After 44 years: Barty redeems Australia

The world number 1 won the eventful final on Saturday in Melbourne 6:3, 7:6 (7:2) against the American surprise finalist Danielle Collins. Barty thus withstood the pressure of expectations and ended the 44-year wait of the sports-loving Australians. Despite being 1:5 behind in the second set, the 25-year-old was able to celebrate after the tiebreak.

Collins missed out on her first Grand Slam title the day before the men's final between Spanish 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner Rafael Nadal and Russian world number two Daniil Medvedev in their first major final.

Everything was set for Barty on an unusually cool evening (local time) in the Australian summer for these two Grand Slam weeks: Australian tennis icon Rod Laver was among the guests of honor, as was Chris O'Neil, the last Australian to take part in 2 won the Australian Open and brought the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup onto the court at the atmospheric show.

Ashleigh Barty is happy about the trophy. © APA/afp / AARON FRANCIS

The final act of the women's tournament was a finale of contrasts. It was to be expected that the top seed Barty would reach the final. The question was whether it could live up to the burden of expectations. To the world rankings 30. Hardly anyone would have placed Collins, who was ranked 27th. On one side there was Barty, who is only 1,66 meters tall and shines with her wide repertoire. On the other, the power of the 1,78 meter tall American.

From the start, the spectators in the well-filled Rod Laver Arena conveyed that they wanted to see their hopefuls win the title. The “Ash” cheers rang out tirelessly for the world number one, who made unusual unforced errors. The serve in particular helped her find her way into the match.

Shakehand: Collins (left) and Barty. © APA/afp / MICHAEL ERREY

When the score was 2-2 in the first set, Collins had the first break chance of the game, but Barty brilliantly fended it off with a forehand to the line. At least the outsider didn't show any nervousness. Then the Grand Slam final debutant helped with a double fault on Barty's first break ball. The Australian got the break to make it 4-2 and then won the first set.

The American brought her emotions more and more into the game, dominated the second set with her aggressiveness for a long time and pulled away to 5-1. Barty, the first Australian Open finalist since Wendy Turnbull in 1980, did not seem to be given any security by the set. The first set loss in the entire tournament was threatened, but Barty fought back to 5:5 - and was fully there in the tiebreak.

For Barty it is the 3rd Grand Slam title after the French Open Winning in 2019 and winning Wimbledon last year. She can are looking forward to prize money of around 1,8 million euros.

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After 44 years: Barty redeems Australia

Ashleigh Barty has become the first Australian tennis player to win the Australian Open since 1978.

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