Ashleigh Barty wins the 2019 French Open women’s title

Aussie tennis star Ash Barty has made history with an incredible French Open demolition, romping to a straight sets win in the final.

Ashleigh Barty can’t believe it after securing victory against Marketa Vondrousova. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Ashleigh Barty has become Australia’s first French Open champion in 46 years with a dominant 6-1 6-3 win over Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova.

The Aussie superstar had been in great form leading into the tournament but was an unknown quantity on clay with her previous best performance in five appearances at Roland Garros being a second round exit.

But the Queenslander was incredible throughout the tournament, losing just two sets on her way to win her first Grand Slam singles title and moved to No. 2 in the world rankings.

Margaret Court was the last winner from Australia, having won her fifth and final French Open title in 1973.

Barty has become Australia’s fourth French Open women’s singles champion alongside Court, Lesley Bowrey and Evonne Goolagong.

The 23-year-old was phenomenal, racing to a commanding 3-0 lead after just seven minutes and holding her nerve to win the first set while dropping just one game.

The match tightened up in the second set but the Aussie held off the advances of her 19-year-old opponent and kept cool, finishing things off with a smash at the net.

“It’s unbelievable, I’m a little bit speechless, it’s amazing,” she said post-match.

“I played the perfect match today. I’m so proud of myself and my team but it’s been a crazy two weeks.”

Australia’s Greatest 🇦🇺@ashbar96 is the 2019 Roland-Garros champion, defeating Vondrousova 6-1 6-3.

🎾 https://t.co/FJdsaBBRCP#RG19 pic.twitter.com/TMsAdEhHg3

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2019

Vondrousova, who will move into the world’s top 20, praised Barty’s performance, while Barty said her young opponent will be a Grand Slam feature for years to come.

Barty started the match with a bang, breaking twice to win the first four games as she showed no nerves despite the late start, which was forced upon the players after Novak Djokovic’s semi-final loss to Dominic Thiem on centre court was interrupted by rain.

It was an incredible start but in shades of the semi-final, where she led 5-0 over 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova, Barty was unable to hold her serve, letting Vondrousova get on the board at 4-1.

Sweet success. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

While against Anisimova, Barty ended up losing the set in a tiebreak, Barty wasn’t about to let the capitulation happen again.

Despite having three break points saved, Barty fought back to claim another break and go up 5-1 before closing out the set on serve.

Barty’s roll towards her first Grand Slam title picked up steam early in the second set, breaking in the first game.

She then held a tight service game to edge closer to her goal.

But Vondrousova wasn’t about to give up easily and hit back for her first hold of the match, making it 2-1 in the second as the match tightened up.

For the first time, the match went on serve midway through the second set as Vondrousova played with renewed freedom following the early assault from Barty as the Aussie moved to 5-3.

Barty then closed out the match, breaking Vondrousova with an overhead smash to bring up the victory.

The complete players. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP)

Australia’s newest Grand Slam champion was then welcomed to the club by one of the country’s greatest champions in Rod Laver.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion predicted Barty could go all the way earlier in the week and proved prophetic.

Social media was blown away by the performance.

Watch Barty's footwork -- between shots and in particular immediately after she strikes a shot https://t.co/xGd8dQ8gT8

— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) June 8, 2019

Repeating this again. Playing doubles have transformed Barty into a different player (in a good and positive way). #FrenchOpen https://t.co/RR9Zy6kGuq

— Sudatta (@iSudatta) June 8, 2019

Ash Barty, thank you for showing that it's okay to step away from something you love for a while and then return to it when it makes you happy again. Congratulations! #RG19 pic.twitter.com/K9CEsFZiyB

— Nikhila (@kokudum) June 8, 2019

How the hell is Barty so calm! Chris Evert got more emotional celebrating that bizarrely timed tribute. Humble champion.

— Dan Ginnane (@DanGinnane) June 8, 2019

Ash Barty flying the flag with a French Open title, and if you can’t feel the current picking up strength for women’s sport in 🇦🇺, I don’t know what waters you’re paddling in.

— Laurie Horesh (@LaurieHoresh) June 8, 2019

Barty said she was nervous despite looking calm throughout the match but she did come in with doubles experience on the biggest stage.

She had previously won the 2018 US Open doubles title alongside American CoCo Vandeweghe, as well as making four other Grand Slam doubles finals with Casey Dellacqua.

The 2019 French Open men’s final and Wimbledon will be live and on demand on Kayo Sports for just $25 per month for two devices at once on Apple, Android and Telstra TV, for Apple and Google Android smartphones, on web browsers and via Google Chromecast Ultra devices. Click here for your free trial.

Barty will only be looking up at Japan’s US Open and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka when the rankings are updated.

It will be the highest ranking for an Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley was World No. 1 in 1976 and should provide her with a favourable draw looking ahead to Wimbledon, which starts in three weeks on July 1.