Ashleigh Barty ‘made me proud the first time I saw her’, says tennis great Evonne Goolagong Cawley

Evonne Goolagong Cawley sent “little sister” Ashleigh Barty a message ahead of the Wimbledon final telling her that “dreams do come true”.
Fifty years after Goolagong Cawley’s first title at the All England Club and wearing an outfit inspired by that victory, Barty defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 to secure her first Wimbledon trophy.
She was the first Australian woman to hold the Venus Rosewater Dish aloft since Goolagong Cawley did it for a second time 41 years ago.
The impossible dream.
Inspired by Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s legacy, today @AshBarty could follow in her idol’s footsteps…#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/vbL9UGof17
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021
The two are very close and Barty became emotional when asked about her mentor during the trophy ceremony, saying: “I hope I made Evonne proud.”
“She certainly did,” said Goolagong Cawley from back home in Australia. “She made me proud from the first time I saw her.
“She must have been about 13 and she was playing at the Australian Open. Roger (Goolagong Cawley’s husband) and I saw one point where she showed all the skills. We both looked at each other and said, ‘She’s got it, she’s going to be our next champion’. Look at her now.”
Watching Barty’s victory brought back memories for Goolagong Cawley, who said of her win 50 years ago: “It didn’t hit me until later on because you actually turn numb, you’re in shock, just as Ash was at the end there.
“We were just so excited. Now I see the other side of my family and how they were when they were watching me win Wimbledon. They were jumping up, crying, screaming – exactly what we were doing. I’m just so very much proud of Ash, the way she handles herself, not just on the court but off the court, too.
“She’s a great Australian, everybody loves her, every time I go out shopping everybody asks me about Ash – ‘How’s Ash going? What’s Ash doing? Isn’t she wonderful?’. Yes she is. Ash to me is like a little sister and part of my family.”
Barty won the junior title at Wimbledon a decade ago but, feeling burnt out, took a lengthy break from tennis while still in her teens.
She won the French Open two years ago but it is only this year, after another year out due to the coronavirus pandemic, that she has felt able to really set out her goals publicly.

“I think, once you start verbalising it, then things happen, dreams do come true,” said Goolagong Cawley.
“That’s one of the last messages I sent to her. I said, ‘Dreams do come true. It came true for me’. I was just so chuffed when she wore that dress. I didn’t know what to say. I did say to her, ‘If it brings you luck, great’, because it brought me luck.”
As well as being champions on the court and national heroes off it, Goolagong Cawley and Barty are both indigenous Australians.
Barty’s triumph came during NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week, where indigenous history and culture is celebrated.
Massive pride in our girl! Congratulations @ashbarty! We are all so very proud of you. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/WToQZQpkwj
— Cathy Freeman (@CathyFreeman) July 10, 2021
“All the way through I had the feeling that she’s going to win,” said Goolagong Cawley. “This is her time. Somebody up there’s looking down on us I think.
“She’s a very proud Aboriginal woman also, and what a way to celebrate. I know a lot of people are happy for her but I’m sure there’s elders past and present who have got a big smile on their face today during NAIDOC Week.”
Goolagong Cawley has spent the last two decades running programmes for young indigenous people teaching both tennis and wider life skills.
“I remember when I was growing up there were Aboriginal kids that weren’t allowed in clubs, so we’ve come a long way,” she said. “Through our programme we’ve developed a few up-and-coming tennis players and now they have an even greater role model in Ash.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Jessica Pegula opens up about mother’s health scare: ‘My sister had to give my mom CPR and saved her life’
A heartfelt and brave piece from Jessica Pegula.
-
ATP Tour
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ 2023 tennis schedule: Where is he competing next and his season so far…
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ confirmed and unconfirmed events for the 2023 tennis season.
-
ATP Tour
Andy Murray joins Novak Djokovic in Dubai field as it’s a ‘great opportunity to climb back up rankings’
Andy Murray off to Dubai later in February.
-
Tennis News
Garbine Muguruza not too concerned about ranking: ‘It’s about enjoying my time on court and taking trophies home’
“It’s more about keeping it calm and more simple,” says Garbine Muguruza.
-
Tennis News
How much can Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal charge for a sponsored post on Instagram?
Rafael Nadal may have slipped down the rankings, but he can still get some good money for sponsored ads.
-
Tennis News
Emma Raducanu backed to win more Slams, but warned about ‘toxic’ social media and endorsement obligations
Monica Puig has some advice for Emma Raducanu.
-
Wimbledon
Roger Federer’s BBC Wimbledon role should be ‘something unique’ like ‘running a show or doing interviews’
It wouldn’t make sense for Roger Federer to sit in the commentary booth for eight hours a day.
-
Tennis News
Dominic Thiem explains ‘defining criteria’ that leaves only Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in GOAT race
“Everything else is fine, but it’s not the same,” says Thiem.
-
Tennis News
Young Americans relishing prospect of the clay swing
Ben Shelton and the other young Americans are raring to go on clay.
-
News
Man City scandal, politics and Mason Greenwood – the tennis player driving a spicy Twitter account
Twitter can be a place where opinions can divide and reactions can be brutal, yet Liam Broady doesn’t hold back.