Who will win the debutante final at Wimbledon?

World number one Ashleigh Barty is hoping for the first Wimbledon title by an Australian since Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who last achieved this in 1980. Standing in her way is world number 13, Karolina Pliskova. The strong-serving Czech surprised herself after a weak season so far. “When I came to the tournament, the dream was that I would make it to the second week,” said the 29-year-old Pliskova. She came to Wimbledon with a meager return: she lost 27 of 12 matches, the highlight being the final in Rome, and she suffered opening defeats in the two grass tournaments before London.

This is not the only reason why the favorite is the current number 1 in the world: she leads head-to-head with the Czech 5:2 and has also won the last three clashes. Most recently this year in the quarter-finals in Stuttgart, but narrowly with 2:6, 6:1, 7:5. Barty has the advantage that she already knows the taste of winning a major tournament. She triumphed at the French Open in 2019. Pliskova also reached the final at the US Open in 2016, but then lost to the German Angelique Kerber. In Goolagong's footsteps Barty is also on a mission 50 years after Goolagong's first Wimbledon title: “Evonne truly embodied the role of a trailblazer and her inspiring career has paved the way for young, indigenous women like myself and shown that you can achieve your dreams .” Barty, like Goolagong, is a descendant of the Aborigines, the Australian natives. In memory of Goolagong's groundbreaking first Wimbledon title in 1971, her tennis skirt was designed to resemble the one from back then. By the way, Goolagong won seven major titles in her career.

Now Barty is playing for her second, although she was unable to play any preparatory grass tournaments due to a hip injury that forced her to retire in the second round of Roland Garros. After reaching the final on the “Holy Lawn” she could hardly believe her luck. “It was almost a relief, a moment of pure excitement. I've never had a feeling like that before. The opportunity to play in a Wimbledon final is incredible.” Pliskova believes in herself Barty, who incidentally is a trained barista and also a professional cricketer during a break from tennis, has already secured her continued reign on the tennis throne by reaching the semi-finals. She heads into her 77th consecutive week at number one at Wimbledon. The former number 1 Pliskova, who fell out of the top ten for the first time in five years shortly before Wimbledon, immediately returns to number seven. If she wins the title, she will move up to fourth place. And Pliskova doesn't have to hide. “It's a final, anything can happen. “I know she’s already won a major, but it’s also her first Wimbledon final,” she thinks she has a good chance.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Who will win the debutante final at Wimbledon?

For the first time in 44 years there will be a women's final between two debutants at the £35,02 million All England Tennis Championships on Saturday.

Suggestions

Comments (0)