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Ash Barty
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MELBOURNE (REUTERS): Ash Barty is rarely emotional on court but when she accomplished her dream of winning the Australian Open, which also ended the home nation’s 44-year wait for a singles champion, she tilted her head back and let out an almighty roar.
Fans all around Melbourne Park and around the country were also roaring with joy as the world number one fought back from 5-1 down in the second set against big-hitting American Danielle Collins to complete a 6-3, 7-6(2) win and clinch her third Grand Slam title.
“It was a little bit surreal,” the 25-year-old said about her celebratory cry of “Yes”.
“I didn’t quite know what to do or what to feel. Just being able to let out a little bit of emotion, which is a little bit unusual for me, and being able to celebrate with everyone who was there in the crowd, the energy was incredible tonight.”
Since Barty won her first major at Roland Garros in 2019 and subsequently climbed to the top of the rankings, there has been growing anticipation that she would finally be the one who would end the sports-loving country’s wait for a homegrown tennis champion.
The closest she came before was in 2020 when she lost in the semi-finals. Barty finally fulfilled that expectation by becoming the first Australian to be crowned singles champion at the Grand Slam since Chris O’Neil won the women’s title in 1978.
“I think the expectation was that I would always come out and give my best, and that’s all I’ve ever done,” she said.
“Now to be able to have this part of my dream kind of achieved is amazing.”
Barty’s adoring fans, many of them in green and gold, flocked to Melbourne Park on Saturday in anticipation of celebrating ‘Australia Day’ for a second time in three days.
The 25-year-old did not disappoint.
Barty has now won Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces, with 23-time major champion Serena Williams the only other active female player to have achieved the feat.
Barty said it was “pretty amazing” and Australian great Rod Laver agreed.
“A Grand Slam champion on three different surfaces, you are the complete player @AshBarty and I am so happy for you tonight,” tweeted Laver, who was among those lucky enough to have a ringside seat.
Barty came into the contest having won 11 of her past 13 finals and had conceded just 21 games during the past fortnight, dropping serve only once. She also had a 3-1 head-to-head lead against the 28-year-old American.
