Read Tumaini Carayol’s report from Centre Court at Wimbledon:
Thanks for reading today - huge congratulations to Ash Barty - we will post the full match report here shortly. Bye for now.
“Congratulations to Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid on winning their fourth Wimbledon title 7-5, 6-2 against Tom Edgerbrink and Joachim Gerard,” emails Chris Page.
Seconded.
Congratulations, too, to another Australian - Dylan Alcott - who won the men’s wheelchair singles final against Sam Schroder earlier today.
Brilliant scenes from Barty’s big moment(s).
Take it in, @AshBarty. You're #Wimbledon champion ☺️ pic.twitter.com/3DbWRmFzTD
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021
🇦🇺 @ashbarty 🤝 Evonne Goolagong Cawley 🇦🇺
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021
Whether it's 2021 or 1971, you always remember your first...#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/djzUM8Buft
The moment @AshBarty’s childhood dreams all came true#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gxMxphj4qk
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021
The Australian has a chat with the royals that are in attendance, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and is then congratulated by Martina Navratilova, who would have been hoping to see her Czech compatriot win it today. She then heads out on to the clubhouse balcony and holds the Venus Rosewater Dish aloft for the fans.
Updated
Barty strolls around the court clutching her trophy (dish) and smiling broadly. That was such a compelling final, in the end, and it was all the more dramatic for the rollercoaster of emotions that it provided. Pliskova put up an incredible fight to win the second set and take it to a decider, but Barty just had too much in the end.
Updated
Will Barty have a party? “I think we will, but we’ll keep it pretty low-key. I’m so proud of my whole team and I can’t wait to be with them soon.”
And that concludes the post-match interview duty (on court, at least) for Ash Barty - the first Australian women’s singles champion at Wimbledon since Goolagong Cawley in 1980. Well played.
Asked about her friend and mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who won this tournament 50 years ago (and again in 1980), Barty’s voice cracks as she says: “I hope I made Evonne proud.”
Updated
Read our snap match report here:
Of her coach, Craig Tyzzer, Barty adds: “He’s a captain, he’s the best at what he does, and I love him to death.”
And now Barty, the new Wimbledon champion: “This is incredible ... I have to start with Kara ... congratulations to you on a fantastic tournament, and to your team ... I love testing myself against you, and I’m sure we’ll play in many, many more matches. I genuinely have to thank every single person in this stadium, you have made my dream so special, so thank you so much.”
What did she tell herself at the start of the third? “Just keep fighting ... Kara is an incredible competitor ... I knew I had to bring my best level, I was proud of myself the way I was able to reset, keep chipping away ... and hold my nerve in the end.”
Asked to talk us through the match point, she laughs: “I can’t remember it. It took me a long time to dare to dream and to verbalise the fact that I wanted to win this incredible tournament ... it’s better than I ever could have imagined ... I didn’t sleep a lot last night, I was thinking of all the ‘what ifs’, but when I came out on this court today I felt at home, in a way, and I think being able to share that with everyone here and share that with my team is incredible.”
Updated
Pliskova speaks: “Thank you to everyone ... I enjoyed every minute to play on this court ... sorry ...” she pauses for a long time as she is overcome with emotion. There is a huge roar of appreciation from the crowd. “I never cry, never ... I want to start with Ash, she played an incredible tournament and an incredible match today, it wasn’t easy to close the second set, I was fighting very hard to make it difficult for her, but I think she played very well, so congrats to her and her team.
“I want to thank all my team ... and all the success goes to them, without them I would not be here, and of course to my family as well. No matter what trophy we have, I think we had an incredible three weeks here. Thank you guys.”
Updated
Pliskova receives her runners-up prize from the Duchess of Cambridge ... and Barty waves to the crowd as she accepts the Venus Rosewater Dish.
Updated
Barty climbs up into the stand, through the crowds, to embrace her partner and her team.
“Pat Cash started this,” observes John McEnroe.
And now it’s time for the presentations. That was some match, in the end. Pliskova found such a great level, and made it into a captivating contest, but she will rue that nervous start. She combined some astonishing tennis with some errors at key points, and Barty was the deserved winner.
Updated
Barty crouches down, holding her head in disbelief, before jogging to the net to embrace Pliskova. The crowd are going crazy - Barty holds her head in her hands, looking overwhelmed. She is Wimbledon champion and she had to work much harder for that, in the end, than it appeared would be the case after the one-sided first set.
