It’s party time for Barty she wins the Wimbledon ladies singles title in three-set thriller

By Paul Lagan on Centre Court at AELTC

Ashleigh Barty v Karolina Pliskova

6-3, 6-7, 6-3

Ashleigh Barty will be having one hell of a party after the Australian defeated Karolina Pliskova in three sets to win the Wimbledon Ladies Singles title on Centre Court.

It was 50 years since the last Australian Evonne Goolagong won it.

She won it twice in 1971 and 1980 and Barty did it in style, albeit after a slip-up in the second set which she lost to a tie-break.

Wimbledon finals have a habit of bringing  the best of some players and the worse in others.

Ashleigh Barty started off firmly in the former camp, while Karolina Pliskova fell head forwards into the second.

The Australian, won the first three games without losing a point.

The capacity crowd, with a touch of royalty in the top box watched on, hoping Pliskova would get her first point soon.

Cries of ‘C’mon Karolina’ after just eight minutes of play and not a single point won, was unnerving for all to hear, not least the player.

But when Barty hit the net to make it 15 – 30, they went wild in appreciation.

It’s was albeit short-lived as Barty promptly broke the Czech’s serve again to 30 to go 4-0 up in 11 minutes.

Only overconfidence could damage Barty’s seemingly inevitable victory.

But overconfidence reared it’s head in the very next game.

A frankly needless forearm smash by Barty, while already love 15 down put her love 30 down.

This soon eroded to a break point to Pliskova, who then saw Barty hit her ball into the net to concede her first game.

If that was respite, then it lasted seconds as Pliskova’s power stroke completely deserted her and she quickly fell 5-1 behind.

The all-court expertise of Barty must have been enhanced by the somewhat drab, overcast conditions. The court playing ever so much slower – all to her advantage.

But Pliskova broke back to make it 5-2, suggesting that the second set could be a tad more equal.

But Barty had to win the first, first.

A lucky net cord, followed by a winner down the line, preceded an ace to put her 30-0 up in the eighth game.

Barty helped with a couple of unforced errors to make it 3-5.

She quickly raced into a 40-0 lead, before sealing the set, when Pliskova pinched a forehand long.

It took 28 minutes, but it could have been much shorter.

The second loudest cheer of the match came on the opening game of the second set when Pliskova won on her serve.

The crowd, no doubt hoping the match would go on to a third set.

But Barty would not be a part of that – and promptly won her service game to love to make it 1-1.

Two double faults in a row on Pliskova’s serve, led to groans from the crowd, and two points later, and her serve was broken and Barty was 2-1 up and soon 3-1.

Fleeting glimpse of what Pliskova could have brought to the match were seen in the fifth game. Top class serving to the T, resolute returning by Barty but the finishing power of the server prevailing.

With her first serve suddenly all over the place, Pliskova broke Barty to love, to bring the set back on serve at 3-3.

Pliskova held her serve to make it 3-4.

She challenged twice for balls she felt were out, but on each occasion Hawkeye gave the decision to Barty who successfully saw out her serve to make it 4-4.

Pliskova easily won her serve, leaving Barty needing to hold to stay in the second set.

That she did quite easily showed the mettle of the Australian.

Incredibly Pliskova went 40-0 up on her serve, but then lost five points in a row to lose the game and stare defeat straight in the face.

Barty held her nerve in that game, keeping the ball in play and forcing the Cech into making the mistakes.

That Pliskova then broke Barty owned much to the sense Barty choked at the vital moment.

Bu the game went to a tie-break.

Serves were held to 2-3 with Barty serving. But she lost the next point. Pliskova won a dramatic point to go 5-2 up and the crowd went crazy.

Barty took the next point, but choked again by double-faulting and giving the set to her opponent.

Barty took the opener in the deciding set.

Cruelly, a simple tap over the net by Pliskova when 15-40 down was all that was needed. But she thumped the ball into the nest to lose her serve and put Barty 2-0 up. Soon it was 0-3.

The margin was retained and Barty went 4-1 up after one hour and 27 minutes.

Pliskova held her serve and soon the business end of the match was approaching.

Within minutes, it was 2-5 and 30 all on Pliskova’s serve.

Some neat net action saw her take the next point and that was followed by an ace.

Barty served for the Championships at 5-3.

An amazing backhand volley secured first point for the Australian.

An unforced error made it 15 all.

A wayward drive by Pliskova gave Barty the next point . But again Barty smacked the net.

Tension was rising all around the court at 30-30. A simple smash again by Barty handed her opponent a break point. She retaliated to make it deuce.

A sublime ace down the T brought up Championship point after one hour and 55 minutes.

After a set of rallies, Pliskova rammed the ball into the net to give the title to the No1 seed.

All pictures Paul Lagan