| Venue: All England Club Dates: 28 June-11 July |
| Coverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full details here |
Ashleigh Barty won her maiden Wimbledon title as she beat Karolina Pliskova in a nervy final to become the first Australian women’s champion for 41 years.
Barty won the first 14 points to take early charge in a 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 win on the 50th anniversary of idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s maiden win here.
“This is incredible,” said Barty, who dropped to her knees in tears.
“It took me a long time to verbalise, to dare to dream it and say it.”
After climbing up into the stands to hug her team, she told the Centre Court crowd: “I didn’t sleep a lot last night. I was thinking of all the what-ifs. I hope I made Evonne proud.
“I have to thank every single person in this stadium. You’ve made my dream so special.”
Both women were making their debut in the final of the grass-court Grand Slam – the first time since 1977 that had happened – and that may go some way to explaining the rollercoaster nature of the match.
After Barty’s flying start, Czech Pliskova settled in the second set, rediscovering her big serve before errors crept back in the third.
Barty had the chance to serve out victory in the 12th game of the second set but she was broken as Pliskova forced a tie-break, which the Czech won when the Australian double-faulted.
Barty took an early break in the third, which proved decisive as she added the Wimbledon trophy to the French Open title she won in 2019.
Barty emulates Goolagong Cawley on 50th anniversary
Barty has been sporting a scallop-hem dress in tribute to Goolagong Cawley, her idol, friend and mentor.
There have long been comparisons between the two, with Barty playing a similar all-court game, as well as sharing a similar modest and popular personality and indigenous Australian heritage.
They now also have their names on the Venus Rosewater Dish.
Barty, who won the junior Wimbledon title in 2011, has become the fourth woman in the Open era to go on to also lift the women’s title after Britain’s Ann Jones, Swiss Martina Hingis and France’s Amelie Mauresmo.
She made a fast start to go 4-0 up as Pliskova seemed constrained by the weight of the occasion but the Czech finally got on the scoreboard with a break to love.
But it was too late as Barty wrapped up the set in just 28 minutes.
More nerves from the Czech in the shape of back-to-back double faults handed Barty a break for 2-1 at the start of the second set but Pliskova fought back to level the set.
Barty came from 40-0 down to break for 6-5 but nerves then seemed to creep into her own game as she failed to serve out the victory and instead found herself in a tie-break.
Pliskova took the match to a third set but then double-faulted and netted a volley to give Barty a key break before the Australian held her nerve to serve out the win.
More to follow.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
Source link
