Barty dressed for success as she honours Evonne
ASH IN FINAL TRIBUTE TO AUSSIE INSPIRATION
ASHLEIGH Barty has the dress for the big night already – and now the dream could be coming true.
The world No.1 has been wearing a ‘scalloped’ dress at SW19 in honour of the outfit fellow Australian and mentor Evonne Goolagong-Cawley wore on her historic first Wimbledon win 50 years ago.
Barty, who has just one Grand Slam win under her well-designed belt, the French Open in 2019, has always said that her dream tournament to win would beWimbledon.
And now the 25-year-old is one step away from achieving that dream after overcoming 2018 winner Angelique Kerber 6-3 7-6 with a superb display to reach her first All England Club final. She will face Czech former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova, who has the chance to win her first ever Grand Slam after fighting back to overcome big-hitting Aryna Sabalenka, right, 5-7 6-4 6-4.
Barty said of the moment when she realised she had made the final: “It was almost a moment of relief, of pure excitement, something I never knew if I would ever feel.
“It’s a special anniversary for Evonne. I couldn’t be more proud to be in a position to wear an outfit inspired by her. Now to give myself a chance to create history as a tribute to her is really exciting. I couldn’t be more happy.” Barty, who overcame a hip injury to make Wimbledon and gave up tennis in 2014 for two years, added: “Your greatest growth comes from your darkest times. “Just to be able to put yourself out there, let yourself be vulnerable, be yourself.” Barty surged through the first set against Kerber, 33, who took an age to get going. However, the German found her range and form, and Barty was 4-1 down in the second set. But her fearsome forehand began to lock in and a run of 10 points in a row took the set to 5-5.
The Australian took control of the tiebreak and a loose Kerber backhand into the net was enough.
Pliskova was in real trouble against Sabalenka’s huge serve as she lost her first set of the tournament, but she clawed her way back.
The Beralusian’s frustration showed as Pliskova, 29, edged the second set, and an early break in the third handed the Czech star her moment.
Pliskova, who has lost five of seven previous matches to Barty, reached the US Open final in 2016 but has been in inconsistent form since.
She said: “The dream was to make the second week, I’ve not done that in a Slam for a while. I never thought about getting to the final.”