‘You are a complete player!’ Rod Laver applauds Ash Barty for creating history on home soil
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Australian Open 2022 - Ash Barty claims the title
On Saturday, January 29, Ashleigh Barty broke the 44-year record of an Australian winning the grand slam title in the Australian Open after beating the 28-year old American Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 in the finals of women’s singles Australian Open 2022.
This was a match grazed by the presence of some of the most prominent figures in the continent. Former world No. 1, Billie Jean King, Tennis legend Rod Laver, Two-time grand slam winner Victoria Azarenka, five-time Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer, Ian Thorpe, gold medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Cathy Freeman Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe, Golden Globe-winning producer Bruna Papandrea and last but not the least, Chris O’Neil, the Australian who captured the women’s title in 1978.
Rod Laver – a win that would drive Barty “to another level”.
Since her career took off, Australian tennis star Rod Laver has been supporting the Current World No. 1, Ash Barty. When Barty had won her first grand slam – Roland Garros 2019, “She’s doing great already, I think Ash has got a lot of potential, she’s showing it as this particular time,” said Laver from Paris.
Rod laver had been supporting the fellow Australian since the beginning of the tournament. “It would be great for me if she won the Australian Open; the competition is really pretty strong out there now,” says the tournament’s constant observer.
After Barty’s win, Laver took to Twitter to congratulate her and encouraged Australia to celebrate this historic moment.
“A Grand Slam champion on three different surfaces, you are the complete player Ash Barty and I am so happy for you tonight. There’s nothing like winning at home, congratulations #AO2022 champion, it is wonderful to be here for this moment and to celebrate with Australia,” the Aussie legend wrote.
It was with the view that even though Barty’s performance in the 2021 US Open was not her best, she still had the support of her fans, her audience during the match, and the blessings of every player there. With this win, Barty brings glory to her home country and creates history. It also checks three out of the four big grand slam titles in tennis, leaving out the US Open, which Barty will give her all to try and win this year.
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Varsha Srikumar
(135 Articles Published)