Australian Open 2022: ‘The universe connects us’ - Barty wins on First Nations Day

Ash Barty played her role to perfection with a commanding win on the inaugural First Nations Day at the Australian Open.

Ash Barty wants her serve to be a weapon Picture: Michael Klein.

Wednesday is First Nations Day at the Australian Open.

Indigenous guests in the VIP seats include Wurundjeri and Yorta Yorta elders. Indigenous art work is everywhere.

Indigenous ball kids scurry to their respective courts in Indigenous-themed face masks more colourful and vibrant than those provided by your local chemist.

An Indigenous girl named Grace tosses the coin before the feature match on Rod Laver Arena.

One of the players is Indigenous. Goes by the name of Ash Barty. Goes all right.

Ngaragu blood is in her veins and she hits the ball like a centuries-old dream.

Her rise to the top shelf of Australian sport is behind the Open’s inaugural First Nations Day.

She’s inspired it, but she’s also inspired by it. Watching her is Aunty Joy Murphy.

Aunty Pam Pederson. Paralympian Kevin Coombs. Olympians past and present in Kyle Vander-Kuyp, Peter Bol and Joseph Deng.

The artists Stan Yarramunua and Maggie-Jean Douglas. Douglas is the cheerful Gubbi Gubbi woman who’s designed the masks in gloriously earthy reds, oranges and yellows.

Splashes of electric blue. “Everything looks amazing,” she says.

Including Barty, who beats Italian qualifier Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 6-1 while Indigenous dancers and didgeridoo players whoop it up down near the Koori Heritage Culture Walk.

Ian Goolagong, the brother of Barty’s hero Evonne, has pulled up a courtside pew.

He’s spent the morning giving Indigenous young ‘uns a tour of the site. He says Evonne isn’t in town because she’s been unwell – not Covid, he says, more like the after-effects of pneumonia – but she’s watching on television at home on the Sunshine Coast.

Ian is a cultural adviser to Anglicare Victoria.

“I haven’t seen Ash play live for two years,” he says. “Who has? We’ve all been stuck at home. For everything she’s done and how she’s done it, she should be proud of herself.”

It’s a predictably no-nonsense performance and a suitably cheerful and uncomplicated aftermath.

A quiet fist pump after a 52-minute dismantling of an overwhelmed opponent.

A thumbs up to all corners of the stands. She puts her racquet away, slips her engagement ring back on and delivers a wish-you-were-here message to Evonne.

“She’s an incredible human being,” Barty says.

“I’m extremely lucky to be able to call her a friend. I know she’s only ever a phone call away.

“The universe has worked in a way that we’re so connected. We’ve got some special anniversaries that we share together, obviously we’re connected through our heritage.

“She’s an incredible woman and she’s been able to guide so many of the Indigenous youth coming up in the last however many years, but also her work off the court.

“I’m privileged to know her. I love her to death.”

The tournament is about to get serious for Barty.

She’s knocked off a couple of qualifiers like they’re quiet beers on New Year’s Eve.

From Friday night against 30th-seeded Italian Camila Giorgi, every opponent will pose a challenge. That can wait.

Now she’s greeting a large crowd of Indigenous kids in a back room at Melbourne Park.

They don’t want her to leave and Barty doesn’t want to get away. It pauses momentarily. That’s when Barty has someone on the phone for them to listen to. Goolagong.

“It was really cool,” Barty says of First Nations Day.

“It was nice for me to be a part of it in a way that I feel most comfortable, I suppose.

“Out on the tennis court is how I express myself as an athlete.

“It’s how I’m able to express myself as a person as well.

“On a day we’re bringing cultures together, bringing people together, it was really nice for me to go out and enjoy that.

“Just met a few of the kids that have come down from Alice Springs and all around Australia, which is amazing for them to come and experience the Australian Open on a really special day for our culture and our heritage.”

She adds: “I think the site looks great. The artwork. All the experiences you could do today looked amazing.

“It was great for me to be able to play a small role in that, playing my role, doing what I love. I was really fortunate to be able to play today.”

Barty’s been serving as well as Australia’s latest Indigenous Test cricketer, Scott Boland, has been bowling. Bloody well.

“Just continually trying to try and make it a weapon,” she says.

“I’m not the biggest girl out there but I know I’ve got a sound technique and I know if I can get my rhythm right and use it effectively, it can be a weapon.”

She adds: “Tyz (coach Craig Tyzzer) and I put a lot of emphasis on my serve.

“I always did as a kid. I was always serving baskets and baskets of serves to try to create that weapon. Try to create a really sound shot.

“For me, it’s serving to set up the next shot that I want. It’s not always trying to hit it as hard as I can. Rarely am I redlining, hitting a serve as hard as I can.

“It’s more about the placement, thinking about what kind of return I’m going to get to try to set up the rest of the point. It’s the one shot in tennis that you have full control over.

“That’s how you get to start the point. It’s more about trying to start it on my terms as regularly as I can.”

Most players are going from their hotel to the courts and ­nowhere else in an effort to avoid Covid.

Asked how her own routine has changed, Barty says: “My routine? I‘m a hermit.

“It doesn’t affect me too much. For us it’s pretty low-key.

“We come and practise and do what we need to do. Otherwise a good book and a coffee and I’m set.”

What’s she reading right now? I Am Pilgrim.