The Australian could win her third Grand Slam tournament in her home country – and triumph “at home” for the first time. Will it work against surprise finalist Danielle Collins from the USA?
She has already won the French Open 2019 and Wimbledon 2021 – but this final victory would probably be the culmination of her career so far: Ashleigh Barty is in the final of the Australian Open. your home tournament. In the final in Melbourne, the 25-year-old wants to be the first Australian to secure the title since Chris O’Neil in 1978 – it would be the third Grand Slam title for the world number one.
On the other hand, the surprise finalist, Danielle Collins, awaits. The 28-year-old American was only seeded 27th, but fought her way through to the final. In the semifinals, Collins also knocked out the highly rated Pole Iga Swiatek, winning clearly 6: 4, 6: 1 against the 2020 French Open winner.
Who prevails? Follow the final from 9:30 a.m. here in the live ticker.
++ Ash Barty vs. Danielle Collins now in the live ticker ++
Set 2:
6:3, 5:6: Collins will do well. With a service winner, she gets another game – and at least secures the tie-breaker in the second set. But maybe there is even more to it…
6:3, 5:5: Unbelievable, it’s really 5:5 now, because Danielle Collins loses four (!) games in a row. Everything in order. Is this sentence now probably completely overturned? The audience is raging and wants to see local hero Barty take the second set as well.
6:3, 4:5: Collins wobbles! Despite 30:0 it is suddenly 30:40. She complains to the chair umpire because the audience calls into the rallies. The fans booed – but soon they were allowed to cheer, because the American hit a backhand into the net and lost her second service game in a row! What a comeback from Ash Barty.
6:3, 3:5: Barty fulfills her duty, shortened to 3:5. But she still needs a break not to lose the second set. Will Collins stay stable and bring home the set? She also changes her racket now.
6:3, 2:5: Ash Barty gets the chance to come back in the second set, has break ball at 30:40 from Collins’ perspective – and uses it. But she is still a break behind and quarrels. A change of racquet should now fix it, and there are also new balls.
6:3, 1:5: Barty is knocked out, insecure – and flawed. At 15:40 from her point of view, she weakly nets a backhand slice and loses her second service game of the match. Collins now serves to equalize sentences.
6:3, 1:4: Collins is there, constantly pushing himself and leaving the audience silent. The American fields a strong 80 percent of her first serve and continues to extend her lead. Neutral viewers can look forward to a third set here unless Barty makes the comeback…
6:3, 1:3: Now Ash Barty has also arrived in this second set, bringing her first service game to the end after just 62 seconds with a back and longline to zero.
6:3, 0:3: The 2-0 lead should now give the American security. Can Collins confirm her break? She can but has to fight, has two break balls against her. In one of the longest rallies of the game, Collins manages to free himself and closes the game shortly afterwards. Very important for the upcoming top 10 player.
6:3, 0:2: Collins now has to attack here and manages to make Barty ponder, because Barty makes two forehand errors and thus gives the American two break balls. Barty parried the first with an ace through the middle, but Collins immediately attacked the second, putting the Aussie in distress. Collins makes the point and gets the break!
6:3, 0:1: The second set is running. Collins is now allowed to serve which could be a small advantage as she isn’t under so much pressure when she serves. She masters her first game with flying colors and here in the second set she takes the lead in a set for the first time in this game.
6:3: Is Barty shaking here? Not at all! The two-time Grand Slam winner plays terribly casually, throws in a slice, then picks up the pace again and frees herself from complicated situations. At 40:0 there is a set ball – and Barty uses it with the 5th ace in this party! Sentence lead for the favourite, although Collins really wasn’t much worse here. It’s the nuances, ladies and gentlemen. The crowd goes wild, Barty party in Melbourne.
5:3: Collins is now under a lot of pressure, fighting against the loss of the set. You can tell the number 30 in the world is not quite as relaxed as at the beginning of the game. But at 30:30 Barty plays a forehand into the net. Collins gets her game, but now the world number one can make the sentence.
5:2: It was a brutally close match, but now the first set could be over in no time. Barty makes three quick points, makes her first double mistake, but serves so variably that she is 5:2 in the lead. Collins dropped her break ball, Barty “used” her immediately: joy and sorrow are sometimes so close together.
4:2: Now things are getting dicey for Collins, who is getting too defensive. Collins has to fend off her first break ball at 30:40 – and doesn’t make it. The American misses her second serve completely, producing her first double fault – and loses her game! Break for the top favorite from Australia.
3:2: Anyone who expected close service games has been disappointed so far. But now there is a debut for the first time. Barty misses a forehand and gives Collins the first break ball of the game, which Barty saves sensationally. Two more points and an ace later, it’s 3-2. Take a deep breath for the Australian, who has only lost one service game in this tournament.
2:2: And Collins also manages her second service game easily despite 0:15 at the beginning, and has some luck with the edge of the net at 40:15. Both have plans here and seem to have a lot of self-confidence.
2:1: The arm is relaxed, Barty has no problems with her serve, has already hit three aces and also gets her second service game with ease. Everything in order so far.
1:1: Collins also serves properly and comes in well. At 40:15, the American plays a strong serve to the outside and equalizes.
1:0: The number one in the world gets off to a good start, serves variable and quickly leads 40:0. Collins still makes two points, but Barty keeps his cool and grabs the first game.
0:0: And the game is on, Barty serves first.
9.43 a.m.: Both are playing now. It’ll start here in three minutes. Barty’s impressive record at the tournament: she gave up just 21 games. But: So far, none of her opponents have been in the top 30. Collins is now such an opponent, she started the Australian Open as number 30 in the world rankings.
9:37 a.m.: The players have exited the catacombs and entered the pitch. Ash Barty, of course, to thunderous applause from the numerous audience members.
9.30 a.m.: Any minute now the players are coming onto the Rod Laver Arena. It’s about to start in Melbourne.
9.20 a.m.: Ahead of the final, activists put up a sign of support for Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. On the day of the women’s final, they said they had 1,000 t shirts with the inscription “Where’s Peng Shuai?” thereby, which they distributed to spectators in front of the entrances. The organizers of the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne initially prohibited political messages on the facility t shirts but allowed after criticism.
9.15 a.m.: Is there a coup by the American? “There have been so many women in recent years who weren’t expected to win Grand Slams and that gives hope to all other players,” Collins said beforehand.
But Barty wants to take her chance in front of her home crowd. “A lot of Australian players dream of being in the final of the home grand slam. I love this tournament. I’m just happy that I can play my best tennis here.”
9.10 a.m.: When comparing the playing time directly, it quickly becomes clear: Collins was on the pitch four and a half hours longer and had to fight more. The direct comparison also speaks for Ashleigh Barty: the local hero has won three of four duels so far. The last game so far at the beginning of the 2021 season in Adelaide was won by Collins.
9:00 a.m.: Welcome to the Australian Open final. Ashleigh Barty meets Danielle Collins.