Updated
Ash Barty is Wimbledon champion! She defeats Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3
Barty volleys brilliantly for 15-0 but then nets on the next point for 15-15. Pliskova sends a forehand wide - it’s 30-15 - but then finds a fantastic return of serve for 30-30. Then Barty nets a volley which would have forced match point, and instead gives her opponent a break point! Pliskova’s return is deep in the corner, but then she goes for the same corner, and misses, back to deuce. Barty hits her seventh ace of the match, for championship point ... Pliskova crushes a second-serve return, Barty keeps the point alive, the Czech nets a backhand - and it’s all over! Barty has done it!
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 6-7(4), 5-3 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
A crowd-pleasing point to begin, with Barty chasing down a drop shot in at the net, patting back a volley at point-blank range, then recovering to return a lob, which sees Pliskova nevertheless edge ahead at 15-0. The entertaining exchanges continue - at 30-30, Pliskova produces a second top-class drop volley of the game, and then spanks an ace down the middle. Barty will now serve for the title.
Updated
Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), 5-2 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova continues to veer between the sublime and the significantly less sublime. Barty stays solid - and is probably grateful for another error from her opponent at 30-30 - and she moves to within one game of her first Wimbledon title. There was a stunning winner from Pliskova to force it to 30-30 but Barty’s first serve was reliable when it needed to be. Pliskova will serve to stay in it.
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 6-7(4), 4-2 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova rushes to 40-0. Barty fires back with a superbly-worked point, moving her opponent all around the court and volleying an emphatic winner out wide. But the Czech closes the game out. Pliskova will be wondering: will the nerves start to creep in for Barty as she nears the finish line?
Can Pliskova find that crucial break?
Updated
Barty has hit 25 winners. Pliskova 21.
Updated
Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), 4-1 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova sends a forehand long, with a chance to move 0-30 ahead. Barty smokes a wonderful forehand winner to the corner to move in front, 30-15, after a point in which she varied pace and direction beautifully. Pliskova then fires straight back with a regal forehand winner down the line to make it 30-30. It’s a high level here. But then a slightly careless-looking error at 30-30 by Pliskova, yet again, as she dumps a shot into the net to hand Barty game point. Pliskova continues to take it on, but sends a double-handed backhand just wide, and Barty edges closer to the prize. Pliskova, who cannot afford to drop serve here, looks calm as she prepares to fight in the next game.
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 6-7(4), 3-1 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
A tremendous hold from the Czech player, moving Barty around the court and serving with conviction. Pliskova is still very much in this match.
Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), 3-0 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Barty gets to 40-0. Pliskova plays a couple of excellent points to roar back to 40-30. But then she overhits a forehand, and Barty is firmly, firmly in control of this third and final set after dropping that second set on a tiebreak. It looks like the stuff that champions are made of. Pliskova will serve with new balls.
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 6-7(4), 2-0 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
A horrible, first-set-style error on a regulation forehand which crashes into the net, and suddenly it’s 0-40 on the Czech’s serve. She wins one point back with a fantastic winner down the line ... but then slumps an easy volley into the net, with the point seemingly won, and hands her opponent a break! She will need to battle just as hard as she did in the second set if she is going to win this. Barty has the momentum back.
Updated
Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), 1-0 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Barty races to 40-0. Pliskova, with an apparent insouciance in everything she does, races back to force deuce. But Barty, having won advantage, finds a brilliant drop shot which Pliskova can’t run down, and edges ahead in this decisive final set.
Updated
This is turning into a truly remarkable, memorable final. Pliskova’s error on that backhand volley, when she led in her service game by 40-0, appeared to have handed Barty a crucial edge. But Pliskova, to her eternal credit, broke straight back, and then hit her shots with tonnes of conviction in the tiebreak. Barty will now serve at 1-1 in sets. You could say momentum is with Pliskova - but Barty has been the better player overall. Can she prove it?
Updated
Pliskova wins the second set against Barty! 6-3, 6-7(4)!
Whoah.
Second set tiebreak: Barty 4-6 Pliskova
This is tense!
Updated
Second set tiebreak: Barty 2-6 Pliskova
Wow! Pliskova wins the point of the match, running down a Barty shot that flicked the net, lobbing, and finishing off with a smash. The crowd goes wild.
