Saturday, January 29, 2022

Australian Open Highlights, Women's Final: Ashleigh Barty beats Danielle Collins for third major title

16:23 (IST)

That concludes our live blog from the women's final of the Australian Open. Barty ends Australi's 44-year wait in dramatic fashion. Tomorrow the focus moves to the men where Rafael Nadal chases a 21st Grand Slam against 'disruptor' Daniil Medvedev. Until tomorrow, goodbye!

16:16 (IST)

Ash Barty continues in the speech

"To my team, wow! I have said numerous times I am so lucky to have so many people here who love and support me.

"Mum, dad and my sisters, I am an incredibly fortunate and lucky girl to have so much love in my corner.

"No one has changed in our team, we are the best in the business and I can't thank you for all the time you put into me.

"As an Aussie the most important part of this is being able to share it and you guys have been nothing short of exceptional. This crowd is one of the most fun I have ever played in front of - you relaxed me and forced me to play my best tennis! Against a champion like Danielle I had to bring that today."

"This is a dream come true to me and I am so proud to be an Aussie, so thank you so much everyone - we will see you next time!"

16:14 (IST)

Presentation ceremony: Ashleigh Barty

"Thank you everyone so much, I have to say congratulations to Danielle, it has been an amazing fortnight for you, I know you will be fighting for many more of these in the future.

"I am a little stumped, I would love to thank everyone who does so much work behind the scenes - it takes a real big village to put on an event like this, this tournament has been one of my favourite experiences, so thank you so much for that.

"To all the umpires, ball kids, everyone who makes it so easy for us players to do what we do - you guys makes it seamless and without you we'd be lost!"

16:13 (IST)

Presentation ceremony: Danielle Collins

"First I think I owe a big congratulations to Ash on a phenomenal two weeks and phenomenal couple of years.

"I really admire you as the player you are, the variety in your game and hopefully I can implement some of that into mine.

"We wouldn't be standing here without all of the awesome people behind this tournament, it is one of my favourite events to compete at and I am so grateful, it is a childhood dream of mine - I think this is most of the players' favourite Grand Slams."

16:07 (IST)

What a beautiful moment!

16:04 (IST)

Collins: "Big congrats to Ash on a phenomenal 2 weeks here & a phenomenal couple of years. It’s been tremendous to watch her climb the rankings to #1 & live out her dream. I really admire you as the player you are & variety of your game & hopefully I can implement some of that into mine"

15:59 (IST)

Surprise! Aussie legend and Barty's mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley to present the trophies

15:54 (IST)

First person to get a hug from Barty was her first pro doubles partner Casey Dellacqua

15:53 (IST)

THE ROAR!

15:51 (IST)

ASH BARTY 'YOU ROCK! Well done!'

15:47 (IST)

ASHLEIGH BARTY IS THE CHAMPION!

Ashleigh Barty ends Australia's 44-year wait for a women's champion on home soil. She beats Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 coming from 1-5 down in the second set. And she wins the title without dropping a set!

15:43 (IST)

Tiebreak

Collins sends her forehand wide and it brings up FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS! Barty finds the deep end of the court with a forehand winner and she wins it! 

15:41 (IST)

Tiebreak

Barty with a drop shot and a couple of shots later, she closes the point out with a smash. The crowd goes MENTAL! Collins gets into the tiebreak with Barty mishit on the return. 4-1 to Barty. Collins goes for the backhand cross on the Barty serve but sends it into the net. 5-1 to Barty. Deafening noise inside the Rod Laver Arena!

15:39 (IST)

TIEBREAK!

Barty with a mini-break to start with and follows it ip with a point on serve as Collins looks to attack but overcooks it. Big serve and then Barty goes cross for a forehand winner. Huge shot once again! A 144kmph winner that. Crowd making plenty of noise.

15:36 (IST)

Barty 6-3, 6-6 Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty serving to force a tiebreak. Collins keeps the onslaught going and thrashes a second serve to bring the game to 15-30. Barty's big serve gets her out of the cage, for now. And again. This time she goes down the T and the return is into the net. Now out wide and another unreturnable serve. TIEBREAK!

15:33 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 5-6 Collins (*denotes next server)

After seeing her double break lead vanish, Collins ends the rut with a hold. Just the one point dropped in the game and she's kept her concentration intact. 

15:29 (IST)

Barty 6-3, 5-5 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty's forehand in the last game was 10kmph bigger than it had been in the rest of the match. She uses that weapon to go cross, brings the game to 40-15 and has a chance to hold. Collins with a thundering return into the feet of Barty and the short ball is thrashed to make it 40-30. A 175kmph ace out wide gets the hold!

