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Agence France-Presse

Ashleigh Barty won her first Wimbledon title on the 50th anniversary of fellow indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s maiden crown, beating Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in the final on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Australian – who wore a specially designed dress in tribute to Cawley’s iconic scallop one she sported in 1971 – adds the Wimbledon crown to her 2019 French Open title.
“It took me a long time to verbalise, to dare to dream it and say it,” said Barty, who was also fulfilling a childhood dream.

“I didn’t sleep a lot last night, I was thinking of all the what-ifs. I hope I made Evonne proud.”
It was the first women’s Wimbledon final to go to three sets since 2012 when Serena Williams beat Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.
Barty is also the first top seed to win the women’s title since Williams in 2016.
Barty had looked like cruising to victory after soaring into a 4-0 lead over her opponent – the Australian’s start so blistering that she won the first 14 points.
However, 29-year-old Karolina Pliskova from Czech Republic steadied herself while Barty faltered when she served for the match at 6-5 in the second set.

The Czech broke and then swept the tiebreaker to take the final into a decider.
Barty got the break for 2-0 in the final set and despite one or two wobbles she got herself over the line sinking to her knees, her hands over her face in disbelief.
She wiped a couple of tears away before climbing up to the player’s box, just like her compatriot Pat Cash did when he won the Wimbledon men’s title in 1987.
Victory would taste sweeter too as only last month she retired from the French Open in the second round because of a left hip injury.
“This is incredible,” said Barty, the third Australian woman to be crowned Wimbledon singles champion in the Open era (Cawley and Margaret Court (1970) the others).

“I have to start with Kaja (Karolina Pliskova).
“Congratulations on an incredible tournament to you and your team. I love testing myself against you and I’m sure we’ll have many many matches.”
Barty is masterful at remaining poker-faced on court and she managed to restrain her emotions largely at the presentation ceremony.
However, once off court she sobbed as she hugged her boyfriend Gary Kissick.
For Pliskova, it was more heartbreak as the former world number one fell at the final hurdle in three sets in the 2016 US Open final.
China No 1 Zhang Shuai in Wimbledon 2021 mixed doubles semi with John Peers
At one point with Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise looking on it looked feasible, though, that she could pull off mission impossible in winning the title.
However, her previously superb weapon – her serve that had only been broken four times before the final – deserted her when she most needed it.
So did her emotions as Pliskova – the fourth Czech woman to appear in a Wimbledon singles final in the Open era – spoke after receiving the runner-up trophy.
Her tears, though, did not compare to those shed by her late compatriot Jana Novotna when she lost in the 1993 final and had to be consoled by Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Kent.
Perhaps of some consolation to Pliskova is Novotna picked herself up after that defeat and won the title in 1998.

“I never cry, never, and now,” said Pliskova stepping back a bit.
“I want to say Ash [Barty] played an incredible tournament, I fought to make it difficult for her but she played very well so congrats to her.
“I want to thank all my team. All the success goes to them, without them I would not be here, and my family of course.
“No matter which trophy I have we have had an incredible two weeks here.”


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Wimbledon

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty outlasts Karolina Pliskova to win her first Wimbledon title

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty wins the women’s singles final match against Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on Saturday. Photo: AP

Actor Tom Cruise applauds during the women's singles final match between Australia's Ashleigh Barty and Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova on day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova speaks to the crowd after losing to Australia's Ashleigh Barty during their women's singles final match on the twelfth day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 10, 2021. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, applauds Australia's Ashleigh Barty after she won the women's singles final match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova on day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Mike Hewitt/Pool Via AP)

Australia's Ashleigh Barty, left, and Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova stand with their trophies at the end of the women's singles final match on day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

China No 1 Zhang Shuai in Wimbledon 2021 mixed doubles semi with John Peers

China’s Zhang Shuai in action in her Wimbledon women’s singles first round defeat to Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova. Photo: AP

Wimbledon: Who is Hubert Hurkacz, the Pole who gatecrashed Roger Federer’s record-breaking ninth title bid?

Switzerland’s Roger Federer with Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz after their quarter-final at Wimbledon. Photo: AFP

epa09329362 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland reacts after winning the men's quarter final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland at the Wimbledon Championships, in Wimbledon, Britain, 07 July 2021. EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer hit historic Wimbledon milestones as title showdown beckons

Novak Djokovic celebrates beating Chile’s Cristian Garin at Wimbledon. Photo: AFP

(210706) -- LONDON, July 6, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Novak Djokovic of Serbia competes during the men's singles fourth round match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Cristian Garin of Chile at Wimbledon tennis Championship in London, Britain, on July 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 6, 2021 Australia's Ashleigh Barty and Serbia's Novak Djokovic during practice session on Aorangi Park practice courts Pool via REUTERS/David Gray

06 July 2021, United Kingdom, London: Czech tennis player Karolina Pliskova celebrates her victory over Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic during their women's singles quarter-final match on day eight of the 2021 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa

(210706) -- LONDON, July 6, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Roger Federer of Switzerland competes during the men's singles fourth round match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy at Wimbledon tennis Championship in London, Britain, on July 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Australia's Ashleigh Barty (R) embraces Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic after winning their women's quarter-final tennis match on the eighth day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2021. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Wimbledon: Emma Raducanu’s run over, retires after ‘difficulty breathing’

Emma Raducanu of Britain reacts during her fourth round match against Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships. Raducanu retired hurt, ending her dramatic wild card run. Photo: EPA

epa09324695 Emma Raducanu (R) of Britain receives medical assistance during her 4th round match against Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia at the Wimbledon Championships in Wimbledon, Britain, 05 July 2021. EPA-EFE/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Renee Raducanu (C), mother of Britain's Emma Raducanu, leaves after Raducanu retired from the match against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic at their women's singles fourth round match on the seventh day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 5, 2021. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

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The 25-year-old Australian beat Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 at the final on Saturday
It was the first women’s Wimbledon final to go to three sets since 2012 when Serena Williams beat Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska



The 25-year-old Australian beat Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 at the final on Saturday.


Britain

Australia

Kate Middleton