Triumph for Ash Barty as she becomes the first Aussie to win Wimbledon for 19 years with brilliant three-set victory over Karolina Pliskova while Kate and William watch on
Tennis ace Ash Barty has become the first Australian woman to win on the grass courts of Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.
The first seed wiped tears from her face at the end of the epic showdown against powerhouse world No.13 Karolina Pliskova, taking the trophy with a 6-3, 6-7 and 6-3 win in just an hour and 56 minutes.
'It took me a long time to verbalise the fact that I wanted to dare a dream and say I wanted to win this incredible tournament and being able to live out my dream right now with everyone here, this has made it better than I could have imagined,' Barty said after hoisting the Venus Rosewater Dish into the air.
'I didn't sleep a lot last night. I was thinking of all the what ifs, but I think when I was coming out on this court, I felt at home in a way.
'I think being able to share that with everyone here, to share that with my team, is incredible.'
The moment @AshBarty’s childhood dreams all came true#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gxMxphj4qk
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021
The moment @AshBarty’s childhood dreams all came true#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gxMxphj4qk
Ashleigh Barty won Wimbledon with a three-set 6-3 6-7 6-3 victory over Karolina Pliskova
The top seed produced a super display to cement her status as the best women's player
Barty was congratulated on her win by none other than the Duchess of Cambridge
Ash Barty celebrates with boyfriend Garry Kissick after winning her Ladies' Singles Final
Ash Barty has triumphed in the Wimbledon final in front of Kate and Prince William (pictured cheering)
Barty hugs her boyfriend Garry Kissick in the stands after he watched her sail to victory
It was never Mission Impossible... Tom Cruise is spotted watching Australia's home grown tennis ace take to the court
The 25-year-old took advantage of an initially nervy performance from an opponent who stands eight inches taller than her on Centre Court.
Throwing different spins and paces at the 6' 1' Czech, Barty eventually built on a dominant start that at one point looked in danger of turning into an embarrassing rout.
Pliskova recovered admirably to fully use her wingspan but was ultimately outfoxed by a more agile opponent.
The number eight seed took more than half an hour to get her fearsome serve going, and lost the first 14 points of the match, going halfway to losing what is known as a 'Golden Set'.
When she did get on the board it brought a huge cheer from the crowd which included figures as diverse as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise.
A strange seesaw match saw seven of the first eleven games won to love before Pliskova found her bearings early in the second.
Ash hugs her coach Craig Tyzzer who was watching on with her boyfriend in the grandstand
All smiles! The radiant tennis stair looked like she barely broke a sweat on Centre Court
Barty began strong and broke Pliskova twice in the Czech's first two service games
Pliskova put in a great fight to win the second set via a tiebreak despite falling a break behind
Barty fans cheered on the Australian from her stage in the UK, wearing Qantas jerseys and waving Australian flags
Ash certainly took the time to thank her opponent after the game had finished
Ash Barty kisses the winner's Venus Rosewater Dish trophy after winning her women's singles match
The slice of Barty, forcing her to get down low, always proved difficult, while the Australian's return of serve was a more than adequate match for her biggest weapon.
Pliskova began to play much better in the second set and was in the ascendancy at 5-5 and 40-0 before losing five points in a row against the relentless slice of Barty.
In this curious contest of sharp undulations, the Australian was then broken to fifteen after overhitting a series of forehands.
The tiebreak pivoted on a dramatic 7th point when Pliskova was helped by a fortunate netcord which allowed her to lob her diminutive opponent, and she took it 7-4 when Barty double faulted.
It was only the second time since 2006 that a Wimbledon women's final has gone to a deciding set.
She also became Australia's first singles champion of either sex since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002, closing the match out with an edgy service game.
Evonne Goolagong hits a forehand at Wimbledon in 1971 - she won the tournament aged just 19
Barty was all smiles facing the crowd and waiting photographers after winning on Centre Court
Holding back tears, Barty waved at the crowd of adoring fans in front of her
Barty paid tribute to former champion Goolagong Cawley on the court by wearing a white skirt featuring a scalloped hem - just like Evonne did as a 19-year-old in 1971.
After her astounding win the youthful Indigenous Australian said: 'I just hope I made Evonne proud'.
