Ashleigh Barty gallery: Barty Party in full swing as world No 1 ends Australia’s drought at Australian Open

Ayanda Frances Felem
February 1, 2022

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty won her first Grand Slam title on home soil when she overcame Danielle Collins from the United States in two sets 6-3, 7-6 to lift the Australian Open title at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Saturday. The world No 1 becomes the first Australian woman to win the tournament since 1978.

Ashleigh Barty and Lesia Tsurenko — World No 1 Ashleigh Barty celebrates after the women’s singles first-round win against Ukraine Lesia Tsurenko at Australian Open 2022 in Melbourne. The local favourite was from the beginning the hope of the Australian people as they were looking to have a home women’s winner for the first time since 1978.

Ashleigh Barty started the tournament as a two-time Grand Slam winner and there was no question about her class in the first match as she won 11 games in a row against Lesia Tsurenko in the first round on Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park.

Ashleigh Barty and Lucia Bronzetti — The Australian was in equally blistering form in the second-round match against Italian Lucia Bronzetti at Melbourne Park. The qualifier was thrashed 6-1, 6-1 as the world No 1 again wasted very little time on the court.

The road was easy for Barty as she stormed into the third round of the Australian Open for the sixth time of her career, dismantling qualifier Bronzetti.

Ashleigh Barty and Camila Giorgi — Another Italian stood in her way in the third round as Camila Giorgi was expected to give her a tough match, but again Barty came out on top with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over the 30th seed.

It was again straightforward for the local hero in her third match of the season-opening Grand Slam as defeated Giorgi in straight sets to march into the fourth round.

Ashleigh Barty and Amanda Anisimova — Her next opponent Amanda Anisimova was on a high after beating defending champion Naomi Osaka in the previous round, but Barty was untroubled as she beat the American 6-4, 6-3 to book her spot in the Australian Open quarter-final.

Barty progressed to the quarter-final with another solid win over the big-hitting Anisimova as she continued her fight to restore the Australian legacy in women’s singles.

Ashleigh Barty and Jessica Pegula — World No 16 Jessica Pegula stood in her way of a semi-final spot, but Barty continued to produce striking tennis as she brushed aside the American 6-2, 6-0 to reach the last four in Melbourne for a second time.

She continued her excellent winning streak against Pegula as Barty showed he wasn’t going to let the outsider take the Australian Open title.

Ashleigh Barty and Madison Keys — Barty was clearly flying when she came up against another American in Madison Keys. It was only Keys who was standing between Barty and a place in the final and world No 28 was beaten 6-1, 6-3.

It was all going according to plan for the Australian as she defeated the American Keys at Melbourne Park to book her spot on the final showdown.

There were no hard feelings between Barty and Keys after the match as the duo shared a nice moment after the semi-final clash.

Ashleigh Barty celebrates — It all went according to script in the final as Barty beat American Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 to win her maiden Australian Open title, ending her country’s 44-year wait for a home women’s Grand Slam champion.

There was elation for Barty at the end of the final as she has succeeded in protecting Australia’s legacy by winning the 2022Australian Open title to become the first Aussie woman to do so since 1978.