Fansided

Ash Barty wins first grand slam on her least comfortable surface

By Veronica Elizabeth Bruno

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 08: Ashleigh Barty of Australia poses with the trophy after winning the womens singles final match against Marketa Vondrousova (not seen) of the Czech Republic during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France on June 08, 2019. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 08: Ashleigh Barty of Australia poses with the trophy after winning the womens singles final match against Marketa Vondrousova (not seen) of the Czech Republic during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France on June 08, 2019. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /
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Ashleigh Barty wins her first grand slam at the French Open, over teenage sensation Markéta Vondroušová, 6-1, 6-3. She will also be the new world No. 2.

Three years ago, Ashleigh Barty had give up on tennis after some success on the doubles tour, and decided to play professional cricket. Lucky for the tennis world, the Australian 23-year-old returned to the game. She is now a first time grand slam champion.

To top it all off, she’s not particularly known for her clay court game. In fact, she mentioned that she was “learning” about the surface this clay season.

“I have always enjoyed that part of it. I think when I first started playing the game, Jim, my coach, taught me as many shots as possible,” Barty said after her quarterfinal win. “The toughest thing is making sure I make the right decisions. I’m getting better at that every single day.”

Winning the biggest prize on the surface would certainly be considered the ultimate improvement.

She also received a powerful endorsement from The Rocket, a certain Aussie legend by the name of Rod Laver.

https://twitter.com/rodlaver/status/1137270451447652352

Australia has always maintained a strong tennis tradition, and several famous players from the country have faired well at the clay slam. Barty now joins Aussie greats such as Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Lesley Bowrey as RG ladies’ winners, as well as legends Laver, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emmerson, and Tony Roache on the men’s side.

“It’s a special place [Roland Garros] for Australian players (referring to Margaret Court as well as Sam Stosur, who made the final in 2010),” Barty said in her on-court interview afterwards.

“I played the perfect match today. I’m so proud of myself,” Ash Barty continued.

She also admitted to having butterflies beforehand.

“I was very nervous.”

She was very conciliatory towards her young opponent, 19-year-old Vondroušová. Turning to her runner-up, she praised her future in the sport.

“I have no doubt that you’ll be in grand slam finals in the future,” the Australian said during the trophy presentation.

Proud of his compatriot, actor Russell Crowe also tweeted his congratulations.

Ash Barty defeated Andrea Petkovic in the second round of Roland Garros, but the German only had praise for her the new FO champion, tweeting this adorable photo making the rounds (look at those cheeks!):

https://twitter.com/andreapetkovic/status/1137385240387891200

In addition to Petkovic, Barty was responsible for dispatching much of the slew of American talent who made such inroads at the French slam, including Danielle Collins, Sofia Kenin (famous for taking out Serena Williams), Madison Keys, and Amanda Anisimova.

The new world No. 2 joins the very few players who have won more than one WTA title this year, with the French in addition to her Miami Open Masters crown.

The French Open concludes on Sunday, with the men’s match at 9:00 a.m., ET, on NBC and later on the Tennis Channel.

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