Ash Barty beating sparks flood of Wimbledon tears

Centre Court was showering Ash Barty’s opponent with love as the Aussie reflected on a classy gesture that brought everyone to cheers.

Carla Suarez Navarro’s mother Maria Dolores wiped away tears as her daughter walked off Wimbledon Centre Court to a standing ovation.

Her daughter later thanked her for being her constant companion while she underwent treatment for cancer but with emotions raw she broke down in her post-match press conference.

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“My mum has been to Wimbledon two or three times,” said Suarez Navarro. “She tries to record everything and I guess she gets a bit emotional too.”

Navarro then lowered her head and sobbed before adding “for all these months we’ve had to go through”.

“It’s special to have her here, I really appreciate it and don’t ask me about my mother any more please,” she said.

Suarez Navarro put up a remarkable performance against world No. 1 Ash Barty, losing in three sets — 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 — on her least favoured surface of grass.

Her only competitive outing prior to Wimbledon had been at the French Open. The popular 32-year-old Spaniard had retired last year and was diagnosed with cancer only to announce in April she had been cured and would return for a final tour of hand-picked tournaments culminating in the US Open in September.

Her mother watched from the players’ box and filmed her 11th and final Wimbledon.

“For her it was a really good moment. She really wants to be on Centre Court,” said Suarez Navarro. “Well, I think she’s proud. I want to say thank you to my mum every day.”

A touching moment

It's been a pleasure, @CarlaSuarezNava 💜 💚#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/3JrMwkjkts

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 29, 2021

Suarez Navarro managed to keep her emotions in check throughout the match and while walking off despite the pressure of the occasion and the warmth of the crowd, which gave her a standing ovation.

Barty too was all class, standing and applauding her opponent as she walked off the court to a thunderous reception.

She had shown the same resilience against Barty breaking the Australian when she served for the match at 5-4 in the second set and then taking the tiebreaker.

Wimbledon has always held a certain place in Navarro’s heart and being drawn with Barty ensured it carried on till the final curtain.

“I think Wimbledon make me a really good gift,” she said. “I really enjoyed it. I cannot ask for anything else better than this day.

“As you say, one of my last matches here against Ash, No. 1 in the world, on Centre Court, with the roof.

“It was amazing. I really enjoyed everything I pass through.

“I think now, today, I was or I am the most happy player in tournament.”

Navarro received a magical reception. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images).

Barty’s classy move in ‘remarkable’ moment

Barty is on her own mission to land the Wimbledon singles title on the 50th anniversary of her mentor and fellow Indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s first crown.

However, she summed up the high regard and respect for Suarez Navarro among her fellow professionals.

“It was incredible to share the court with Carla after her incredible career got a little bit longer,” said Barty. “She is a fighter, an incredible competitor and lovely person and I cannot find one bad word to say about her.

“She’s an exceptional person, a great fighter, a great competitor, and very well-loved and respected in the locker room.

“She’s going to be sorely missed. I wanted to give her the appreciation that she thoroughly deserves.

“I kind of didn’t know what else to do (applauding her off). I wanted to give her a hug, just say congratulations on an exceptional, remarkable career.

“To be able to share that moment with her was nothing short of remarkable.”

The players shared a nice moment at the net after match point, where Barty passed along a touching message before joining in the standing ovation.

“She deserves nothing but the best. I just said to her, ‘It was a pleasure to share the court with you’,” Barty said.

“I just wanted to give her the appreciation she thoroughly deserved. The crowd was exceptional, they gave her a remarkable reception as well as she was walking off the court.

“I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to give her a hug and just say congratulations on an exceptional, remarkable career.

“It was a privilege more than anything to share the court with Carla.”

Tennis was the real winner. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images).

As for whether Suarez Navarro was having second thoughts on going back on her decision to retire the seven-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist gave a firm answer.

“No, no, no,” she said. “For sure I’m going to play my last tournament in the US Open.

“Then I finish my career.”

With AFP