Ashleigh Barty wins Australian Open to end longest active wait for home Slam champion
Ashleigh Barty became the first Aussie Australian Open singles champion for 44 years by ousting Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 for her third Major crown and first at home.
Of the four Slam nations of Australia, France, the UK and the USA, those Down Under had by far the longest active streak without a home singles winner.
Wimbledon had Andy Murray just six years ago in 2016, while the US had Sloane Stephens a year later in 2017.
With Barty’s success, France is now left with the longest active drought for a home champion.
The last time there was a French winner of the Roland Garros singles was when Mary Pierce claimed her second Major title in 2000.
The 44-year wait for a home Australian Open champion was also the longest home champion drought that fell entirely within the Open Era.
The UK is second, going 36 years without a singles champion between Virginia Wade’s triumph in 1977 and Andy Murray’s famous maiden Wimbledon crown in 2013.
The 22 years between Mary Pierce’s victory and this year is third, while the US has never had much of a drought at all in this department in the Open Era.
The longest span without an American singles winner in New York came between 2003 and 2008, between titles from Andy Roddick and Serena Williams, and currently between Stephens’ win in 2017 and the upcoming 2022 event.
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