Goolagong Cawley is said to be humbled by the accolade, stating it 'just blows her mind' and it was 'a truly fantastic thing to do.'
The eye-catching outfit worn by Goolagong Cawley was designed by Ted Tinling, who single-handedly helped shape fashion in women's tennis.
'Ted always made such beautiful dresses,' she told Tennis Australia in the lead up to Wimbledon.
While many of her Australian fans and family members stayed up until the early hours of the morning to watch Barty sail to victory, she didn't forget to thank them after the game.
'I know they're at home watching. I miss them, I love them. I'm so glad that they were able to at least watch and share this with me. But I can't wait to get home to them in a few month's time and really celebrate,' she said.
But there was one major supporter by her side throughout the tournament: Barty's boyfriend pro golfer Garry Kissick.
The couple met in 2016 when Barty visited Brookwater Golf & Country Club in Brisbane - where Mr Kissick works - to play a round of golf.
A year later, they made their relationship public when they attended the John Newcombe awards together.
It was only the second time since 2006 that a Wimbledon women's final has gone to a deciding set
Barty celebrated with the Venus Rosewater Dish after her significant victory
Karolina Pliskova reacts at the net as she lost against Ash Barty
CAREER SNAPSHOT OF AUSTRALIA'S ASH BARTY:
Ash Barty pictured long before she took to the world stage at Wimbledon
Age: 25
Born: Ipswich, Australia
Lives: Brisbane, Australia
Height: 166cm
Ranking: 1
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money: $US21,197,824
Career titles: 12
Career win-loss record: 287-100
Grand slam titles: 2 (French Open 2019; Wimbledon 2021)
Grand slam win-loss record: 48-23
2021 titles: 4
2021 win-loss record: 35-6
Wimbledon win-loss record: 12-4
Best Wimbledon result: Champion 2021
Coach: Craig Tyzzer
Road to title:
1st rd: bt Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-7 (1-7) 6-1
2nd rd: bt Anna Blinkova 6-4 6-3
3rd rd: bt Katerina Siniakova 6-3 7-5
4th rd: bt 14-Barbora Krejcikova 7-5 6-3
QF: bt Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1 6-3
SF: bt 25-Angelique Kerber 6-3 7-6 (7-3)
F: bt 8-Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-3
Today marked the most significant milestone yet on an incredible global journey for Barty, who left Australia in March and had suffered tournament-winning elation and injury-ridden despair in equal measure leading into this crowning triumph.
Just a month ago, she feared she would not even make the start line at Wimbledon because of a hip injury she suffered at the French Open.
Yet after a remarkable rehabilitation and growing stronger with each round, Ipswich's finest saved her best to last to become only Australia's third ladies champion after Margaret Court and Goolagong as she lifted her fourth title of an astonishing year.
Australian wheelchair tennis king Dylan Alcott also picked up a well-earned trophy at Wimbledon, moving ever closer to a potential calendar year 'golden slam' of titles.
The Melbourne star landed his third grand slam triumph of the year on Saturday, following his successes at the Australian Open and recent French Open, with a 6-2 6-2 victory over his biggest current rival, Dutchman Sam Schroder.
Now the 30-year-old will go on to Tokyo for the Paralympics and then hope to complete the five-title 'golden slam' at the US Open.
The 21-year-old Schroder is the only man to have beaten Alcott this season and was confident of repeating his recent triumph over the Aussie at last month's French Riviera Open.
The Melbourne star landed his third grand slam triumph of the year on Saturday, following his successes at the Australian Open and recent French Open
Now the 30-year-old will go on to Tokyo for the Paralympics and then hope to complete the five-title 'golden slam' at the US Open
Yet the Australian was at his sharpest as he picked up the 14th grand slam singles title of his glittering career, breaking the left-hander Schroder three times in the opening set and three in the second for a comprehensive triumph.
Demonstrating more flair and touch than the Dutchman, especially with his drop shots that constantly caused Schroder problems, Alcott again showed why he's become a firm favourite with the Wimbledon crowd with his shows of emotion and virtuoso shotmaking.
After he'd wrapped up his victory in 67 minutes, Alcott, ever the showman, spun around in his wheelchair on No.3 Court to the delight of a crowd that featured a small but noisy Australian contingent.