Ashleigh Barty beat Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 to win the women’s singles title at the Wimbledon, cemented her status as of the all-time great Australian sports legends and likely clinching her induction in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The 25-year-old Australian needed only 28 minutes to take the first set in a convincing way – winning the first 14 points of the match. However, the 29-year-old Pliskova fought hard to crawl back by winning the tiebreaker 7-4 in the following set.
In the deciding set, Barty broke early to keep the match under control, winning her second Grand Slam title of her career after winning the French Open singles title in 2019. Winning two major singles titles is usually enough for a player to earn induction honors in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
“It was the most incredible feeling I think I’ve ever experienced on a tennis court,” said Barty who became the first Aussie to hold the Venus Rosewater Dish in 41 years. “There was certainly disbelief. I think I’ve worked so hard my whole career with my team and with people that mean the most to me to try and achieve my goals and my dreams. To be able to do that today was incredible.”
Pliskova, playing her second Grand Slam final as Barty did, failed again in her pursuit of a Grand Slam title. But the big hitter said she was proud of herself to find a way to fight back.
Pliskova admitted that it’s “a horrible start” as she lost the first 14 points in a row at the beginning of the match. “That’s why I’m more like proud about the way how I find a way back in that match. I mean, not really close to winning, but it was one set all after.”
About five weeks ago, Barty withdrew from the second round of the French Open due to a hip injury.
“In a sense, it was a two-month injury,” she said. “Being able to play here at Wimbledon was nothing short of a miracle.”
