It is 44 years since an Australian woman won our Open and 46 years since the last man. That’s the weight of history Ash Barty has to throw off.
After Sam Stosur won the US Open in 2011, this country invested Ash Barty-like hopes in her in the Australian Open at the start of the next year. In the first round, she lost in straight sets to Romanian journeywoman Sorana Cirstea.
In a long and acclaimed career, Hewitt proceeded past the fourth round of a major championship 15 times. At the Australian Open, he managed it just once in 20 years. That was in 2005 when he lost the final to Russian Marat Safin. He is the only Australian man or woman to play in a home Grand Slam final since Cash.
To understand why, it is worth following the bouncing ball. Once, the Australian Championship was not so open. Mark Edmondson in 1976 was the latest in a succession of Australian winners, interrupted spasmodically only by Americans. Among women, the hegemony was even more marked. Chris O’Neil in 1978 was the seventh Australian winner in a row. Margaret Court had won 11 titles in 14 years, then Evonne Goolagong four in five.
“My feeling after watching Ash at the French is that it was really good for her,” she said. “There wasn’t any pressure on. No one expected her to win the French. Australians don’t really recognise the French. Then came Wimbledon. Everyone knows Wimbledon.” With the caveat that winning needs no explanation, Barty does appear at ease. “It’s fun. It’s brilliant to be playing in the business end of your home slam,” she said after her semi-final win on Thursday night. “I’m not gonna lie about that. It’s amazing.
In a previous year, Seven displayed Australian flags against the names of local players, but did not identify other nationalities. With the best will and blinkers in the world, no player can block out that sort of fuss.
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