Updated
Second set tiebreak: Barty 2-4 Pliskova
The Czech hits back now with her own service points ... and then grabs a mini-break! Tracey Austin on the BBC correctly mentions that Pliskova is now swinging with plenty of freedom on her groundstrokes.
Updated
Pliskova serves big, first up, but Barty fires straight back by winning two points on serve, and the Australian leads 2-1 in the tiebreak.
Second set tiebreak: Barty 6-3, 6-6 Pliskova!
A nervous service game from Barty is punished. Can Pliskova take this to three sets? The neutrals among us will be hoping so.
Updated
Pliskova forces two break points!
Just to re-confirm the current score - it’s Barty* 6-3, 6-5 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Barty is serving for her first Wimbledon title.
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 6-5 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova is starting to crush her first serve. She is also starting to deal with the Barty slice, returning balls with interest that she would certainly have flopped into the net during the first set. However, at the end of another high-class rally and with Pliskova seemingly cruising to a comfortable hold, a distinctly casual attempt at an easy enough backhand volley lets Barty back in, and from 40-0, the Australian fires back to deuce.
Barty works the backhand slice several times to stay in a marathon rally. Pliskova hits with power from the back of the court, but eventually overhits, and it’s break point Barty. Barty closes out the game - and she will serve for the title. That was massive from the Australian - she punished Pliskova’s error on the volley with ruthless efficiency.
Updated
Barty 6-3, 5-5 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
A long rally to begin the game ends when Pliskova hits a double-handed backhand wide, berating herself for missing a chance to put her opponent under plenty of pressure to hold. Barty soon finds a big first serve down the middle for 30-15, Pliskova nets from the back of the court on the next point, and another fine serve from the Australian and it’s a solid hold of serve.
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 4-5 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
At 0-15, a huge wide serve is somehow returned by the Australian, but Pliskova fires back with a beautiful clean winner from outside the tram lines. Pliskova charges on, serving with her trademark power, and holds serve with no concerns. The players sit down for a drink. Barty will serve to stay in the second set.
Updated
Barty 6-3, 4-4 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Barty hits two huge consecutive forehands out wide. Pliskova challenges both. Both are shown to be fractionally in. Pliskova shakes her head in disbelief. It could have been 0-30, but instead it was 30-0, and Barty closes out the game for parity in the second set.
Barty* 6-3, 3-4 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
“She’s a different player now,” McEnroe observes of Pliskova, who aces at 115mph for 40-0. The Czech nets a volley to hand Barty a point, but then rounds off the game effectively, and she edges ahead in this second set. Pliskova’s team, in the stand, are out of their seats.
But Barty remains in control of this match on the scoreboard, leading as she does by a set. However, the margins are now considerably finer, with her Czech opponent having found her range.
Updated
Barty 6-3, 3-3 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova breaks back! At 0-30, Pliskova generates a fantastic clean forehand winner off a wide Barty first serve which whizzes into the corner of the court. Barty nets a forehand in the next rally - and Pliskova has found a way back into this set. That was a stunning shot at 0-30, the best of the match so far.
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 3-2 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
A 110mph serve, following a clean ace (her second of the match), seals a service hold for Pliskova. But Barty remains a break up, so the Australian is marching to a wonderful victory as it stands, unless Pliskova can find some way to trouble the Australian’s serve.
Both players have made 14 unforced errors at this stage. It certainly doesn’t feel that way.
Updated
Barty 6-3, 3-1 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Barty crushes a serve down the middle for 15-30, then double faults for 30-30, a rare moment of encouragement for the Czech. But Barty soon rounds off another game with an ace, and it looks only a matter of time. A short amount of time.
Martina Navratilova, the great Czech champion, is pictured up in the royal box, looking none too pleased with life.
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 2-1 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
The Pliskova renaissance appears to be over. The errors are back, and she is broken to love again. “She can’t execute anything,” says McEnroe of Pliskova’s struggles. “No one wants to see this, apart from Barty.”
Barty 6-3, 1-1 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Barty isn’t serving badly, either, and that’s a stunningly easy service hold to love, which started with a well-struck ace out wide, and ended with one down the middle. The Australian looks to be the player with extra gears to call on - if her opponent continues to improve.
Updated
Barty* 6-3, 0-1 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova holds, with Barty mustering a single point in return, and the Czech is beginning to hit her first serve a lot better.
