Tennis-Barty has realized the dream of ending the 44-year wait for the Australian home champion By Reuters

Author: Sudipto Ganguly

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Ash Barty is rarely touched on the court, but when he fulfilled his dream of winning the Australian Open, he also ended the nation’s 44-year-old singles title, bowing his head back and making a powerful noise. .

Fans of Melbourne Park and across the country were also rejoicing as the world number one fell 5-1 back in the second set to a 6-3 7-6 (2) victory over American Danielle Collins. and won his third Grand Slam title.

“It was a little surreal,” the 25-year-old said with a celebratory “Yes” shout. “I didn’t know what to do or how to feel.

“Being able to release a little bit of emotion, which is a little unusual for me, and being able to celebrate with everyone in the crowd, was a tremendous amount of energy tonight.”

Since Barty won his first major Roland Garros in 2019 and then climbed to the top of the standings, there is a growing expectation that he will eventually be the one to end up waiting for a tennis champion in a country where he is a sports fan.

It was the closest he had been to 2020 when he lost in the semi-finals. Barty finally fulfilled that hope in the Grand Slam since Chris O’Neil won the women’s title in 1978, becoming the first Australian individual champion.

“I think the hope was that I would always come out and give my best, and that’s all I’ve ever done,” he said. “Now it’s amazing to be able to somehow achieve this part of my dream.”

Dear Barty fans, many of them dressed in green and gold, flocked to Melbourne Park on Saturday to celebrate Australia Day for the second time in three days.

The 25-year-old did not disappoint.

O’Neil was among those cheering from the illuminated stands at Rod Laver Arena. When Barty turned his first game into a point with a victorious forehand crosscourt, 12,000 fans stood up shouting to greet the new champion.

Appropriately, the organizers arranged for Bartyk to receive the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup from his idol, guardian and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, a native of Australia.

“It’s a dream come true for me, and I’m very proud to be one,” said Barty, who wept when he was announced as the presenter of the Goolagong Cawley trophy.

“It was really special to be able to give her a hug. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in 12 months.”

ALL SKIN

Barty has won three Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces, and 23-time champion Serena Williams has been the only other active female player to achieve the feat.

Barty said it was “pretty amazing” and the great Australian Rod Laver agreed.

“Grand Slam champion on three different surfaces, you are a complete @AshBarty player and I am very happy for you tonight,” tweeted Laver, one of those lucky enough to have a seat next to the ring.

Barty entered the competition having won 11 of his last 13 finals and has only given 21 matches in the last fortnight, leaving only one free kick once. He also had a 3-1 lead over the 28-year-old American.

But Collins was ranked 27th with a strong break in the game.

Barty calmly and quietly found his space with his clearance to get out of trouble and then moved on to break Collins in the next game when his opponent made a double mistake.

If Barty thought he was going to win, there was more drama and more fighting left in Collins.

Barty’s unusual forehand errors could have broken Collins at the start of the second set, who will make his debut in the top 10 when the standings are updated on Monday.

The American shouted “Come On” after he opened the scoring 3-0. Then he broke Barty’s delivery, which for the last fortnight seemed almost invincible, for the second time in the set.

But when Collins served a 5-1 draw on the verge of a draw, the Australian showed his nerves of steel and stepped up his game.

Barty regained the kick-off and then dominated the tiebreak that left the home nation happy to complete a memorable comeback.

“As Australians, we are extremely fortunate to have a rich history of tennis and the history we make, especially here at the Australian Open,” Barty said excitedly. “I’m a very, very small part of that.

“I’m still trying to figure out what I’m doing, but being a small part of an amazing tennis history as an Australian is very, very nice.”