Barty ends 44-year wait for home-grown Australian Open champion
Ash Barty ended her nation’s 44-year wait for an Australian Open singles champion with a hard-earned 6-3 7-6(2) triumph over Danielle Collins in the final, clinching her third Grand Slam title without dropping a set.
The world No. 1 is the eighth woman to win the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the Open era, and joins Serena Williams as the second active player to win women’s singles majors on three surfaces. But this surely stands apart for Barty, winning in front of her friends, family and compatriots to become Australia’s first home-grown champion since Chris O’Neil last lifted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in 1978.
It was worth the wait. The Australian Open organisers sprung a surprise in the trophy ceremony, calling on Evonne Goolagong – the four-time Australian Open champion, fellow indigenous Australian and Barty’s long-time mentor – to present the trophy, much to the evident shock and delight of the 2022 champion.
“I’m a little stumped here,” Barty said during the trophy presentation, before paying a special tribute to her nearest and dearest in the players’ box, and then the Australian crowd. “You brought me so much joy out here today. You relaxed me, you forced me to play my best tennis and against a champion like Danielle I knew I had to absolutely bring that today.
“This is just a dream come true for me. I’m so proud to be an Aussie, so thank you so much everyone.”
Barty was a worthy winner, but Collins ensured this was no procession to the title. All but untouchable through six matches en route to the final, Barty found herself facing her first crisis of the tournament after eking out a nervy first set as Collins handed her just the second and third breaks she has suffered over the past two weeks, streaking to a 5-1 lead in the second.
But the world No. 1 denied her a look at a set point as she found her finest tennis of the match to claw her way back to 5-5 before dominating the resulting tie-break, roaring with relief as much as elation after firing a cross-court forehand winner to secure victory.
For Collins, a place in the WTA Top 10 and a rise to US No. 1 awaits in Monday’s rankings as she once again proved herself an undaunted threat no matter the opponent or occasion, her venomous backhand beating Barty time and again as she warmed to the task in her first Grand Slam final.
While it ended in defeat, as it had for fellow former NCAA standout Jennifer Brady a year ago, the 28-year-old proved she belongs in such circles – no mean feat following her recovery from emergency surgery to deal with debilitating endometriosis in April 2021.
“It’s been tremendous to watch Ash climb the rankings all the way to No. 1 and live out her dreams,” Collins said. “I really admire you for the player that you are and the variety in your game. Hopefully I can implement some of that into mine.”
With both players adjusting to the occasion and the surprisingly lively conditions given the cool temperatures, it was Collins who fashioned the first break point of the match in the fourth game, saved with an instinctive inside-in forehand from Barty off the return. That seemed to trigger something in the top seed, who broke a game later when Collins fired a loose double-fault.
That was enough to seal the opening set – during which Collins lost her bracelet while hitting a forehand on the run – but early in the second the uncharacteristically subdued American backed up a fine opening hold with a break for 2-0, letting out a loud ‘C’mon’ after burying the telling smash.
With Collins calling the shots, Barty looked a little stunned, and a second break followed with the Australian tightening up to trail 5-1. But from there Barty loosened up – perhaps the first time in the tournament where she felt she had nothing to lose – and produced a four-game surge to level up at 5-5, her forehand firing once more.
Collins stopped the streak to earn a tie-break, but Barty instantly put herself in charge as she raced out to a 3-0 lead that proved decisive, as she went on to settle the match in one hour, 27 minutes to spark rapturous scenes around Rod Laver Arena.
For Barty, the Australian Open crown is her fourth title won on home soil, hot on the heels of her victory in Adelaide at the start of the year, while her record in finals improves to 12-2 – and 3-0 at the majors.
The joy was palpable. After the ceremony and a lap of honour for photos with the fans came her final act: with a grin from ear to ear, she wrote ‘You beauty’ on the camera lens as she left the court.