"I wasn't sure if it would ever happen" - Barty on competing in her first Wimbledon final

After lifting the Wimbledon junior title in 2011, Ashleigh Barty has a chance to capture the main draw trophy on Saturday when she faces Karolina Pliskova in her first Wimbledon singles final.

Barty has had questionable results at the All England Club, losing to Daria Kasatkina in the third round in 2018 and to Alison Riske a round later in 2019. These results have caused the Australian to doubt herself, wondering if she would ever get a shot at the Venus Rosewater Dish.

"I wasn't sure if it would ever happen, honestly," revealed Barty. "I think you have to keep putting yourself in the position. I think Wimbledon for me has been an amazing place of learning. I think 10 years ago I came here for the first time as a junior and learned a lot in that week.

"Probably 2018, 2019 was some of my toughest weeks playing. To come away with our losses in those two tournaments, I learned a hell of a lot from those two times."

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The 25-year old admitted that this was the trophy she'd like to win the most, adding that her losses in the past act as a source of motivation as she prepares for maybe the biggest match of her career.

"I think a lot of the time your greatest growth comes from your darkest times," said Barty. "I think that's why this tournament has been so important to me. I've learned so much with all my experiences, the good, bad, everything in between – I've been able to learn from.

"Just to be able to keep chipping away, keep putting yourself out there, let yourself be vulnerable, just be yourself, knowing that everything that comes with that is an opportunity to learn."

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