Barty ends Australia’s 46-year wait for French Open title

PARIS, France – Ashleigh Barty ended Australia’s 46-year wait for a French Open singles title by thrashing nervous Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova in a one-sided women’s final.

Eighth seed Barty got off to a strong start and never looked back, winning 6-1, 6-3 after only 70 minutes to claim her maiden Grand Slam title on Saturday, June 8 (Sunday, June 9, Philippine time). 

The 23-year-old will rise to world No. 2 behind only Naomi Osaka when the latest rankings are released after becoming the first Australian winner at Roland Garros since Margaret Court won the last of her 5 trophies in 1973.

She will be the best-ranked Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976.

“It’s unbelievable, I’m a little bit speechless. I played the perfect match today. I’m so proud of myself and my team, it’s been a incredible two weeks,” said Barty.

“It’s a special place for Australians here. Sam (Stosur) has done well here before and come so close. It’s been a magical two weeks.”

Barty, who famously took a break from tennis to play professional cricket in 2015, struck 27 winners past an opponent riddled with nerves.

The 19-year-old Vondrousova saw her bid to become the first teenage Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova won the 2006 US Open come to a tame end, as the world No. 38 made 22 unforced errors against a mere 10 winners.

“Congratulations to you and your team, you gave me a lesson,” Vondrousova said to Barty at the trophy presentation. 

“Even though I didn’t get the win today, I’m really happy with everything.”

That was FUN.

Check out highlights from @ashbar96‘s #RG19 triumph.

: https://t.co/FJdsaBBRCP pic.twitter.com/9Mvos9Qi7x

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2019

Nervous wait 

Almost 90 minutes after the match was due to start, Barty and Vondrousova made their way onto Court Philippe Chatrier after enduring a nervous wait from Dominic Thiem’s five-set win over Novak Djokovic in the men’s semifinals. 

The scheduling had already been criticized on Friday as a sexism row erupted when the women’s semis were moved away from the showpiece Chatrier court.

In fact, this was the first match on the premier Roland Garros arena in Vondrousova’s career, although she did have a brief practice session on Saturday morning.

The tension got the better of the Czech early on, as she double faulted to gift Barty two break points, before firing long to put her opponent 2-0 ahead.

Barty, who also reached the Australian Open quarterfinals earlier this year, consolidated the break with a confident love hold, leaving Vondrousova firmly on the back foot after only 7 minutes of play.

Another break followed as Vondrousova threatened to fall apart, but she settled down and got herself on the scoreboard.

Barty quickly got back on track, and wrapped up the 1st set after only 29 minutes with a crunching forehand winner.

Vondrousova had it all to do in the 2nd set having managed just two winners in the opener, but she contrived to drop serve again at the first time of asking.

She finally held serve for the first time in the match, though, saving two break points in the third game.

Vondrousova had reached the final without dropping a set and had the best record on tour since the Australian Open, but she left it too late to get her game in order on this occasion.

And Barty broke once more, hammering away a simple smash on her first match point to seal her moment in the spotlight, with Vondrousova left sitting on the bench in tears. – Rappler.com