One to go: Barty on the cusp of history

First came the 2019 French Open, a surprise even to Ash Barty herself. Next there was last year’s Wimbledon, which she openly set herself to win and dedicated to her inspiration, Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

Now Barty is one win away from winning the Australian Open, and cannot help but be aware that this time she is playing for her country and for the good cheer of all her compatriots who have tried in the 44 years since an Australian last won their home championship, so long ago that Melbourne Park wasn’t even a twinkle in John Cain’s eye.

It’s a big responsibility, and will weigh more with each passing hour until she takes to Rod Laver arena on Saturday night. While waiting, she won’t want to look out of the window. By nightfall, Australia will be metaphorically hanging from the rafters.

But one of Barty’s trademarks is the way she takes everything in her stride. In the hyper environment of professional tennis, her lack of pretension and affectation stands out. She would probably settle for the “best clubman” trophy on Saturday night.

It’s a deception. Whatever else Barty is, she’s not ordinary. Her true trademark is the smoothness of her craft at tennis, a maddening game for mortals. If you don’t think so, ask American Madison Keys, a one-time US Open finalist who was made to look like an amateur by Barty in Thursday night’s semi-final. It lasted an hour, par for Barty in this tournament.

Like a well-disguised drop shot, Barty and her game crept up on us. Barty does not have the physical presence of Serena Williams. She doesn’t make a fuss on court, nor court the limelight off it.

When she won the French, it might have been thought that she got an agreeable fall of the cards. But in an era of great flux in women’s tennis, she became No.1 soon afterwards and with a little protection because COVID disruptions have been there pretty much ever since. Rather than queen, she would see herself as first among equals.

She is still improving, still streamlining her game. She is fitter than she has ever been, and her serve is the most effective on the women’s tour. It was impregnable again on Thursday night. She does everything else at least as well as her opponents, and one thing better than them all. Commentator and majors winner Jim Courier reckons she does it as well as Roger Federer.

It’s her slice backhand. In all, she plays a multi-faceted game with a singular focus, and it was all on display on Rod Laver arena.

Three years ago, Barty was only peripherally in the consciousness of the game. Now? “I think she’s definitely living in everyone’s head a little bit,” said vanquished quarter-finalist Jessica Pegula.

In this tournament, she had what might be seen as a kindly draw. She began by dealing summarily with two qualifiers and was helped when Naomi Osaka fell by the wayside. Her three most recent opponents were three Americans who she also beat en route to the Roland Garros title. Sense something happening here?

Now to close the gap. The last Australian woman to win our Open was Chris O’Neil in 1978. The last woman to make a final was Wendy Turnbull in 1980. The last Australian to reach a final was Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.

A third major title would establish Barty as Australia’s most successful player since Goolagong Cawley. It will all be there for the taking, just on the other side of the net, on Saturday night.

Can she do it? The omens are propitious. She won’t be weary; she’s spent barely six hours on the court in this tournament. If anything, her progress has been too seamless. She hasn’t lost a set, barely lost a service game. The humid weather in the second week has been made for order for a Queenslander. She’s in form, the prime of her career.

As she closed out the semi, thunder rolled and lightning flashed apocalyptically over Rod Laver arena. “Are you ready,” Courier asked Barty. “Absolutely,” she replied. “Let’s do it.”

Watch all the action from Melbourne Park on Nine, 9Gem, and 9Now.

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