15:25 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 4-5 Collins (*denotes next server)

Collins serves for the second set again. She starts off well. Up to 30-0 by digging in and keeping the rally going before Barty erred on the backhand. On the second serve, Barty attacks and plays a forehand winner down the line. Yet another forehand winner brings the game to 30-30. Pinging the absolute edge of the baseline there! Barty has an opportunity to break once again. She rocks on the forehand on the second serve and sends it cross court, forces Collins into a miss. Collins comes up to the chair umpire about something. The chair umpire asks the crowd not to shout during the point. BREAK! Back on serve! Collins sends her backhand into the net and this has turned right around.

15:20 (IST)

Barty 6-3, 3-5 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty races off to 40-0 with comfortable points. And then Collins thunders a huge forehand deep into the court and allows no time to react. At 40-15, much of the same and Ash nets the backhand. Barty does hold in the end as Collins sends her forehand long

15:16 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 2-5 Collins (*denotes next server)

This has flipped rather remarkably and disastrously for the local crowd. Barty making plenty of errors and Collins barely missing. She serves for the second set on the back of a double break. But Barty keeping herself in it with a forehand down the line but sends the next one long. It is 30-30. A deep slice backhand into Collins' backhand and Barty has a chance to break. Crowd gets behind her. BREAK! A deep return into the backhand and Collins nets it. The American still in command though

15:09 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 1-4 Collins (*denotes next server)

Comfortable and quick holds for both players. Collins with her trademark yells towards the box after each point. She has turned things around after dropping that first set. Not allowing Barty to get in and more importantly, being more aggressive

15:05 (IST)

Collins is PUMPED!

15:02 (IST)

Barty* 6-3, 0-3 Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty has the opportunity to break right back and it goes begging. Barty has the chance to make Collins play a volley but she finds the net on the backhand. Another chance though as Collins misses. She is certainly very animated now. Serve into the body and a lengthy rally ensues. Barty does well to open the court up but misses a straightforward volley. That was there for the taking. Could be a decisive point. On deuce, Barty goes for too much on the return and Collins has the chance to hold. And she does. Ruthless backhands once again and she consolidates the break

14:57 (IST)

Barty 6-3, 0-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)

A loose service game from Barty and Collins capitalises. Two break point chances for the American. Barty saves one with an ace down the T. She goes after the second serve on second break point and all-out attack helps her to a smash put away. BREAK!

14:53 (IST)

Set 1 in numbers

14:52 (IST)

First set: Ashleigh Barty 6-3

Ashleigh Barty closes the first set out with an ace and 15 of the last 22 points. She is yet to drop a set this fortnight and Collins would need something special to stage another comeback

14:48 (IST)

Barty 6-3 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Collins stops the run with a hold and now Barty serves for the opening set. Starts with a big serve, follows it up with a forehand winner and then another big out wide. Set points! And she gets the job done with an ace down the T. SET!

14:47 (IST)

Celebrities on Rod Laver Arena

14:41 (IST)

Barty 5-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty drops a point and consolidates the break of serve. Crowd erupts every time she wins a point and for good reason

14:40 (IST)

Thundering backhands from Collins earlier

14:39 (IST)

Barty* 4-2 Collins (*denotes next server)

Now Collins has the serve under pressure. Barty not playing her typical best and Collins has plenty to do with that. On 30-30, she moves up and smacks a forehand winner to bring up break point. Double fault! BREAK!

14:33 (IST)

Barty 3-2 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Like Barty's backhand slice, Collins' backhand is her weapon and it is off to a thundering start. She whips it cross court and brings the game to 40-30. On the next point, Barty sends her forehand into the net. Deuce. Barty does exceptionally with deep backhand slices, goes cross on the forehand and then mishits the forehand to bring up break point. Saves it with an off forehand winner. Collins looks to attack the first serve on deuce but she misses, that wasn't far away. A 177kmph ace out wide gets the hold

14:28 (IST)

Barty* 2-2 Collins (*denotes next server)

Fortunate close to that service game for Collins. Hits the top of the net and the ball trickles over. She quickly has her hand up in apology. Another straightforward hold

14:25 (IST)

Team Collins with unique T-shirts

14:23 (IST)

Barty 2-1 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty with back-to-back aces and she's off to a brilliant start on serve. Gets the angled serve on 40-15 and the mishit return doesn't come back. Good hold

14:21 (IST)

Barty* 1-1 Collins (*denotes next server)

Collins drops just the solitary point on serve and she is off to a confident start in her first Slam final. Showing no signs of early nerves that one can except from a debut finalist

14:18 (IST)

Barty 1-0 *Collins (*denotes next server)

Barty races off to 40-0 before Collins roars back to make it 40-30. The American doing to Barty what she did to Swiatek - thumping the second serve with disdain. Barty does close the game out by getting the first serve in and seeing Collins return into the net

14:15 (IST)

Ready, set, go!

