By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, June 8, 2019
A dominant Ashleigh Barty showed her all-court brilliance dismissing 19-year-old Marketa Vondrousva, 6-1, 6-3, to capture her first Grand Slam singles crown at Roland Garros.
Photo credit: Getty
As the silver Coupe Suzanne Lenglen shined over her shoulder, Ashleigh Barty burst toward the spinning yellow ball ahead.
Fittingly, Barty finished this Roland Garros final the way she's spent much of this season: Moving forward with energized conviction.
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A brilliant Barty tomahawked a smash putting a powerful exclamation point on a dynamic 6-1, 6-3, dismissal of Marketa Vondrousova to capture her first career Grand Slam championship in style.
The 23-year-old Barty confronted the biggest match of her life with experience, exuberance and all-court acumen to dominant from start to finish against a skittish teenage opponent, who never really gained traction.
Whipping her kick serve to set up a declarative first strike, Barty served 68 percent, won 13 of 17 second-serve points and denied three of four break points in a comprehensive 70-minute conquest.
"It's unbelievable; I'm a little bit speechless," Barty said afterward. "I played the perfect match today. I'm so proud of myself and my team. It's just been a crazy two weeks."
The eighth-seeded Barty is the first Aussie to win Roland Garros in 46 years since Hall of Famer Margaret Court beat Chrissie Evert to take the 1973 title. Hall of Famer Evert handed the trophy to Barty, who reflected on her "mind-boggling" journey from world No. 623 on June 6th, 2016 to Grand Slam champion today.
"Three years ago ranked 628 it's mind boggling, it really is," Barty told NBC's Mary Carillo afterward. "It's been the most amazing journey. I've enjoyed every single minute.
"Today was the perfect tennis match for me."
The 2011 Wimbledon girls' champion at age 15, Barty was widely regarded as a future Wimbledon contender, but suffered from home sickness and took an 18-month sabbatical from tennis to play pro cricket. Barty has played with a more relaxed intensity since her return and competed with calm command becoming the seventh first-time Slam champion in Paris in the last 12 years.
"I think I just told myself I may never get this opportunity again," Barty said. "So try to grab it with both hands and try to play my brand of tennis. It was just incredible today."
The 19-year-old Vondrousova had not dropped a set charging into her first major final in just her third French Open appearance, but was overwhelmed by both the occasion and her assertive opponent. Barty rolled through 16 of her last 18 points on serve; Vondrousva showed class in defeat.
"Congrats to Ash, you gave me a lesson today so thank you," Vondrousova said afterward. "You are an amazing player and such a great person. You deserve this."
Despite the lopsided loss, Vondrousova can take pride in her Paris run that will rocket her to a career-high No. 16 on Monday. It's a remarkable rise for the teenager who was ranked No. 422 in January, 2017.
Clay is not her preferred surface. It's a testament to Barty's all-court acumen and ability to answer from any position on court that she made her major breakthrough in Paris.
Perhaps feeling herself a team sport player trapped in an individual sport, Barty has merged the best of both worlds. Barty partnered CoCo Vandeweghe to capture the US Open doubles championship last September and teamed with Victoria Azarenka to win the Rome doubles crown last month.
That proved perfect preparation for Paris as Barty repeatedly imposed her net game and masterfully mixed her short slice backhand to set up the thumping forehand.
Rod Laver, the only player to win the Grand Slam twice, picked Barty to win Roland Garros after the opening week. This victory vaults Barty to a place among Aussie legends as she rises to a career-best world No. 2—becoming the first Aussie woman to earn the second spot since Evonne Goolagong Cawley on December 6, 1976.
Barty beat Vondrousova for the third time in as many meetings
Both first-time finalists had plenty of time to ponder the pressure before the biggest match of their lives.
The final was originally scheduled to start at 3 p.m. local time but it was 4:24 by the time they walked out on Court Philippe Chatrier following the completion of Dominic Thiem's five-set upset of world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
The first question Vondrousa faced was how would she adjust to her first appearance on Court Philippe Chatrier?
The first teenager to contest a major final since Caroline Wozniacki at the 2009 US Open, Vondrousa was indecisive and defensive at the outset.
Movement is one of Vondrousova's many assets, but her feet looked stuck to the salmon-colored court as if it were fly paper. Barty banged a forehand to earn a double-break 4-0 lead a day after she burst out to a 5-0 lead against another teenager, 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova, in yesterday's quarterfinals.
The 5'5" Barty can serve like she's 6'6" and her kick serve was a major weapon today. Following a forehand down the middle, Barty snapped a smash for double set point.
On her second set point, Barty blasted a forehand down the line closing a commanding 28-minute set whipping 16 winners compared to three for her tense opponent.
Contesting her ninth Grand Slam main draw, the 38th-ranked Czech looked tight and was basically spinning her serve into the box allowing Barty to take the first strike. Barty broke for the fourth time to open the second set.
Smooth transition and superb net skills distinguish the 2018 US Open doubles champion from most on the circuit. Barty's slice is a devious approach shot, she knows her way around the net and can close with conviction once she's there.
Leaping for a pair of high backhand volleys, Barty backed up the break for a 2-0 second-set lead.
Staring down break point in the third game, Vondrousova zapped her first ace to erase it. That bold bolt seemed to loosen the Czech's left arm a bit. Vondrousova smacked a forehand snapping her four-game slide to hold for the first time in the second set.
Finding her rhythm on serve as the second set progressed, Vondrousova won 10 of 12 service points in closing the gap to 3-4.
While Vondrousova showed an improved serve, Barty was imposing on serve.
A biting Barty serve set up a tapped forehand as she stamped a love hold for 5-3. She was four points from hoisting the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.
Vondrousova slapped a forehand into net to face championship point. Barty threw down a smash, raised her arms in triumph then dropped to a squat in the middle of the court absorbing this magical moment.