Australia had pinned their hopes of having a home champion at the Australian Open, and Ashleigh Barty proves yet again why she is the world’s No. 1. At the Australian Open women finals, she defeated American Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6(2) to end Australia’s 44-year wait for a home winner since Chris O’Neil in 1978.

Danielle Collins gives tearful congratulations

Danielle Collins was all grace and class at the presentation ceremony, where Evonne Goolagong Cawley gave her second runners-up trophy.

In the first half an hour of the first set, Collins had a breakpoint, but Barty ripped a forehand down the line to neutralize that. She could not capitalize on any other changes that she got to break the Australian. Barty took the first set comfortably, winning it 6-3. However, it was in the second set that her skills were tested by Collins.

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She broke the Australian to race to a 5-1 lead. Collins had two chances to serve for the set but was broken both times by inspired bout tennis from the Australian. She fought and crawled up the scoreboard from deficit to 6-6, to an eventual tiebreaker. Barty then dominated the tiebreaker with very powerful serves and won it 7-2, thus winning the match and the tournament.

The 28-year-old from America, returning from recent ovarian surgery, broke down while giving her acceptance speech. She thanked her team and support and also said that she really admired Barty as the player that she was.

Ashleigh Barty makes history

This was also Barty’s third Grand Slam title after the 2019 French Open and the 2021 Wimbledon. She now holds the feat of winning a grand slam on every surface possible- hard courts, a grass court, and a clay court. After the winning shot, Barty who shows zero to no emotion on the court, let out a scream, fist-pumping in the direction of her box.

Barty becomes the first Australian woman in 44 years to win the Australian Open. She has also been presented the trophy by fellow grand slam champion and star of yesteryear, Evonne Goolagong. Barty, known for her kindness and genuine spirit on the tour, could not stop smiling. She congratulated Collins by saying “you’ll be fighting for many more of these in the future.”

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