Ruthless Ashleigh Barty blew away a nervous Marketa Vondrousova in a one-sided French Open final Saturday to win her first grand slam singles title.
The magnitude of the occasion appeared to get to unseeded teenager Vondrousova in her first major final and the clinical Barty took advantage, breezing to a 6-1, 6-3 victory.
Barty, playing her first grand slam singles final after a doubles triumph at the US Open last year, became the first Australian since Margaret Court 46 years ago to be crowned champion at Roland Garros.
Vondrousova, playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first time, was brushed aside by a steely Barty, who took just 71 minutes to seal a victory that will move her up to a career-high second in the rankings.
The eighth seed dismantled the 19-year-old after the start was delayed by 90 minutes because of the time it took Dominic Thiem to beat Novak Djokovic in the second men's semifinal on the main show court.
Barty's triumph came three years after resuming her tennis career after a 21-month hiatus, during which time she showcased her cricket skills for Brisbane Heat Women's Big Bash League.
Never letting go.@ashbar96 | #RG19 pic.twitter.com/ipLDB1TpfA
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2019
Barty made hard work of beating Amanda Anisimova in a topsy-turvy semifinal on Friday but controlled the championship match, breaking five times as Vondrousova wilted on the big stage in Paris.
Barty, 23, capitalized on an uncertain start from world No. 38 Vondrousova to storm to a 3-0 lead, an errant forehand from the left-hander gifting her an early break.
Vondrousova persisted with her trademark drop shot, and the fleet-footed Barty read her like a book, but Vondrousova got on the board with a break back to trail 4-1.
Barty unleashed a majestic forehand winner to take the next game and ended a quick first set with another rasping forehand down the line.
There was no respite for a startled Vondrousova, with a composed Barty putting away a simple forehand winner to break in the opening game of the second set.
Vondrousova – who had not dropped a set en route to the final – missed a simple overhead at the net and saw a break point come and go after giving herself a chance to level at 1-1.
Barty kept her composure with the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen in her sights, and after holding to love for a 5-3 lead, she broke again with a smash at the net to become the first Australian to win a grand slam singles title since Sam Stosur's US Open triumph in 2011.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Ashleigh Barty [8] def. Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-3
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Barty – 27/26
Vondrousova – 10/22
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Barty – 3/1
Vondrousova – 1/3
BREAK POINTS WON
Barty – 5/13
Vondrousova – 1/4
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Barty – 68
Vondrousova – 76
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Barty – 62/76
Vondrousova – 46/53
TOTAL POINTS
Barty – 69
Vondrousova – 49