Update: After beating Czech player Barbora Strycova, Ash Barty is just one win away from becoming the world number one.
If she beats Germany’s Julia Goerges in the Birmingham Classic final on Sunday night, she will become only the fifth Australian to top the rankings since they were introduced in 1973.
If she succeeds, the Queenslander will emulate the feats of Evonne Goolagong Cawley, John Newcombe, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt who are the only four Australians to have reached the summit of the tennis world
*****
On Saturday night on the iconic terracotta clay of Paris’ Roland-Garros, Ashleigh Barty became the first Australian woman since Margaret Court in 1973 to win the French Open.
The 23-year-old beat unseeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 6-3 in Paris on Saturday to become Australia’s fourth French Open champion, and the first in 46 years.
It’s also the first Grand Slam final win for Barty, who is taking home $3.74 million from the tournament where she’d never passed the second round on five previous visits.
Top Comments
Soo good Ash, loved watching you play throughout the tournament.
You are a spectacular player & an awesome role model!
No screaming either just good tennis
Oh goodness gracious me yes, not just Ash but so many other players - thank goodness that style of dodgy tennis tactic has gone out of fashion. I love tennis, but it was unwatchable without earplugs and a mute button for a while there.
It's a joy to watch again as the old guard leave the game.