Ashleigh Barty was understandably crushed when she had to withdraw in the middle of her second-round match at the French Open early last month. That she couldn’t defend the title she earned at Roland Garros in 2019 was bad enough. That she faced the possibility of missing out on Wimbledon due to an injury to her left hip added insult to the mix. In truth, she had been facing a variety of ailments, including one in her arm that forced her to forfeit her quarterfinal-round match at the Italian Open, the season’s final tune-up event heading into hallowed red clay.
That said, Barty was optimistic of her immediate prospects. “Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “There will be a silver lining in this, eventually. Once I find out what that is, it’ll make me feel a little bit better.” And better was precisely what she felt prior to her first-round set-to at Wimbledon, in which she figured to be well enough to compete. For all the confidence she bore as World Number One, however, she left room to accept the grueling reality of tennis: success requires just as much good fortune as unparalleled skill. And so she noted that, “One day, I would love to be the champion here” even though she knew there is always no better time for her than the present to carve her destiny.
As things turned out, Barty found the stars shining her way. After initially finding difficulty against veteran Carla Suarez Navarro in her tournament opener, she rattled off one straight-sets victory after another — if with some difficulty — en route to the final. Standing between her and the Venus Rosewater Dish was Karolína Plíšková, once also a top seed, but she had momentum, and unquenchable self-belief, on her side. Her innate assurance led her to claim the title contest’s first 14 points and 16 of the first 18 all told. And by the time her opponent regained some footing, the score was already 4-0 in her favor.
Barty would go on to win the first set six to three, and, after surrendering the second following a tie-breaker, the third as well with the same score. She had finally claimed the title she coveted most, and, in retrospect, it was but fitting that she commanded Centre Court on the golden anniversary of mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s first date with fate in the sport’s premier stop. For her day of reckoning, she wore an outfit that paid tribute to her fellow Australian’s breakthrough win. She didn’t need to, of course. Just like her idol, her heart is already on her sleeve. Just like her idol, she is universally loved and respected. And just like her idol, she is a champion of champions.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.