No, you didn’t dream it – Ashleigh Barty is the Australian Open women’s singles champion.
The Australian superstar and world number one confirmed her status as the best in the business with a sensational win in the tournament final on Saturday night over powerful American Danielle Collins, fighting back from a 1-5 deficit in the second set to claim glory with a near-perfect tie break.
???????? YES YES YES!!! ????????
ASH BARTY IS THE 2022 AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION! ????#AusOpen – live on Channel 9 and 9Now. Ad-Free Live & On Demand on Stan Sport pic.twitter.com/4MwmEyKS59
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 29, 2022
Barty became the country’s first singles champion at the Open since Chris O’Neil in 1978 – before Melbourne Park even existed.
As you can expect, the celebrations have spread across Australia, as a nation rejoices in Ash’s astonishing achievement, described as ‘satisfying and unifying’; with Barty’s famous picture from childhood making frequent appearances.
That’s one of the sporting achievements of our lifetime
Satisfying and unifying #Barty— Gerard Whateley (@GerardWhateley) January 29, 2022
It’s coming home
— Daniel Cherny ???? (@DanielCherny) January 29, 2022
Good to get our 2023 Australian of the Year sorted early. #AusOpen
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) January 29, 2022
Ash Barty. An Australian sporting legend. Up there with the Aussie greats. Adam Scott. Aloisi and the Socceroos. Cadel. Jess Fox. Maybe only just short of Cathy Freeman at Sydney 2000. But not far off. From two breaks down in the second set. Epic. And she is only 25 years of age
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) January 29, 2022
I’m crying. You’re crying. We are all crying. I bloody love @ashbarty and I love this court. What a wonderful human. What a magnificent player. #AusOpen ❤️❤️❤️❤️
— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) January 29, 2022
Just perfect. pic.twitter.com/quio6fC3TN
— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) January 29, 2022
Ash Barty. Meg Lanning. Sam Kerr. Australian sport is led by women. the sooner the country realises it, the better we'll all be. #AusOpen
— Samantha Lewis (@battledinosaur) January 29, 2022
We needed that, Australia #BartyParty #AusOpen @wwos
— Roz Kelly (@Roz_Kelly) January 29, 2022
Melbourne needed that. Australia needed that. Ash Barty is a national hero. #AusOpen #BartyParty
— Matt Thompson (@MattThompson) January 29, 2022
The excitement has even spread across the sporting world, with the AFL keen to bask in the reflected glory…
Champion ????????????
Congratulations @ashbarty on winning the 2022 @AustralianOpen ????#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/I3E5oDOyAw
— AFL (@AFL) January 29, 2022
… while Richmond and CEO Brendon Gale were also quick to hail their most famous supporter, and the deliverer of their 2020 premiership cup.
Unbloodybelievable, @ashbarty ???????????? https://t.co/4kSCnxiLeB
— Richmond FC ???? (@Richmond_FC) January 29, 2022
Congrats @ashbarty
Home slam, weight of an entire nation on her shoulders. Delivers a masterclass in elite sporting performance. Indomitable will, composure, humility.#AustralianOpen— Brendon Gale (@brendongale25) January 29, 2022
They weren’t the only AFL identities to praise Barty, Collingwood’s Mason Cox taking a break from cheering for American compatriot Collins to tip the cap.
It’s pretty awesome to have some of the best role models in sport being female athletes in Ash Barty and Erin Phillips atm. I hope people realise that!
— Mason Cox (@masonsixtencox) January 29, 2022
The cricket world has also proudly displayed their affinity with Barty, who famously represented WBBL team the Brisbane Heat in a brief sabbatical from tennis in the mid-2010s.
Ash Barry, just another Brisbane Heat success story #AusOpen
— Daniel Brettig ???? (@danbrettig) January 29, 2022
“Congratulations @ashbarty on claiming your maiden #AusOpen title. Never change that warm-up routine!” Cricket Australia said in a social media post.
From Queensland Premier Cricket, to the WBBL, to a three time Grand Slam champion.
Congratulations @ashbarty on your maiden #AusOpen title. Never change that warm-up routine! ???? pic.twitter.com/MjK31szWHm
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 29, 2022
Of the players, fellow Queenslander and Australian Test gun Marnus Labuschagne led the way…
Wow, what a win. Calm, completely in control and ruthless. @ashbarty take a bow, a true champion!! Congrats ???? #AusOpen
— Marnus Labuschagne (@marnus3cricket) January 29, 2022
… as did women’s cricket star Megan Schutt.
Oh I could cry ???? how good is sport. So proud @ashbarty ???????? the whole of Australia is proud ???????? #BartyParty #AusOpen
— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) January 29, 2022
The Matildas, too, sent their congratulations.
Congratulations, @ashbarty ????
Such a superstar, Barty Party is in full swing!#AusOpen https://t.co/VI4vweenMv
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) January 29, 2022
As for basketball, the legendary Andrew Gaze joined in the acclaim for Ash.
It took 44 years but it was worth the wait. Amazing composure, determination and class by an Aussie legend. Congratulations @ashbarty. Goolagong, Freeman, Thorpey embracing Ash post match fills the ???? with pride. This nation can do special things! We've got much to be proud of.????????
