Ash Barty wins French Open crown to complete incredible comeback
Ash Barty played the "perfect game" to end Australia's 46-year French Open drought and claim her maiden grand slam title just three years after her career was on the brink.
From career oblivion to grand slam champion in the space of three years, Ashleigh Barty has capped an extraordinary comeback to tennis with jaw-dropping French Open victory.
Ranked No.623 in 2016 after taking a break from tennis to play professional cricket, Barty is now a bona fide international star after destroying Czech Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-3.
Ending a 46-year Australian drought at Roland Garros, Barty will rise to No 2 in the world, earning $3.5million and tennis immortality in the process.
Ash Barty celebrates winning her maiden grand slam title.
With her parents Rob and Josie watching the final on television from England and sisters Sara and Ali doing the same from Australia, Barty confirmed her standing as the hottest player in the world.
Urged on courtside by Rod Laver and Pat Cash, the Queenslander ruthlessly demolished stage-struck Vondrousova.
The laid-back Australian ripped through the first set in 29 minutes, hammering the Czech’s dodgy defence to break three times.
Working to a clear plan – attack Vondrousova’s fragile backhand at every opportunity – Barty continued the onslaught into the second set.
After just 70 minutes, the 23-year-old became Australia’s first indigenous grand slam champion since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980, smashing a ball into open territory before raising her arms in jubilation.
"I'm a little bit speechless, it's incredible, I've played the perfect match today, I'm so proud of myself and my team, it has been a crazy two weeks," an emotional Barty said after the win.
Lifting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy, Barty is Australia’s fourth women’s singles champion at the French, joining Margaret Court (1962, ’64, ’69, ’70 and ’73), Lesley Bowrey (’63 and ’65) and her idol Goolagong (’71).
Ash Barty embraces Marketa Vondrousova.
Barty paid tribute to her team in her victory speech as she received the championship trophy, while reserving praise for her opponent and the Roland Garros community.
"To my team, thank you guys for sticking with me," she said.
"This is just the start for us, let's go and celebrate tonight.
"Thank you to Marketa and your team, your whole season has been unbelievable.
"To the French federation, all of the sponsors, there have been incredible changes to Roland Garros this year."Barty added that the fans at Paris were "so passionate and enthusiastic, it's so fun playing tennis in front of you."
Just a couple of legends holding hands.
With victory over Vondrousova, Barty is the nation’s first major champion since Sam Stosur ambushed Serena Williams in the 2011 US Open final.
Since the Women’s Tennis Association rankings computer was introduced in 1975, only Goolagong (1976) has reached No 1.
Barty has the chance to emulate her idol with a strong Wimbledon showing next month.
Crowning an improbable climb to the peaks of the sport, it is almost exactly three years to the day that Barty returned to tennis from cricket after a 21-month sabbatical.
Encouraged to resume tennis by friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua, Barty did not imagine in her wildest dreams she would rise to grand slam contention so quickly.
Armed with silken hand-eye coordination which saw her in line for international cricket selection, Barty has systematically reset under coach Craig Tyzzer and mentor Ben Crowe.
Even after such a long absence, Barty underlined her talent by entering Eastbourne in 2016, qualifying and sweeping into the semi-finals.
Barty completely dominated the final.
No-one knew at the time, but it was first step in the stunning rise to grand slam stardom.
The first Australian to contest the championship match since Stosur fell to Italian Francesca Schiavone in 2010, Barty was rarely under pressure from 19-year-old Vondrousova.
The southpaw had won more matches on clay this season than any other player and had not dropped at set here reaching the final.
But the teenager with a fetish for shoes – she owns 200 pairs – was given a merciless lesson in the art of grand slam execution.
Barty unleashed 27 winners to Vondrousova's 10. Her sliced backhand was devastating.
No player has won more matches this season (31) than the mesmeric Barty.
Her improvement since this time last year has been astounding.
Barty lost to Serena Williams in the second round here in 2018 – until this year, her best showing at Roland Garros.
Since then, she has logged career-best results at the four majors – third-round at Wimbledon, fourth round at the US Open, quarter-finals at the Australian and now the French tour de force.
Critical to those quantum leaps was the introduction of Crowe to Barty’s close-knit support crew, headed by manager Nikki Craig.
Tyzzer described Barty’s Wimbledon exit last year as the “tipping point”, necessitating a change in attitude.
