Ash Barty wins 2021 Wimbledon final: Aussie breaks 41-year drought

Tennis stars, sporting legends and celebrities have reacted to Ash Barty breaking a 41-year drought by winning the Wimbledon singles title.

Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty shed tears after a “miracle” win that matches the feat of her idol and fellow Indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

Barty overcame a few wobbles — including being broken when serving for the match in the second set — to beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 and spark a feeling she said she had never experienced on a tennis court before.

The 25-year-old’s victory is extra special to her as it came on the 50th anniversary of her “friend and mentor” Cawley’s first win at the All England Club.

“The stars aligned for me over the past fortnight,” said Barty.

“That it happened to fall on the 50th anniversary of Evonne’s first title here is absolutely incredible.”

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Barty — who won the junior title at Wimbledon in 2011 — said it was a “miracle” she had been able to play at all after she learned from her team post-match how serious the hip injury that forced her to retire from last month’s French Open had been.

However, it was Cawley who dominated her thoughts — she had shed a tear when the now 69-year-old was mentioned in the immediate aftermath of her victory — and indeed her match kit.

MORE: WHERE BARTY RANKS AMONG AUSSIE GREATS

Ash Barty lifts the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy. Picture: Peter Nicholls/Getty

Ash Barty on the Tiwi Islands coaching clinic. Picture: Glenn Campbell/Tennis NT

She had had a dress specially designed as a tribute to Cawley’s iconic scallop dress she wore in the 1971 final.

“Evonne is a very special person in my life,” said Barty.

“I think she has been iconic in paving a way for young indigenous youth to believe in their dreams and to chase their dream.

“She’s done exactly that for me as well. Her legacy off the court is incredible. “I think if I could be half the person that Evonne is, I’d be a very, very happy person.”

Barty spoke with Cawley prior to The Championships and said having her at the other end of the phone if she ever has doubts is a great consolation.

“I think being able to have a relationship with her and talk with her through my experience, knowing she’s only ever a phone call away is really, really cool,” Barty said.

Dreams do come true ✨ pic.twitter.com/q0RgY4rQmH

— Ash Barty (@ashbarty) July 10, 2021

Massive pride in our girl! Congratulations @ashbarty! We are all so very proud of you. #Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/WToQZQpkwj

— Cathy Freeman (@CathyFreeman) July 10, 2021

ASSSSSSSSHHHHBAAAARRRTYYYYYYYY!!!

— Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue) July 10, 2021

Beyond proud of you 🌟Wimbledon Champion!!!!!! You bloody ripper 🏆 @ashbarty ❤️ https://t.co/gWsvchbq2U

— Casey Dellacqua OLY (@caseydellacqua) July 10, 2021

Barty released a month of emotional baggage as she pumped her arms, falling to the court, holding her cap and openly crying after winning match point.

Barty climbed up to see her support team after the victory and later said: “this is incredible” thanking “every single person in the stadium for making her dream so special.”

In front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and celebrities including actor Tom Cruise, Barty exorcised the frustrations of at least two generations of female Australian tennis players in a match fraught with frustrations from both players.

From her opening serve, with two aces, Barty won a remarkable 14 points in a row, paralysing Pliskova, 29, who made repeated errors. The big-serving Czech was a bundle of nerves, off her game and Barty exploited that fragility with elegant crosscourt forehand drives, big serves and an occasional deft backhand slice.

But then Pliskova hit back in the second set, finding her huge 185km/h serve. Even so when the score was 5-5 and down 0-40 Barty hustled to win the game but she then failed to serve out for the match and then lost the tie-breaker.

Ash Barty and Evonne Goolagong are close friends. Picture: Stewart McLean

Fired up after allowing the match to slip, Barty responded to win the first three games of the third set and despite long rallies and increasing fatigue Barty was pushed to deuce on her serve, but fired down an ace and forced an error from Pliskova to triumph.

Barty not only picked up a winners cheque of over $3 million, she has recalibrated Australia’s international reputation.

“This is incredible. I think I have to start as well, congratulations on fantastic tournament, to you and your team. I love testing myself,” Barty said after the victory.

"I hope I made Evonne proud"

We all know the answer to that question, @ashbarty 🇦🇺#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/mt7BoQ6Kd8

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021

“I love testing myself against you (Pliskova) and I’m sure we will play many, many more matches. But I have to thank, genuinely thank every single person in this stadium. You have made my dream so special. Thank you so much.

“Karolina is an incredible competitor, she brought out the very best in me today. It was an exceptional match right from the start. I knew I had to bring my very best level and I was really proud of myself the way.

“I was able the reset and just keep going, keep chipping away at the start of that third set and held my nerve there in the end.

🇦🇺 @ashbarty 🤝 Evonne Goolagong Cawley 🇦🇺

Whether it's 2021 or 1971, you always remember your first...#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/djzUM8Buft

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021

“It took me a long time to verbalise the fact that I wanted to dare a dream and say I wanted to win this incredible tournament and being able to live out my dream right now with everyone here, this has made it better than I could have imagined. It was just - I mean, I didn’t sleep a lot last night. I was thinking of all the what ifs, but I think when I was coming out on this court, I felt at home in a way. I think being able to share that with everyone here, to share that with everyone here, to share that with my team, is incredible.

Australia is once again restored to its rightful place, as a giant of sporting prowess, led by its sportswomen.

HOW BARTY BEAT COVID CHAOS
Barty, who has been out of the country since March preparing for this moment with tournaments in the United States and Europe, may not know when or how she will be able to return to Australia because of the current flight cap restrictions. But none of that matters for she will now go to Tokyo and strive for an Olympic gold medal, before contesting the US circuit and aim to repeat her success on the US hardcourts.

Coach Craig Tyzzer, who masked his own nerves in the player’s box alongside Barty’s boyfriend Garry Kissick, said the year long lay-off because of the coronavirus pandemic rekindled Barty’s hunger for game.

An emotional Ash Barty celebrates the win. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty

“I hope Evonne is proud.” Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

“Because we missed all of last year, in the end Ash really missed playing tennis, the competition, that side of it, she really put her head down and said, OK, if this is what we have to do, this is what we have to do. She’s accepted it a lot better. It’s still never easy leaving home.”

Barty said she had only got this far because of the work from her physiotherapist Melanie Omizzolo and trainer Matthew Hayes who helped with the rehabilitation of her hip.

It helps too that Barty is gracious and humble, a throwback to the charming Evonne Goolagong Cawley whose feat she has just emulated.

It’s why Barty reserved special mention to her idol in her post-match speech.

“She (Evonne Goolagong Cawley) means a lot to me. I just hope I made Evonne proud,” Barty said while choking back tears.

“We are family,’’ said Barty of Goolagong, reflecting on her great grandmother who was a Ngaragu woman.

Barty said she wanted to inspire Indigenous youth as well.

“Evonne did so many things for our people, for young Indigenous youth to dream and chase their dreams.”

Karolina Pliskova fought hard. Picture: Julian Finney/Getty

Goolagong, affectionately known as “the Sunshine Girl” blazed a trail in the 1970s, winning Wimbledon 50 years ago in 1971 and then bookending her career with another winning 1980 after having had a baby.

She had followed pioneer Margaret Smith Court who won three Wimbledon titles as part of her unbeaten 24 Grand Slam record as she straddled the amateur and open eras. Underscoring the drought in Australia’s women’s tennis until Barty’s emergence, only Sam Stosur has won a grand slam, the US Open in 2011, in the past 40 years.