Ash Barty is the first Australian to reach a grand slam final since Sam Stosur in 2011. Her semi-final match against unseeded 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova was a real rollercoaster from start to finish.
Barty raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first set, before Anisimova came back to win it 7-6. Early in the second set it looked like it was all over for Ash, as Anisimova broke her serve and led 3-0. Barty showed real fight to win the next 6 consecutive games, taking the second set 6-3. She then held her nerve to convert her 6th match point in the 3rd set, winning 6-3.
Barty has reached the final against all odds. Her last clay court title was on the junior circuit way back in 2011. Not only that, but her last clay court final was a 2012 loss on the ITF circuit, which is a tier below the WTA tour. Barty’s critics may suggest she had a soft draw in Paris, but her run to the final nonetheless includes a 2018 semifinalist in Madison Keys.
Furthermore, Amanda Anisimova was no slouch, having dispatched defending champion Simona Halep in straight sets.
Although Barty is yet to win a grand slam, her Miami Open title from March is the next best thing. She defeated seventh-seed Kiki Bertens, third-seed Petra Kvitova and fifth-seed Karolina Pliskova en route to the title. This tournament showed that Barty belongs among the best players in the world.
A win in the French Open final will take her world ranking to no.2, a feat last achieved by Evonne Goolagong.
Victory won’t come easily however, as her opponent Marketa Vondrousova is yet to drop a set in the tournament. Regardless of what happens though, it’s an extraordinary achievement for Barty to come this far without a strong history on clay.
Mark
Guest
She didn’t play Kvitova at this tournament?
Adzy
Roar Rookie
While good on her for making the final and hopes she wins, she hasn't really had to face any heavyweights of the womens game besides Kvitova.
Mark
Guest
I did read your article - it was good, it’s just the headline that’s awry. It’s been a good run to the final, but even if she wins it’s not an all time great run. Boris Becker winning Wimbledon at just 17 (and unseeded) in 1985 was an all time great run, as was Ostapenko winning her first major as a 20 year old unseeded player in 2017. Barty entered this tournament as a top 10 player. She may not have had previous success on clay in singles, but her game is suited to clay (she has an all court game, unlike a few of the current top 10). This tournament has been a very pleasant surprise for Aussie tennis fans, but a number of experts thought Barty could do well at this event, albeit I don’t know any who tipped her to be the eventual champion.
Yush
Roar Rookie
You missed the point. I'm not arguing she is an all time great player. It's the "run" (or the "story" if you like) that is all-time great because of her limited clay court background (if you read the article).
Mark
Guest
Barty has done really well to reach the final and I think she will win, but the headline is nonsensical. Reaching one grand slam final doesn’t equate to all time greatness. Serena Williams is an all time great, but she has won 23 grand slam tournaments. Give Barty credit for a good run, but she is nothing like an all time great, yet.