Stunning truth behind Ash Barty's epic Wimbledon triumph

Ash Barty's sensational maiden Wimbledon title saw the World No.1 tick of several career goals as the Aussie champion realised one of her tennis dreams.

The 25-year-old etched her name onto the Wimbledon champion's board after a pulsating three-set victory over Karolina Pliskova in the final.

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In doing so, Barty became the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon since her idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

The Queenslander also answered the critics by providing an emphatic smackdown to those who claimed she was a fake World No.1 after holding her place at the top of the women's standings throughout much of 2020, despite playing very little tennis because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Barty's victory at Wimbledon merely cemented her status as the best player on the women's tour and extended her lead at the top of the standings over Naomi Osaka.

The Japanese star's absence at Wimbledon, coupled with Barty's victory saw the Aussie extend her rankings lead over Osaka to nearly 2300 points.

Despite Osaka suggesting that she will return from a mental health break in time for the Olympics, it's hard to fathom that she or any of Barty's other rivals will be able to rein in the number one before the end of the year.

Barty has now spent 77 consecutive weeks as women's World No. 1 in what places her in the top-10 for longest ever streaks, after overtaking American great Chris Evert's record.

The Aussie is also in the top 10 for total weeks as World No.1 - with her current record standing at 84 weeks and counting.

Then there's the extraordinary prize money figures that Barty continues to rack up after adding the £1.7 million (AU$3.15 million) Wimbledon winner's cheque to her eye-watering tally.

According to the WTA, Barty has made around US$21 million (AU$28 million) in career prize money already, taking her past the likes of Osaka, Justine Henin and fellow Aussie Sam Stosur in the top-20 all-time earners in the women's game.

Former Aussie tennis star-turned commentator Sam Groth says it a just reward for years of consistency from the Aussie champion.

Consistency paying off for Aussie champion

“For years now, Ash has been hailed as the comeback kid,” former tennis player Sam Groth wrote in the Herald Sun.

“Yes she had the break from tennis, yes it did wonders for her and yes she came back stronger than ever but this is a new chapter and has been for some time.

“Ash is a champion in her own right. She knows this is where she’s meant to be.”

Barty's focus now turns to the Tokyo Olympic Games where she has the opportunity to write another chapter to her extraordinary career.

The 25-year-old heads into the July 23-August 8 Games aiming to join Steffi Graf (1988) and Venus (2000) and Serena (2012) Williams as the only women in the Open era to win Wimbledon and Olympic singles gold in the same year.

"Being able to represent Australia at the Olympics is going to be an awesome experience and it's important over this next period to celebrate the fact we've achieved something really special at Wimbledon," Barty told Australian media.

"I have a lot of other goals, dreams that are in my mind and within my team and we'll certainly reset in the next couple of days ... enjoy some time together and then we go again. But really looking forward to the Olympics."

The 2019 French Open champion had said it was miracle she even had the chance to play at Wimbledon after a hip injury forced her to retire in the Roland Garros second round.

"In the last six weeks I've cried a lot. A lot of it was through heartbreak at the French and now, through a sense of joy and happiness and how much everything has changed," Barty said.

"We said from the French there will be a silver lining and we've found it."

with agencies

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