- Ashleigh Barty [1] def. Karolina Pliskova [8] 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3
- She wins a second Slam title and her first Wimbledon crown
LONDON, UK – Ashleigh Barty wins her first Wimbledon title and a second Slam title after beating Karolina Pliskova in the final.
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Ashleigh Barty [1] def. Karolina Pliskova [8] 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty achieved a childhood dream as she beat Czech Karolina Pliskova in three sets to win her first Wimbledon title, and a second Slam. The start of the match was all one-way traffic as Pliskova seemed completely stricken with nerves could barely move, losing the first four games in just a matter of minutes with Barty winning the first 14 points in a row.
It was not until the eighth game before Pliskova actually held a game, having broken Barty previously to get her first game on the board. It was the briefest of respites though, as Barty closed out the first set comfortably. That momentum stayed with her as she broke early in the second set, with Pliskova able to level things and stay in contention. Barty broke to serve for the match, and then for the first time in the match really blinked, as the Czech broke to force a tie-break.
At last, there were signs of emotion as the crowd was willing Pliskova on as she built up a lead in the tie-break, making good on her third set point. It was all a familiar story at the start of the third set with Barty once more breaking early, and this time there was no miraculous comeback for the Czech as on the 50th anniversary of Evonne Goolagong’s maiden Wimbledon victory, Barty claimed her first Wimbledon title, to accompany her Roland Garros title of 2019.
‘The stars aligned for me’
In a Wimbledon beset with seeds tumbling and high profile withdrawals, Barty was herself a doubt, having retired in the second round Roland Garros and skipping the tournaments ahead of Wimbledon – it looked touch and go that she would even make it on court, much less win the whole shebang.
And there is no denying she had to play herself into form.
She said: “The stars aligned for me over the past fortnight. Incredible that it happened to fall on the 50th Anniversary of Evonne’s first title here, too, is absolutely incredible.
“It was just about going out there and backing myself and trying to execute as best as I could. I think trying to serve out the match in the second set, I gave Kaja a look in. She grabbed it with both hands. I think 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. That’s all I was really focusing on, just trying to do the best I could every given point regardless of what the score-line was.”
The win was even more poignant given it was the first anniversary of Australian icon Goolagong Cawley’s first Wimbledon win, and also 41 years since she, or indeed any Australian won the title.
“Evonne is a very special person in my life. 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. I think being able to share that with her and share some pretty special victories now with her, to be able to create my own path is really incredible, really exciting.
“She’s just been an icon for years and years, not just on the tennis court. Her legacy off the court is incredible. I think if I could be half the person that Evonne is, I’d be a very, very happy person. I think being able to have a relationship with her and talk with her through my experience, knowing she’s only ever a phone call away is really, really cool.”
The men’s final will conclude Wimbledon 2021, not before 2pm BST.
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