Australian Open 2021 Women’s Final: Ash Barty wins third Grand Slam of his career, over Danielle Collins

First-placed Ashleigh Barty defeated Danielle Collins in the Australian Open women’s final on Saturday in Melbourne, 6-3, 7-6 (2), and was the first Australian to win a women’s singles title since 1978. Barty, 25, did not. Don’t leave a single set on the road to the third Grand Slam title of his career (2021 Wimbledon, 2019 French Open).

In Saturday’s championship, Barty won the first set with American Collins in just 32 minutes, but fell back from the 1-5 second set to win the tiebreaker. Despite being only 5-5, Barty is a great server and has finished 10 aces (Collins scored only one in a game) and scored 82 percent of his first serve points (compared to Collins’ 63 percent). In the tiebreaker, Barty won seven of nine points and hit the forehand shot-winner for the championship point.

“This is just a dream come true for me and I’m very proud to be an Australian.” Barty said in a post-match interview. “As an Aussie, the most important part of this tournament is being able to share it with so many people. Today, among the people, you don’t shy away from anything special. These people are one of the funniest I’ve ever played.

Collins, 28, was a two-time NCAA individual champion while at the University of Virginia. Collins ’breakthrough in the professional circuit was at the 2019 Australian Open, where Angelique Kerber reached the finals after disturbing world number 2 in the fourth round. On the way to this year’s tournament, Collins was outraged by the winner of the 2020 French Open, Iga Świąt, in the semi-finals. After Saturday’s final – Collins ’Grand Slam final – he will now go inside women’s top 10 rankingswhich marks a professional career.

Road to the final:

Barty (Issue 1)
R1: def. Lesia Tsurenko, 6-0, 6-1
R2: def. Lucia Bronzetti, 6-1, 6-1
R3: def. No. 30 Camila Giorgi, 6-2, 6-3
R4: def. Amanda Anisimova, 6-4, 6-3
QF: def. No. 21 Jessica Pegula, 6-2, 6-0
SF: def. Madison Keys, 6-1, 6-3

Collins (No. 27)
R1: def. Caroline Dolehide, 6-1, 6-3
R2: def. Ana Konjuh, 6-4, 6-3
R3: def. Clara Tauson, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
R4: def. No. 19 Elise Mertens, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
QF: def. Alizé Cornet, 7-5, 6-1
SF: def. Well. 7 Iga Świątek, 6-4, 6-1

Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev will face off in the men’s final on Sunday. Sixth-placed Nadal wants to win his 21st Grand Slam title and break the three-way tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and second-placed Medvedev will follow in his footsteps. Victory in the 2021 US Open and won his second career Grand Slam.