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Ashleigh Barty WTA Wimbledon 2021
Tennis News, Wimbledon, WTA Tennis Players

‘I lived out my dream’ – Ash Barty reacts to Wimbledon triumph


Ashleigh Barty said she “felt at home on court” during her victory over Karolina Pliskova as she claimed her first Wimbledon title.

The world No. 1 revealed she told herself to “just keep fighting” after losing the second set on a tiebreak having served for the title.

The Australian prevailed 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 over the world No. 13 to claim her second Grand Slam singles crown – after the 2019 French Open.

Barty became the first Australian player to win a Wimbledon singles title since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002, and first woman since her idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

“This is incredible, I think I have to start with [Karolina] as well – congratulations on a fantastic tournament to you and to your team,” Barty said in her on-court interview.

“I love testing myself against you and I’m sure we’ll play many, many more matches. I have to genuinely thank every single person in this stadium. You have made my dream so special.

“[I told myself at the start of the third set]: just keep fighting. [Karolina] is an incredible competitor, she brought out the very best of me today. It was an exceptional match right from the start and I had to bring my very best level.

“I was really proud of myself the way I was able to reset and just keep going, just keep chipping away at the start of that third set, and hold my nerve there in the end.

“(Laughs) I can’t remember it (the match point). It took me a long time to verbalise the fact that I wanted to, to dare to dream it, and say that I wanted to win this incredible tournament.

“And being able to live out my dream right now with everyone here has made it better than I ever could have imagined. I didn’t sleep a lot last night, thinking of all the what-ifs.

“But I think when I was out on this court, I felt at home in a way, and I think being able to share that with everyone here, to share that with my team – is incredible.”


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.