Ash Barty on why she won’t look at the Wimbledon Trophy and how tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley has shaped her
She says she’s not superstitious but, just two wins away from Wimbledon glory, why has Ash Barty stopped herself from even glancing at the coveted trophy?
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Ash Barty is not superstitious but has made a conscious effort not to steal a glance at the Wimbledon trophy that sits in a case just before the entrance to centre court.
The world No.1 has passed it several times over the past week and is now just two wins away from actually getting her clutches on it.
“I can’t say I’ve watched too many Wimbledon finals and watched other players lift the trophy,” Barty said.
“I remember enjoying watching Simona (Halep) lift up the beautiful trophy a couple of years ago. Hopefully I’ll get close enough to have a good look.”
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She has lifted a trophy at Wimbledon before, exactly 10 years ago when as a 15-year-old she claimed the junior title at the All-England Club.
Barty dropped only one set for the tournament and defeated Russia’s No.3 seed Irina Kromacheva in the final.
It was a big day for the Aussie juniors with Luke Saville winning the boys’ title.
A decade on and lots of twists and turns later, the junior protagonists find themselves in very different situations.
Kromacheva is ranked No.329 in the world with a career high of 89 back in 2017, while Saville is back at Wimbledon as a doubles specialist, although he bowed out in the fourth round.
As we know, Barty veered off course dramatically just three years after becoming junior Wimbledon champion, switching sports to cricket.
She had mainly tasted success in doubles with fellow Aussie Casey Dellacqua up to that point before sensationally deciding to quit tennis.
After a brief dabble at the top level with Brisbane Heat, Barty returned to tennis early in 2016 and started her extraordinary climb to the top of the women‘s game.
Along the way she has always spoken about one person as her inspiration, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who, fittingly, won the first of her two Wimbledon titles 50 years ago.
She was front of mind for Barty in 2011 after she won the trophy: “It’s pretty special. As I say, I talk to Evonne quite a bit. It’s great to share that experience with her, even at the junior level.”
The pair have continued to stay in touch and, in the lead-up to this year’s tournament, Barty reached out because she wanted to pay homage to her hero by wearing a special Fila scallop dress, similar to the one Goolagong wore in 1971, to commemorate her championship.
“Evonne has guided the way,” Barty said.
“She’s created a legacy like no other in Australia.”
The Queenslander became the first Australian to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon since Jelena Dokic in 2000 after she accounted for her Fed Cup teammate Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1 6-3.
She now plays 2018 Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber.
“It’s the ultimate test,” Barty said.
“Angie’s obviously had success here before and had the best fortnight possible.
“I love that match-up. She’s an incredible competitor and knows her way around this court.”
The two have never met away from hard courts and are tied 2-2 in their head-to-head series. Barty won their last encounter, in 2018 at Wuhan.
With each match Barty has got stronger and more confident, shrugging off the injury scare that forced her out of last month’s French Open.
She understands the opportunity presented to her and the chance she has to honour Goolagong Cawley in a special way.
MATCH REPORT: BARTY BEATS COUNTRYWOMAN TOMLJANOVIC
Ash Barty has kept alive her dream of winning the women’s Wimbledon title on the 50th anniversary of fellow indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s first win by easing into the semi-finals on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old outclassed unseeded compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 6-3 to set up what promises to be a far more serious test of her ability on Thursday when she faces 2018 champion Angelique Kerber.
Barty is the first Australian woman to reach the last four at Wimbledon since Jelena Dokic in 2000.
“It’s the ultimate test,” said Barty. “Angie’s had success here before. I love that match-up. She knows her way around this court and I know I need to play well to give myself a chance in that match.
“This is a dream come true.”
Barty seized control of the match from the outset, breaking Tomljanovic twice early as she raced to take out the opening set 6-1.
Tomljanovic rallied briefly, breaking Barty to start the second.
However, she lost her serve immediately and her next one as well to give Barty the break she required.
Tomljanovic — whose Last 16 match had been much later than Barty’s on Monday — did break back to trail 4-3.
However, typical of the clash no sooner had she suggested a fightback, Barty upped a gear and she reeled off the next three games to progress.
Barty has moved around court with little sign of any after effects from the hip injury that forced her to retire from the French Open.
She feels also that her game is less encumbered by unforced errors and weak serving that were a feature of her early round matches.
“I think today I was able to use my weapons a little bit better,” she said.
“I certainly wasn’t as loose as I have been with errors and kind of ill-timed lapses, I suppose.
“But I felt really sharp today.”
Barty in typical sportsmanlike style praised her opponent.
“All Aussies back home are proud of her and it was bloody nice to share the court with her today.”
Tomljanovic, for her part, conceded the occasion and the status of her opponent had got to her.
“The fact that it was Centre Court, quarters for the first time, did play a role in playing against Ash, someone that looked very much at home,” she said.
“It was not easy.”
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