ASH BARTY QUEEN OF THE COURT!

THE WORLD IS SET TO BE AN OYSTER FOR THE NEW GOLDEN GIRL OF AUSTRALIAN TENNIS

- Kylie Walters

The crowd at Rod Laver Arena may have been studded with celebrities, including Russell Crowe and Dannii Minogue, on January 29, but all eyes were on Ash Barty as she took centre court. The 25-year-old Indigenous tennis player carried the hopes of the nation on her shoulders as she broke a 44-year drought, becoming the first Aussie woman since Chris O’Neil in 1978 to win the women’s singles final at the Australian Open.

“It was a little bit surreal,” Barty said in her trademark humble manner following her straight-sets victory against American Danielle Collins. “I think I didn’t quite know what to do or what to feel, and I think just being able to let out a little bit of emotion, which is a little bit unusual for me, and I think being able to celebrate with everyone who was there in the crowd, the energy was incredible tonight,” she explained.