Ashleigh Barty is brimful of pride and excitement at the tantalising prospect of being able to pay the ultimate tribute to her heroine and mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley as she prepares for her date with destiny on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
On the eve of Saturday’s final, Barty said she’s “rapt” about having an opportunity to emulate the great Indigenous trailblazer by lifting the celebrated Venus Rosewater Dish just as Goolagong first did as a teenager half-a-century ago.
Barty will become the first Australian woman since her mentor Goolagong Cawley, who won her second title in 1980, to take the biggest prize in women’s tennis if she can tame the big-serving Czech star Karolina Pliskova.
“It’s a really special anniversary for Evonne and I couldn’t be more proud to be in a position to wear an outfit inspired by her,” Barty said as she prepared for her second grand slam final following her 2019 French Open triumph.
“Now, to give myself a chance to create history in a way that’s a tribute to her, is really exciting. I couldn’t be more rapt to have that opportunity on Saturday.”
Barty, a Ngarigo Indigenous woman who grew up in Queensland, believes it’s her absolute privilege to be honouring her Wiradjuri friend from New South Wales in a match that the world will watch.
As she’s done through a tournament during which she’s dropped just one set, she’ll again be wearing her own version of the famous scalloped dress that the then 19-year-old Goolagong wore when beating fellow Aussie Margaret Court in the 1971 final.
“Her most iconic dress is something that inspired me and inspired our generation of indigenous youth,” said Barty, who’s been winning a whole host of new overseas fans this fortnight with her elegant tennis just as Goolagong won over Britain 50 years ago.
“I hope that my version of it, my outfit, can do the same for the next generation of indigenous youth.”
(Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
It’s a tribute that has moved the pioneer, who’ll turn 70 at the end of this month.
“Wow, it just blows my mind,” said Goolagong Cawley, who gave her own seal of approval to Barty’s design. “What a wonderful thing to do, what a wonderful honour. It’s truly fantastic.”
During the tournament, Barty has been quick to salute Goolagong Cawley whenever she’s had the chance.
“Evonne showed you can go out there and believe in your dreams, put your dreams out to the universe, and you never know what can quite happen if you’re willing to work for it and get after it,” she explained after winning one match.
Now she says, her own dream will have come true if she can take the title.
“It took me a long time to verbalise that winning Wimbledon was my biggest dream – and now I’ve got the opportunity, it’s incredibly exciting,” Barty said.
“Regardless of what happens on Saturday, I’ve promised myself that I’m going to enjoy it.”
You can find out how to watch Barty in the Wimbledon final right here on The Roar.
© AAP
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