“Little Sister”: Australia proud of Barty

With the “most incredible feeling” on a tennis court in her heart and the winner's bowl in her hand, Ashleigh Barty preferred to talk about her great role model Evonne Goolagong Cawley, as nice as the pun on the Barty party might be. 50 years after Goolagong Cawley's first triumph on the London pitch, Barty highlighted the indigenous roots of both - and the heartwarming response from home was not long in coming, even if night had long since fallen on the other side of the world.

“Evonne is a very special person in my life. She has been an icon for many years,” said Barty after the 6:3, 6:7 (4:7), 6:3 final over Czech Karolina Pliskova. The ex-tennis player, who will soon turn 70, has paved a way for young indigenous people to believe in their dreams and pursue them. “That’s exactly what she did for me,” emphasized Barty, who comes from near Brisbane. “If I could be half the person Evonne is, I would be a very, very happy person.” Goolagong Crawley congratulates At home, 41 years after her second and final Wimbledon triumph, Goolagong Cawley said she was extremely “proud of Ash for how she not only copes on the court, but also off it. She's a great Australian, everyone loves her," said the winner of seven Grand Slam titles and emphasized: "Ash is like a little sister and part of my family." After the French Open victory in 2019, she had already made it clear that How great it is that an Aboriginal won there again.

Emotionally touched: Ashleigh Barty © APA/afp / AELTC/SIMON BRUTY

At Wimbledon, the 25-year-old Barty's outfit reminded her of her idol's success in 1971; the tournament organizers posted two photos of the two of them next to each other on social media, smiling as they presented the victory trophy - the Venus Rosewater Dish. At home, the sporting nation of Australia was excited about the world number one on television late at night and was overwhelmed with congratulations. Cathy Freeman also spoke up: the 400-meter Olympic champion from Sydney 2000 is also of indigenous descent. “Mighty proud of our girl,” Freeman wrote. Australia is bursting with pride, wrote Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Tennis idol Rod Laver, who was the last man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in one season in 1969, was happy that Barty had realized her big dream.

Their popularity at home is also based on their fundamentally modest demeanor. “I just tried to live by the values my parents taught me. “I think it’s more important to be a good person than to be a good tennis player,” Barty explained. A circle closes This time a year ago, when Wimbledon was canceled due to the corona pandemic, Barty was sitting at home. She had stayed at home since the beginning of March 2020 and was taking her second long break from tennis after 2014, when everything was too much for her. It wasn't until 2016 that the talented cricketer and golfer slowly started playing professional tennis again, ten years after her victory in the junior women's competition at Wimbledon. Barty repeatedly emphasized how much she considers it a privilege and a joy to be able to play this tournament again - and to even win it after a hip injury at the French Open at the beginning of June.

Her family near Brisbane in eastern Australia cheered at the end of the almost two-hour final, which varied in tension and class, when a backhand from Pliskova landed in the net. Father Rob Barty reported that he was in daily contact with his sisters and his wife. But after ten months of separation, it won't be time for a barty party until November.

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“Little Sister”: Australia proud of Barty

For Ashleigh Barty, Australia's first Wimbledon winner since 1980, the memory of her roots was more important than the thoughts of a big party.

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