Updated
“Just as Pliskova seemed to be gathering some sort of momentum, Barty plays a sublime shot, confirming that she is very much in charge of this final thus far,” emails Colum Fordham. “But some signs of a reaction from the Czech player. Hope she defreezes.”
Barty wins the first set against Pliskova: 6-3!
Just what the doctor ordered for Barty: a love hold to seal the first set. There were five breaks in that first set. Barty hit 12 winners to Pliskova’s two. Barty seized on her opponents nerves early on - but the Czech started to play a bit towards the end of the set. Can she force a decider?
Updated
Barty* 5-3 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova crafts a superb winner down the line for 0-15, then powers a serve out wide which Barty can only edge with the frame of her racket for 30-0. There’s another damaging first serve, before an impressive point on her second serve seals the game. Barty can serve for the set.
Updated
Barty 5-2 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
A cracking clean forehand winner from the Czech snatches another break back. She is still in this set - but only just. However, her game is starting to appear, she is hitting her groundstrokes with more freedom and confidence. If she can get the first serve going then she may even be able to force a real battle for the set.
Updated
Pliskova forces two break points ...
Barty* 5-1 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
A beautifully-crafted point from Barty brings 30-30 as she works the angles on both sides - and Pliskova then dumps a shot into the net for break point. The Czech produces another error, booming a forehand a little long, and Barty will serve for the first set. There are plenty of errors coming from Pliskova’s side of the net, but Barty’s weapons - the big forehand and the backhand slice - are doing damage too.
Updated
“That serve has got to pick up some steam,” says McEnroe of Pliskova’s early efforts in this final. “It’s at least 10 miles an hour slower than normal ... at least make Barty beat her. Don’t beat yourself.”
Barty 4-1 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova is on the board! There is a wry smile from the Czech player as she walks to her chair for a drink having broken the Barty serve. For the first time, errors crept into Barty’s game there, and it’s something for Pliskova to cling to. The first-set bagel is now off the menu.
Updated
Three break points for Pliskova!
Barty* 4-0 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Pliskova, finally, stays in a rally long enough to bring an error - and she wins a point. But aside from that, she can’t get a first serve in, and aside from that, she is completely failing to deal with the Barty slice, which is staying so low and making her extremely uncomfortable. Pliskova double faults to gift Barty another game.
The Centre Court crowd will be fervently hoping that this becomes a tennis match at some point soon.
Updated
Barty 3-0 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
This isn’t good for the Czech player, to say the least. “At the moment she’s completely frozen,” says McEnroe on commentary. This is going to be over very quickly unless Pliskova can relax and start playing her game. Barty, on the other hand, is flying, she is hitting the ball with authority, and it’s a dream start. Pliskova hasn’t won a single point.
Updated
Barty* 2-0 Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Barty finds a superb power angle on her forehand for 0-15, then Pliskova fails to put away a short ball, coming into the net, and Barty lobs beautifully for 0-30. Pliskova soon nets a shot off a sliced Barty backhand, and Barty closes out the game with a clean winner that flicks off the net. An early break for the Australian - who’s hitting it very well indeed. Pliskova had only been broken four times in the whole tournament before that, says Tracey Austin on commentary.
Updated
Barty 1-0 *Pliskova (*denotes next server)
Barty climbs into three big forehands in the first rally of the match, off her second serve. Pliskova slips and the Australian thumps a clean winner into the open court - then aces for 30-0. Pliskova hits long, next up, for 40-0 and then can only get the frame of her racket on the next serve. A nice, comfortable hold for Barty to begin - and some ominous signs from her forehand already.
Updated
It’s go time. Barty will serve.
Barty, perhaps, looks noticeably nervous as she is pictured warming up. Which is entirely to be expected. Both players will be feeling the tension in these moments. But which of them will hit their stride quickest as they get into the match? We’re ready to go.
The players smile for a pre-match photo, and now they have a couple of minutes for a warm-up.
Updated
“2012 was the last time the ladies’ final at Wimbledon went to a 3rd set, which means 7 finals have come and gone since without going the full distance, which is an Open-era record,” emails Tosh. “The previous longest “3rd-set drought” was 6 finals (1970 to 1975).”
Updated
The players are about to walk out on to Centre Court. Barty runs through a few stretches as she stands behind Pliskova, ready to stroll out for one of the biggest matches of these players’ lives.