Crowe, among others, has helped Barty’s mental outlook.
The results of that off-court work has been on show throughout this entire season – and again last night.
Contesting the biggest match of her reborn career, the understated baseliner was simply spectacular.
And just as she had against Jess Pegula, Danielle Collins, Andrea Petkovic, Sofia Kenin, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova, Barty triumphed in a style echoing celebrated Australian tennis forebears.
AUSTRALIAN FRENCH OPEN CHAMPIONS
Margaret Court – 1962, ’64, ’69, ’70, ’73.
Lesley Bowrey – 1963, ’65.
Evonne Goolagong – 1971
Ashleigh Barty – 2019
Prizemoney: $3.5million
Ranking in 2016: No 623
Ranking on Monday: No 2
Updates
Rich Lamberton
Thank you for joining us tonight, here's Ash after collecting La Coupe des Mousquetaires.
BARTY: "First I'd like to thank you (Marketa) and your team, your whole season has been phenomenal. This is just the start, I have absolutely no doubt that you will be in grand slam finals in the future. …
"To the French federation and all the sponsors, there have been incredible changes this year, we have enjoyed every part of it. To all the fans, you guys make this tournament so special every year. You're so passionate and enthusiastic and it so much fun playing tennis in front of you on this beautiful court here in Paris.
"And lastly to my team, thank you guys for sticking with me. This is incredible, it's been the most amazing journey we have been on in the last three years and I feel like this is just the start for us. Let's go and celebrate tonight."
ASH BARTY: "I'm a little bit speechless, it's incredible, I've played the perfect match today, I'm so proud of myself and my team, it has been a crazy two weeks.
"A was very nervous, marketa has had an amazing season, she's only just starting her prime, she is going to be in a lot of other Grand Slam finals, it was very nice to play against her today.
"Obviously Sam has done so well here in the past, and she has been so close before, so I'm incredibly proud of what they have been able to achieve and it has just been an amazing two weeks."
Comeback complete! Congratulations Ash
Rich Lamberton
ASH BARTY: "I'm a little bit speechless, it's incredible, I've played the perfect match today, I'm so proud of myself and my team, it has been a crazy two weeks.
"A was very nervous, marketa has had an amazing season, she's only just starting her prime, she is going to be in a lot of other Grand Slam finals, it was very nice to play against her today.
"Obviously Sam has done so well here in the past, and she has been so close before, so I'm incredibly proud of what they have been able to achieve and it has just been an amazing two weeks."
Serving clinic leaves Ash Barty a single game away from her maiden grand slam title.
Ash has never dealt with this much pressure before and a few cracks are starting to appear as Marketa serves to stay in the match.
MATCH POINT! Ash Barty has done it 6-2 6-3 breaking Australia's 46-year French Open curse.
Serving clinic leaves Ash Barty a single game away from her maiden grand slam title.
Ash has never dealt with this much pressure before and a few cracks are starting to appear as Marketa serves to stay in the match.
MATCH POINT! Ash Barty has done it 6-2 6-3 breaking Australia's 46-year French Open curse.
Second set: Barty can smell French Open title
Rich Lamberton
Serving clinic leaves Ash Barty a single game away from her maiden grand slam title.
Ash has never dealt with this much pressure before and a few cracks are starting to appear as Marketa serves to stay in the match.
Barty is also pretty good at cricket ...
Rich Lamberton
don't say it don't say it don't say it don't say it
This must be one of the most composed matches Ash barty has ever played. This second set has been really tight but Ash has barely put a foot wrong, reeling off another service game to lead 6-1 4-2.
A backhand drop shot from behind the baseline to seal the game was special.
Marketa is showing plenty of fight here, staying in the fight after holding her third service game on the trot. Barty leads 6-1 4-3.
This must be one of the most composed matches Ash barty has ever played. This second set has been really tight but Ash has barely put a foot wrong, reeling off another service game to lead 6-1 4-2.
A backhand drop shot from behind the baseline to seal the game was special.
Marketa is showing plenty of fight here, staying in the fight after holding her third service game on the trot. Barty leads 6-1 4-3.
That's how to comeback from losing a close game. Ash cruises in the fourth game of the second set, using her pinpoint serve to control the tempo of the game.
But Marketa hits back, winning her third game of the match and in a canter. Could be on here. Barty leads 6-1 3-2.
