(July 10, 2021) No. 1 Ash Barty of Australian won her first Wimbledon title on Saturday when she defeated No. 8 seed Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 on Saturday. It’s the 25-year-old’s second major title, her first coming in 2019 at Roland Garros. Barty won the Wimbledon Junior Girls’ title 10 years ago.
She’s the first Australian woman to win the title since 1980, when Evonne Goolagong won her second Wimbledon that year. Barty has taken inspiration from Goolagong over the years and her outfit was an homage to Goolagong’s first Wimbledon title when she first won the title in 1971.
“Evonne is a very special person in my life,” said Barty. “I think she has been iconic in paving a way for young indigenous youth to believe in their dreams and to chase their dreams. She’s done exactly that for me as well.”
Barty started off the match by winning the first 14 points, jumping off to a 4-0 lead. The Czech climbed back into the set, breaking her opponent twice, once as Barty first served for the set. Barty held Pliskova off and closed it out 6-3.
“Horrible start,” said Pliskova, a former 2016 U. S.finalist. “That’s why I’m more, like, proud about the way (I found) a way back in that match.”
Barty had break leads twice in the second set and served for the title at 6-5, but Pliskova fought back to claim the set 7-6(4).
In the third set, Barty went up a break for a 3-0 lead and held on for the 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 win. This was the first Wimbledon Ladies’ final to go to a decider since 2012.
“Being able to reset at the start of the third was really important, just for me to continue to turn up each and every point,” said Barty to media. “That’s all I was really focusing on, just trying to do the best I could every given point, regardless of what the scoreline was.”
“It was the most incredible feeling I think I’ve ever experienced on a tennis court,” Barty said in her news conference. “There was certainly disbelief. I think I’ve worked so hard my whole career with my team and with people that mean the most to me to try and achieve my goals and my dreams. To be able to do that today was incredible.”
“Australians have such a rich history in sport, and I think being able to be a very small part of that is something I always dreamt of, try and create a legacy, try and create a path for young girls and boys to believe in their dreams,” Barty added.
“To be able to be successful here at Wimbledon, to achieve my biggest dream, has been absolutely incredible. The stars aligned for me over the past fortnight.”
