyone is equally important,” she said. “we are all equal.”