Australian Open 2020: Ash Barty’s niece helps ease pain of defeat
Ash Barty had every right to cut a forlorn figure in her post-match press conference but the presence of a precious family member helped put her semi-final loss into perspective.
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Ash Barty had carried the hopes of a nation deep into the second week of the Australian Open, intent in burying a 42-year title drought for homegrown stars.
No Australian, male or female, has won the local grand slam since Chris O’Neil in 1978 – and few looked as confident of changing that record as Barty, the world No.1, this week.
So when her dream was left shattered by an upstart American, having been in a position to win both sets and earn safe passage to Saturday’s final, she had every right to cut a forlorn figure when she arrived for her post-match press conference.
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Instead, she walked in beaming and cradling her baby niece.
Had Barty been broken by the defeat, the sadness was quickly washed away when she was met by her team – and niece Olivia.
“Perspective is a beautiful thing. Life is a beautiful thing,” Barty said. “She brought a smile to my face as soon as I came off the court. I got to give her a hug. It’s all good.
“This is what life is all about. It’s amazing.”
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Barty, whose face has been plastered all around Melbourne as the major Australian drawcard for this year’s tournament, has had to deal with enormous levels of expectation this year.
But she says it wasn’t the pressure which reduced her to rubble on Thursday.
“Not at all. I’ve been in a grand slam semi-final before,” Barty said.
“Yes, it’s different at home. I enjoyed the experience.”