Ash Barty’s ‘biggest fan’ Chris O’Neil set to pass her baton on

Ash Barty’s biggest fan is the person from whom the 25-year-old will quite possibly take the crown of Australia’s last Australian Open titleholder.

Chris O’Neil, the last Australian female to win the Australian Open in 1978, outside her home in Port Macquarie, NSW. Picture: Liam Mendes

Ash Barty’s biggest fan is the person from whom the 25-year-old will quite possibly take the crown of Australia’s last Australian Open titleholder.

For 44 years, Chris O’Neil has held the title as the last Australian to win the Australian Open grand slam, and she could not be happier to be flying to Melbourne to ­potentially pass the baton on.

She’s travelling to the sporting capital by invitation of Tennis Australia with seven friends to watch the match.

“I think I’m probably her biggest fan,” O’Neil told The Weekend Australian as she headed to Coffs Harbour airport. “She’s a ­really humble human being.

“She’s a fantastic ambassador to sport, for tennis, (and a) great role model for women, she’s a great ambassador for her culture and for Australia.

“Because of the depth in tennis now, it’s not surprising that (winning the Australian Open) hasn’t been done since, so it takes somebody special like Ash to be there doing it.”

O’Neil moved to Port Macquarie seven years ago and now coaches tennis a few times a week.

She’s convinced Barty will come off with a win. “I think if she can continue – which I think she will – the same form and be as comfortable as she has been, then I think that this is her year.”

And in terms of advice? O’Neil says Barty doesn’t have to change a thing. “Just do the same as what you’ve been doing through the tournament,” she said.

“Who would have thought 44 years ago this time later and no Aussie has won it. Back then it was a completely different generation, everything was completely different from racquet technology, to court surface, to media, to money, to all of it.

“We’re a small nation of people, I think we do very well anyway in terms of our sporting achievements.”