— Andrew Gaze (@AndrewGaze10) January 29, 2022
And it wouldn’t be complete without a shout-out from the man himself, Rod Laver.
A Grand Slam champion on three different surfaces, you are the complete player @AshBarty 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. ????
— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) January 29, 2022
Backstage with some amazing Aussie tennis legends, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Chris O’Neil, Judy Dalton and the one and only @ashbarty – who did something special tonight! pic.twitter.com/w3XinXWdHG
— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) January 29, 2022
Barty’s win also managed to unite both sides of the political spectrum, with former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, opposition leader Anthony Albanese and current PM Scott Morrison finally finding some common ground.
Yes!!!!!What an achievement. First Australian #AusOpen champ in 44 years. A hero to all Queenslanders, and a generation of aspiring young tennis players. Ash Barty, we are all so proud of you. #BartyParty
— Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) January 29, 2022
Our Queen of our Court. Congratulations @ashbarty. Pure class. Australia thanks you and all your team. How good! ???? #bartyparty pic.twitter.com/xqcoefRZ9L
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 29, 2022
Huge congratulations to @AshBarty on your @australianopen win. Strong, focussed, a true athlete, a true champion. #BartyParty pic.twitter.com/eMg8ZAHedf
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 29, 2022
First Nations senator Lydia Thorpe was likewise full of pride, as politicians around the country clamoured to pay homage to Barty.
Ngarigo woman Ash Barty has already won Wimbledon and the French Open. Tonight, she's the First woman in 44 years from this country to be competing in the Australian Open final. Good luck Ash! We're proud of you and your Blak excellence ???????? pic.twitter.com/SBsYSfGcqY
— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) January 29, 2022
She just keeps making history. Ash Barty, Australian Open Champion.
Congratulations @ashbarty! What an achievement – and one that will inspire young Australians everywhere. pic.twitter.com/vABoa3GMKn
— Tanya Plibersek (@tanya_plibersek) January 29, 2022
What a win! Congratulations @ashbarty
And what a meaningful moment – with Evonne Goolagong Cawley presenting her trophy.
The whole country is bursting with pride. pic.twitter.com/TA4J8xyy0J
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) January 29, 2022
It’s a Barty Party in Torrensville tonight. #BartyParty pic.twitter.com/FU2vuSsDAm
— Tom Koutsantonis MP (@TKoutsantonisMP) January 29, 2022
Even Kylie Minogue Tweeted her congratulations. No doubt she can’t get Ash out of her head. *ba dum tish*
Wow!!! #BARTYPARTY ???????? HUGE congrats to @ashbarty Such and inspiration. LEGEND!!! pic.twitter.com/Q3kOSARXRr
— Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue) January 29, 2022
It wasn’t just Australia in awe of Barty, though. The world number one’s tennis colleagues also offered their support, including former world number one Simona Halep and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova – who beat Barty in the quarter-finals of the 2019 tournament.
Ashhhhh!! Always happy to see that big smile when you win.
Enjoy every second of this sweet victory at home, you deserve it ????????#AusOpen @ashbarty
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) January 29, 2022
Huge congrats to my friend @ashbarty ????
Amazing performance! Sooo happy to see you with that trophy ❤️#ausopen
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) January 29, 2022
Congrats, @ashbarty! What a marvelous achievement!
So happy to see you crowned at home! Absolutely deserved. Pure class! ???????? pic.twitter.com/s7uACBbVWN
— Carla Suárez Navarro (@CarlaSuarezNava) January 29, 2022
Congrats @ashbarty so happy for you champ ???? ❤️ This one is very special and you really deserve it ????????????????
— Ons Jabeur (@Ons_Jabeur) January 29, 2022
Cheers soon turned to tears when Australian tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley made a surprise appearance on Rod Laver Arena, to hand Barty the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy.
This is too much. ???? We were ALL Ash Barty after finding out none other than Evonne Goolagong would be presenting the trophy. ❤️????#AusOpen – live on Channel 9 and 9Now. Ad-Free Live & On Demand on Stan Sport pic.twitter.com/pIplrTMzN6
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 29, 2022
Ash's face upon seeing Evonne ???????????? pic.twitter.com/OW6yIsho8l
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 29, 2022
The beautiful moment was enough to even melt the heart of rugby league hard man Phil Gould.
Evonne Goolagong. That is all ❤️
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) January 29, 2022
Awesome moment! Arena erupts, standing ovation for Evonne Goolagong Cawley as she enters to hand over the silverware. What a night. #BartyParty
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) January 29, 2022
Evonne’s here! Im done. Yoannidis out ????????????
— Nat Yoannidis (@NatYoannidis) January 29, 2022
Finally, on a self-indulgent note, former Roarer turned stats guru Josh Elliott’s reminder about Barty’s extraordinary path to glory is a lesson we can all take from a remarkable night at Melbourne Park.
Ash Barty spent more than 12 months out of the game for the sake of her mental health. Every time she wins a grand slam it should be a big flashing neon light reminder to all of us that taking care of yourself doesn't mean losing your dreams – it only makes you stronger ????
— Josh (@databyjosh) January 29, 2022
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