Updated
Pliskova reached the last four of the Australian Open in 2019 and at Roland Garros in 2017. Her single appearance at a grand slam final was in 2016, at the US Open, when she lost to Angelique Kerber.
Updated
A simple stat: Barty and Pliskova have met seven times in the past. Barty leads the head-to-head by five matches to two.
The last time Pliskova defeated the Australian was at the US Open in 2018. This year, in a Stuttgart quarter-final, Pliskova won the first set 6-2 before Barty hit back to take the last two, 6-1, 7-5.
Updated
Barty is asked by Clare Balding on the BBC: what will her pre-match routine be? “Keep it pretty relaxed ... the routines we’ve been doing have been working ... I’ve felt great as I’ve walked out on to court. Saturday is about enjoying it ... regardless of the result, you can say you gave it your all and you enjoyed it, and that’s all that matters.
“Even though sometimes the destination is incredible, it’s the journey ... being able to have an adventure along the way is what makes it so memorable, and so special.”
Updated
Pliskova tells the BBC that her goal at this tournament was second week, and that she was “super happy” even to achieve that.
Asked about the Czech champions of the past, such as Martina Navratilova and Jana Novotna, she gives a distinctly single-minded answer:
“I don’t think about them. It’s my tournament, it’s my tennis, it’s my life ... I don’t want to think about the pressure that they did it.”
Updated
There is rain in the air in London, and the roof above Centre Court is closed:
Roof is already closed on Centre Court ahead of @Wimbledon ladies singles final in an hour and a bit. The diehards are already seated #Wimbledon #WimbledonThing pic.twitter.com/JQl1jxFsIE
— Paul Lagan (@CFCJourno) July 10, 2021
Chris Evert, on pundit duty on the BBC, thinks that will be a disadvantage to Pliskova’s power game, because it takes a touch of pace off the ball.
Tracy Austin meanwhile observes that this final will be a fascinating clash of styles, with the huge-serving Pliskova against the more awkward style of Barty (featuring, of course, that high-powered forehand).
Some more pre-match reading, from Richard Evans, on Ashleigh Barty:
“Officially the world’s best women’s tennis player since June 2019, Barty still flies, oddly, a touch under the radar. For a woman who is a down-to-earth achiever and as far as possible from the sporting stereotypes of tattoos, tantrums and navel gazing, it is very much where she is happy to be.”
Updated
“What is going on,” emails Kevin. “What is the score?”
It’s 0-0 at the moment, Kevin. The match starts in about 30 minutes.
“Why can’t I view it on Channel 9?”
Can’t help you there, I’m afraid.
Fifty years after her friend Evonne Goolagong Cawley was first crowned Wimbledon champion, fellow Indigenous Australian Barty, wearing the same white scalloped dress, is one win away from emulating her mentor.
See the photo gallery featuring some excellent archive shots of Goolagong Cawley’s playing days:
Karolina Pliskova (left) and Ashleigh Barty share the same side of the net - and a smile - during practice on Court One earlier today:
Updated
Less than two months ago, on 16 May, Pliskova suffered a 6-0, 6-0 hammering at the hands of Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the final of the Italian Open in Rome.
Here is Tumaini Carayol on how the Czech rebuilt her season, and arrived at her first Wimbledon final today:
Preamble
Both Ashleigh Barty and Karolina Pliskova are, in some senses, unlikely Wimbledon finalists this year: after being forced to retire from the French Open with injury, Barty and her team doubted she would even be fit to appear at the All England Club this summer. The Czech Pliskova, meanwhile, had endured a difficult year before arriving in SW19, dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in five years, and she also recovered from a set down to defeat the apparently unstoppable force of Aryna Sabalenka in their semi-final.
The Australian Barty has justified her world No 1 status in the past couple of weeks - she has undoubtedly played the most impressive tennis in this competition on her path to the final. But Pliskova is a polished performer on grass too and, perhaps crucially today, at the age of 29 the magnitude of the occasion is unlikely to affect her.
In a few hours’ time, we will see a new Wimbledon champion crowned (if we don’t count the junior title won by Barty 10 years ago). And with due respect to the other grand slam events, it doesn’t get any bigger than this, does it? The match is scheduled to begin on Centre Court at 2pm BST.
Updated
