🇦🇺 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙈𝙋𝙄𝙊𝙉 🇦🇺 @ashbarty is the 2022 Australian Open champion, defeating Danielle Collins in straight sets 6-3 7-6(2). 🏆 #AO2022 #AusOpen
Ashleigh Barty has made history by claiming the 2022 Australian Open in stunning fashion defeating Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 at Melbourne Park to add another Grand Slam title to her collection.
An elusive piece with only the US Open singles now to go but she created her own slice of history by becoming the first Australian since 1978 to win the Women's Singles ending a 44 year wait.
The World No.1 is also the first Australian Singles champion at Melbourne Park after moving there in 1988 and came from 5-1 down in the second set to achieve it producing an epic comeback after Collins looked to send it the distance.
To begin the match, Barty saved break point after a dominant start with a fantastic forehand winner and made it 3-2 in the process. But the American double faulted to hand Barty the first break of the match which she consolidated from there to lead 5-2.
Her first set dominance was shown from there with a 40-0 hold to claim the opening set as Barty went one set straight from history with a fifth ace of the match garnering a roar on Rod Laver Arena.
Collins though wasn’t going to hand Barty the title and let out the first loud Come On of the game as she broke to go 2-0 up after two errant forehands from the Aussie put her at 15-40 down.
Barty was given multiple break opportunities including a wide open backhand volley but failed to get the angle right and Collins sealed a 3-0 lead from there.
A 62 second hold saw Barty aim to turn the tide with another 40-0 hold at 3-1 down. Collins similarly swept through her service game as she upped the tempo and also her celebrations to go 4-1 up in the second set.
It was all Collins as Barty double faulted twice in a game and Collins broke again for a double break lead at 5-1 up and was serving for the set. Only to relinquish one of those breaks back to Barty to go 5-2 down and hand her a potential chance.
Again Barty woke up and eased through her service game to make it 5-3 and Collins had to serve it out. But from 30-0 up, Collins saw her lead eroded even further as two big forehands from Barty brought up break point and the American thumped a backhand into the net and it was suddenly 5-4.
This was made 5-5 as she fired in her ninth ace to close out the game and her comeback was nearly complete as she edged towards the title.
Collins stopped the Barty run to hold but the latter produced three straight unreturnables to force the tie break and she had the impetus going into it surging into a 4-0 lead in double quick time. As they changed ends, she led 5-1 and was seemingly on her way and she claimed it from there as Collins had no answer.