World No.1 Ashleigh Barty beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in the women’s singles final to win her maiden Wimbledon title. Ashleigh Barty won her first Wimbledon title on the 50th anniversary of fellow indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s maiden crown, beating Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in the final on Saturday. The 25-year-old Australian — who wore a specially designed dress in tribute to Cawley’s iconic scallop one she sported in 1971 — adds the Wimbledon crown to her 2019 French Open title. “It took me a long time to verbalise, to dare to dream it and say it,” said Barty, who was also fulfilling a childhood dream. Ashleigh Barty is now first Australian women’s champion for 41 years.
“This is incredible,” said Barty, who dropped to her haunches 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, which felt at times more like a battle of the minds.
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.
