Wimbledon 2021: Ashleigh Barty beats Karolina Pliskova in three sets and wins the second Grand Slam title
The winner of this year's women's competition at Wimbledon isAshleigh Barty . The world number one prevailed againstKarolina Pliskova 6: 3, 6: 7 (4) and 6: 3 in the final and won her second Grand Slam title after the 2019 French Open. ( You can read the match in the tracker here ).
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Jul 10, 2021, 05:07 pm
For the first time since the Australian Open 2020, with the women's final between Ashleigh Barty and Karolina Pliskova in Wimbledon 2021, a Grand Slam final took place in front of full spectators. For both players it was about the first title in the lawn classic, for Pliskova, however, the first major triumph of their career was up for grabs.
However, Barty got off to a better start on Center Court, winning the first 14 points and leading 3-0 after just seven minutes of play. A few moments later, the visibly tense Pliskova gave the 2019 French Open winner another break to make it 4-0 with a double fault.
Barty served confidently on the second attempt
A similar debacle as in Rome, where Pliskova lost to Iga Swiatek about two months ago with 6-0 and 6-0 in the final, was spared the Czech at Wimbledon. Barty sprinkled a weaker service game and enabled the 29-year-old to win the first game. However, Pliskova was unable to confirm this break - after less than 20 minutes of play, Barty hit the 1-0 lead with a score of 5: 1.
In the first attempt, the 25-year-old from Ipswich could not serve up, but on the second attempt, Barty confidently bagged the opening set: after 28 minutes of play, the Australian converted the first set ball to 6: 3 thanks to a forehand error by her opponent.
Pliskova, who had only made a set in her semi-final game against Aryna Sabalenka and impressed with strong service games, didn't hit a single ace in the first round and only scored twice with a direct point blow. Barty, on the other hand, acted much more aggressively - her balance sheet showed twelve winners with eight unforced errors at the end of the opening set.
Despite a slightly better start by Pliskova, it was Barty again in the second section who made the first break and took the lead 2-1. The world number 13 wanted to fight without a fight. However, did not give up: Pliskova managed the rebreak to 3: 3 and a little later confidently set to 4: 3.
Barty served to victory, Pliskova strikes back
Subsequently, both players played their service games quite safely, in particular Pliskova served excellently from the middle of the second round. But just at 5: 5, the former world number one had to give up her service game: Pliskova dropped three game balls in a row due to a slight volley error and enabled Barty to break to 6: 5.
However, the world number one was not up to the pressure and could not serve the match. So a tie-break had to bring the decision in the second section. In this, Pliskova took off after an even start and organized four set balls en suite. The Czech also knew how to use the third of these after a double mistake by Bartys - the short divorce went 7: 4 to Sascha Bajin's protégé.
Overall, the encounter in the second round took place on a higher level. Mainly responsible for this was Pliskova, who stabilized her game significantly and beat ten winners - half of them aces. Barty didn’t get through as well with her varied style as she did at the beginning and threw in 14 avoidable mistakes.
Barty wins Wimbledon for the first time
At the start of the third round it was again the Australian who got off to a better start and quickly took a 3-0 lead. She also knew how to carry this break up to 5: 2. Pliskova managed her service game again, but the 29-year-old was not granted a new comeback.
Because Barty finally served the match home despite some small difficulties and the defense of a breakball and converted her first match ball after 1:55 hours of play.
With the 6: 3, 6: 7 (4) and 6: 3 successes, Barty was able to look forward to the first Wimbledon title and the second Grand Slam triumph of her career. Pliskova, however, also lost her second major final after the US Open final in 2016 and has to wait for the first tournament victory at the highest level.
Here the single tableau in Wimbledon
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