As Ash Barty was making her drought-breaking run at the Australian Open, the talent of her rivals was not her only concern. The world No.1 had enjoyed the perfect preparation for Melbourne Park, but was mindful an innocent slip-up could bring her undone.
With Covid-19 infections spiking in Australia, the three-time grand slam champion said her team were on high alert. “We didn’t leave (the house),” she told a small group of reporters after her 6-3, 7-6 (2) final win over Danielle Collins.
“We would just go in the morning and get a takeaway coffee. We didn’t go to any restaurants, didn’t go out anywhere. So it has been two weeks of hermit life.
“It was a pretty quiet two weeks, just to eliminate the risk. We were just careful about it and didn’t want to add any risk unnecessarily.”The emotion Barty displayed after defeating American Collins was unusual for the Australian.
After converting match point, she roared with passion, having dealt successfully with the expectations of being the local favourite. “I wanted to yell. I wanted to scream to just get some of it out,” she said. “It’s been a really incredible two weeks of built-up emotions.”
The celebrations on Saturday were in stark contrast to the mood of her 2014 US Open, when she lost in the first round. At 18, she was homesick and jaded with the sport. Her subsequent sabbatical from tennis was to prove pivotal in regaining her passion.
“Without a doubt, in this second phase of my career, I’ve learnt so much more about myself as a person. I’ve grown so much more as a person,” she said.
“Without that adversity, I wouldn’t be half the person or player that I am now.
“We all have to find our low points to grow from them. Being able to do that and make a really incredible team for this second phase has been the best part of it.”
With French Open and Wimbledon trophies already in her cabinet, Barty is now three-quarters of the way to completing a career grand slam. She has joined Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams as the only active players to win majors on all three surfaces. “To be honest, I don’t really feel like I belong with those champions of our sport.”
At 25, with the world at her feet, Barty may ultimately feel comfortable in their company.
Czech duo win
French Open champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova added the Australian Open women’s doubles title to their resume on Sunday with a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4 win over Anna Danilina and Beatriz Haddad Maia.
The No.1 seeds, who were beaten finalists at Melbourne Park last year, took time to hit their stride and were forced to come back from a set down to claim the title for the first time. The win is the Czech duo’s fourth Grand Slam title together, after having claimed the French Open in 2018 and 2021 and Wimbledon in 2018.