Ashleigh Barty has won the toss and will serve first. Marijana Veljovic from Serbia is the chair umpire for the final

14:11 (IST)

Chris O'Neil, the last Australian woman to be crowned champion here, brings the trophy on to Rod Laver Arena

14:08 (IST)

Head-to-head: Barty leads 3-1

14:05 (IST)

A quick bio of both the finalists

14:04 (IST)

What the two women are vying for

13:59 (IST)

Danielle Collins' road to the final:

1st rd: bt Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6-1, 6-3

2nd rd: bt Ana Konjuh (CRO) 6-4, 6-3

3rd rd: bt Clara Tauson (DEN) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5

4th rd: bt Elise Mertens (BEL x19) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4

Quarter-final: bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 7-5, 6-1

Semi-final: bt Iga Swiatek (POL x7) 6-4, 6-1

13:40 (IST)

🇺🇸 Danielle Collins

Age: 28

World ranking: 30

Prize money: $3,750,895

Career titles: 2

Grand Slam titles: 0

Australian Open best: Final (2022)

Coach: No full-time coach

Making her maiden Grand Slam final appearance with previous best a run to the Australian Open last four in 2019. Before that she had never won a match at a major in five previous Slams. Also made the last eight at Roland Garros in 2020.

Withdrew from Charleston last year to have surgery for endometriosis. On her return she won her first ever WTA titles at San Jose and Palermo. 

Hardcourts are the favourite surface for a player who only turned professional aged 22 after an illustrious college career.

13:35 (IST)

Ashleigh Barty's road to the final:

1st rd: bt Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 6-0, 6-1

2nd rd: bt Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) 6-1, 6-1

3rd rd: bt Camila Giorgi (ITA x30) 6-2, 6-3

4th rd: bt Amanda Anisimova (USA) 6-4, 6-3

Quarter-final: bt Jessica Pegula (USA x21) 6-2, 6-0

Semi-final: bt Madison Keys (USA) 6-1, 6-3

13:30 (IST)

🇦🇺 Ashleigh Barty

Age: 25

World ranking: 1

Prize money: $21,665,851

Career titles: 14

Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2019, Wimbledon 2021)

Australian Open best: Final (2022)  

Coach: Craig Tyzzer

Making her third Slam final appearance, winning both times previously. Is aiming to become the first Australian woman to win on home soil since Chris O'Neill in 1978.

Heads into the clash on a 10-match win streak after taking the title at Adelaide this month -- her 14th career crown starting in 2017 at Wuhan and Birmingham. Three of them, including Wimbledon, came in 2021.

Has been world number one for 112 consecutive weeks. Made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in 2012.

13:28 (IST)

Aussies go for the records

Barty is hoping to become the first home Australian Open women's champion since Chris O'Neill in 1978, thus ending a 44-year wait

Whichever team wins in the doubles final, they will become the first All-Australian team to win the Australian Open men’s doubles title since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1997

13:18 (IST)

Hello! On the penultimate day of the 2022 Australian Open, our focus, and that of plenty of Australians, will be on the women's final featuring local hope Ashleigh Barty and American Danielle Collins. It will be followed by an all-Aussie men's doubles final that will put Max Purcell/Matt Ebden up against wildcards Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios.

Preview: World number one Ashleigh Barty will look to become the first Australian woman for 44 years to win her home Grand Slam Saturday, but to do it she needs to get past a rejuvenated Danielle Collins in the form of her life.

American Collins faces a daunting task in the women's singles final on Rod Laver Arena in front of Barty's fiercely partisan Australian Open crowd. But the resurgent American is ready to tackle the top seed, and clear favourite.

Collins was in "the zone" and almost flawless as she pummelled Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek into submission in the semi-final.

Now the 28-year-old knows if she can find the same sweet spot on Saturday that she has a huge chance.

The big-hitting Collins will need to bring more than just raw power to counter the tactical nous of Barty, who has been rampant so far, winning 20 of 21 sets this year.

Collins has pushed Barty hard in their previous four matches, winning their last encounter in Adelaide 12 months ago in straight sets.

As well as feeling the weight of Collins' fearsome groundstrokes, Barty could also buckle under the expectation at her home Slam.

She is the first Australian woman into the decider in Melbourne since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the first winner since Chris O'Neil in 1978.

The two-time Grand Slam champion -- at the 2019 French Open and Wimbledon in 2021 -- appears relaxed and ready to accept the extra pressure.



from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://bit.ly/3uaOkjy
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