Ashleigh Barty of Australia kisses the trophy as she celebrates victory. Photo / Getty
Ashleigh Barty of Australia kisses the trophy as she celebrates victory. Photo / Getty
Australia knew it had something special in Ash Barty and now the rest of the world does too.
The 23-year-old Queenslander produced a brilliant performance in the French Open final to win her maiden grand slam singles title, taking down Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-4.
Just as she did in her semi-final, Barty started the match on fire, racing to a 4-0 lead. But unlike her previous match, she didn't suffer from any nerves and she closed out the set without any trouble.
She faced greater resistance from Vondrousova in the second set but stood firm and iced the match.
Commentator Jim Courier said that Barty's life had changed. "Ash Barty is now a certified star in the game," he said.
After hitting a smash winner on match point to become the first person in 46 years from Down Under to win the singles crown at Roland Garros, Barty had just enough breath left to deliver an all-Aussie response, dropping an f-bomb before sinking to her knees in disbelief.
"It's unbelievable, I'm speechless," she said later. "I played the perfect match today.
"To my team, thank you guys for sticking with me. It's been the most amazing journey we've been on the past three years, and I feel like it's just the start. Let's go celebrate tonight."
Depending on the outcome of the final, one image was waiting in the wings to be unleashed and when match point came and went, the internet duly delivered.
Barty held up her end of the bargain and it meant a well known photo of the Aussie superstar was given a new life online.
The happy snap โ taken of Barty in 2002 showing her holding up a trophy as a junior โ lit up the Twittersphere after her historic victory, which saw her become the first Australian in 46 years to win a singles title on the Paris clay.
The speed at which the photo went viral meant Barty was already being asked about it soon after receiving the most previous silverware of her career during an interview with British broadcaster ITV.
"That photo has gone far and wide across the world," Barty said of the image that shows her smiling gleefully at her junior club, the West Brisbane Tennis Centre.
One clever Twitter user was quick on the Photoshop tools and re-purposed the image slightly to give it an updated feel with the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup.
That very photo was shared by Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios while plenty of others also shared the original picture from their social media accounts alongside congratulatory messages.
Everywhere you looked in the aftermath of Barty's win, you had the 2002 version of her staring back at you.
Congrats @ashbar96 nothing changed, you were dominating juniors and now winning slams. pic.twitter.com/D6t902DKxs
Barty will rise to No. 2 in the world after her breakthrough major victory, which will be the highest ranking for an Aussie woman since Evonne Goolagong was No. 1 in 1976.
By winning in Paris, Barty became Australia's first indigenous major champion since Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon in 1980.
"Evonne sent me a text a couple days ago ... I spotted her name on the trophy," Barty said. "It's amazing what she's done for Indigenous tennis ... hopefully we can continue to create those opportunities for kids to know this (can be) a career."
Barty will be hoping to hit top spot in the rankings soon given the grass court season โ her favourite surface โ is just around the corner.
VONDROUSOVA PAYS TRIBUTE
Saturday was the first time Vondrousova had ever stepped foot on Court Philippe Chatrier and the occasion clearly got to the Czech teenager. She took too long to get into the match and by the time she found her rhythm, it was too late.
Vondrousova was shattered after the match as tears flowed but she was all class at the post-match presentation, paying tribute to Barty not just as a player but as a person too.
"First of all, congrats Ash and your team, you gave me a lesson today. You're an amazing player and you're such a nice person, so you deserve this," Vondrousova said on court before heaping more praise on Barty in her post-match press conference.
"She was just too good today. I think she plays amazing match. I didn't have too many chances today.
"She was just better at everything today.
"She's playing too good. She's mixing things up. And she has a huge serve.
Tennis legends and players, both from Australia and overseas, were quick to congratulate Barty.
Aussie legend Rod Laver was watching on in the stands and was quick to pose for a photo with Barty, while a gif of American tennis great Chris Evert giving the Aussie a thumbs up spread like wildfire across the internet.
Madison Keys, who Barty defeated in the quarter-finals, tweeted: "Congrats @ashbar96! Well done on your first grand slam. So well deserved."
Nick Kyrgios also chimed in on Twitter, saying: "Congrats @ashbar96 nothing changed, you were dominating juniors and now winning slams."
People @ashbar96 was playing cricket 3 years ago!!!! And doing local tennis coaching!!! Crazy!!! Ok am now going to cry along side all you Aussies as they play the anthem!!!
— Rennae Stubbs โ๏ธ (@rennaestubbs) June 8, 2019
Congratulations to #RG19 champion, @ashbar96! The first major win is so sweet. Proud of you! ๐ฆ๐บ https://t.co/pQ4VLUQCHS
Iโve known Ash for a long time and sheโs always been special. Winning a French Open title doesnโt confirm what weโve always known. So happy for @ashbar96, @CTyzzer and her family for this. #queenslanderpic.twitter.com/yErk8chuYW
@ashbar96 is so entertaining !!! Love watching her play since the junior.. huge congrats on your first Grand Slam victory ๐ Many more to come for sure ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ฅ
Barty's win becomes even more significant when you consider she almost gave tennis away for good. Homesick and struggling to deal with the burdens placed on professional players, she left the sport aged 18 in 2014 to try her hand at cricket.
She was part of the Brisbane Heat squad in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and representing Australia in an Ashes Test rather than the Fed Cup looked the more likely prospect.
But tennis was in Barty's blood and she returned to her true love in 2016. Since then, she's risen from world No. 623 to grand slam champion. It's a journey that's had to be seen to be believed.
The Ash Barty story is incredible for many reasons, but this is my favourite :
Took time off from tennis a while ago (because it is lonely on tour) and played professional cricket instead (wanted to try being in a team environment).
