Saturday 10th July 2021
Tears after Wimbledon victory
Barty fulfills her childhood dream
The Australian Ashleigh Barty wins the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament for the first time. In the final, the world number one prevails in three contested sets against the Czech Karolina Plíšková. Barty only plays once and has to tremble for a moment.
Half a century after the historic premiere of her great role model Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Ashleigh Barty also crowned herself at Wimbledon. The world number one from Australia defeated the Czech Karolina Plíšková 6: 3, 6: 7 (4: 7), 6: 3 in the final and stormed to her second major title after the 2019 French Open. The finals remained flawless, the former world number one Plíšková has to wait for her first big title. She had already lost the final of the US Open to Angelique Kerber in 2016.
In 1971 Goolagong Cawley was the first descendant of the Aborigines, the Australian aborigines, to triumph at Wimbledon. The 25-year-old Barty also has indigenous roots – and to commemorate the memorable premiere of her compatriot, she wore an outfit throughout the tournament that was based on that of her role model 50 years ago. In 1980 Goolagong Cawley won again on Church Road – no Australian would ever reach the final until Saturday.
Like Barty, Plíšková had reached the final at Wimbledon for the first time, the last time a duel between two newcomers for the title took place in 1977. In addition to the famous Venus Rosewater Dish, Barty can also look forward to the winner’s check of almost two million euros, for the defeated Plíšková there is a good half.
Shock in sentence two
Without a doubt, the two most convincing players of the tournament met in the final. Barty defeated German number one Angelique Kerber in the semifinals with “one of the best matches I have ever played,” as she said. Plíšková dominated mainly with her serve and only gave a set in the semifinals against Aryna Sabalenka. In direct comparison, Barty went into the final with a 5-2 balance.
And before the eyes of Prince William and his wife Kate, Barty got off to an explosive start. The first 14 points belonged to her, until the 4-0 Plíšková had nothing to report. With the top score of 54 aces, the Czech made it into the final – but Barty, who had to give up in the second round of the French Open due to hip problems, defused this weapon excellently.
But even after the first set was lost in half an hour, Plíšková did not give up. The protégé of the successful German coach Sascha Bajin, who had led the Japanese Naomi Osaka to two Grand Slam victories, came back from a break deficit in the second set. Finally it was the expected match at eye level. Once again she fought her way back when Barty hit the match and forced the third set with two net rollers in the tie-break.
There the Australian quickly shook off the shock, set the course for victory with an early break and fulfilled a childhood dream after 1:55 hours – in 2011 she had already won the junior title at Wimbledon.
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