3 minute read
Ash Barty looked as if she'd overwhelm Karolina Pliskova but it turned out to be a nervy, much tighter affair before the Australian could claim victory.
It was a Wimbledon final with plenty of twists and turns before Ash Barty could finally celebrate achieving her dream on Centre Court with victory over Karolina Pliskova. Here's how the match ebbed and flowed.
FIRST SET - Barty wins 6-3
*Barty got off to a dream start with Pliskova seemingly frozen with nerves by the magnitude of the occasion, as the Czech couldn't win a point for three games and got sympathetic applause when she finally got on the board after losing the first 14 points of the match.
*A double fault helped Barty make it 4-0 with just 11 minutes played as journalists started heading for the Wimbledon Compendium to see if this might just end up becoming the quickest final ever.
*Barty then played a couple of careless service games to help the world No.13 rediscover a bit of confidence, but the Aussie still looked in complete control as she served out to love for the set in just 28 minutes.
SECOND SET - Pliskova wins 7-6 (7-4)
*Pliskova's woes continued as she served two consecutive tame double faults to drop serve and go 2-1 down - and she appeared to be careering to a swift loss when Barty consolidated for a 3-1 lead.
*Barty then got broken to love with a double fault of her own as Pliskova reeled off a run of nine straight points - almost out of nowhere - to move into a 4-3 lead.
*The Australian held firm and Pliskova faltered again at 5-5 to allow Barty to serve for the match, but she missed her big chance, starting with another double and allowing the Czech to break to 15 and take the set into a tiebreak.
*The gods really were with Pliskova in the breaker, as one forehand limped over for her after it had crashed into the top of the net and another net cord then helped her set up a winning smash and move into a 5-2 lead. Barty saved two set points before a double fault gifted Pliskova the set.
THIRD SET - Barty wins 6-3
*With the crowd now buzzing in the first three-set Wimbledon women's final since 2012, Barty could have been left seriously deflated but she roared back to take control again with her deadly slice, broke to love and swept into a 3-0 lead.
*That key break in the second game grew in significance as the pair started winning their service games comfortably, but when serving for the match again at 5-3, Barty again seemed nervous, sending a drive volley long which would given her match point and gifting Pliskova a break point.
*The Aussie survived when Pliskova's backhand flew wide, and Barty brought up match point with a seventh ace down the 'T' and was able to at last celebrate when the Czech netted a weary-looking backhand after one hour, 56 minutes.
