Celebrity

Triumphant Ash Barty becomes first Aussie to win French Open since 1973

Jun 09, 2019

She's done it! Ash Barty beat Marketa Vondrousova to claim 2019's French Open title on Saturday. Source: Getty

Australians all over the world are celebrating after tennis star Ashleigh Barty won the French Open overnight. The win is particularly monumental as Barty is the first Aussie player to win the French Open in 46 years.

The 23-year-old easily beat Czech tennis player Marketa Vondrousova and won the game 6-1, 6-3. The match was over in just 70 minutes and followed two weeks of tough competition for the Queenslander.

Iconic player Margaret Court was the last Aussie to triumph at Roland Garros in 1973. Barty now joins the likes of Court, Lesley Bowrey and Evonne Goolagong as the only Aussie women to be French Open women’s singles champions.

While the match tightened in the second set after a slower start from Vondrousova at the beginning of the game, it wasn’t enough to beat Barty.

Ash Barty and her trophy after winning the French Open. — Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates victory with the trophy following the ladies singles final against Marketa Vondrousova of The Czech Republic. Source: Getty

After winning the match, Barty leaned over the tennis net and gave her opponent a big hug. She also seemed gobsmacked that she won the match and was spotted swearing in disbelief.

“It’s unbelievable. I’m a little bit speechless. It’s amazing,” the Queenslander said after her win.

She described the game as a “perfect match” and called her two weeks of competition in France “crazy”.

Tennis champion Rod Laver – who was the No. 1 ranked professional from 1964 to 1970 – was on hand to congratulate Australia’s new champion.

Love this. Rod Laver congratulating Ash Barty. #bartyparty pic.twitter.com/osNzjO3Cpm

— Jenny Brockie (@JenBrockie) June 8, 2019

Barty’s win will see her rank World No. 2 behind Japanese player Naomi Osaka. She’s slowly been making waves in the tennis world, winning the 2018 US Open doubles title alongside American CoCo Vandeweghe and making four Grand Slam doubles finals with Casey Dellacqua.

She also reached the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier in 2019.

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

The star took a break from tennis in 2015 to try her hand at professional cricket, before returning to the game.

Never letting go.

@ashbar96 | #RG19 pic.twitter.com/ipLDB1TpfA

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2019

Fans and athletes alike have been praising Australia’s new tennis legend on social media for her win.

“Massive CONGRATULATIONS to @ashbar96 on your incredible win today,” Stouser said on Instagram. “So happy and proud of you!! Always knew you would achieve this incredible success! You have such a gift and determination and now the trophy to show for it all!”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BydIx_oFwbf/?igshid=1o0iafjfxskz6

Another fan on Twitter wrote: “Ash Barty, thank you for showing that it’s okay to step away from something you love for a while and then return to it when it makes you happy again. Congratulations!”

A third added: “Such poise. A class act all the way around.”