How Ash Barty celebrated her historic French Open win in true Australian style – with beers inste…

Aussie French Open winner Ash Barty has revealed the text message sent from a fellow indigenous tennis star which kept her from quitting professional tennis. 

Barty, 23, made history as the first Australian to win the French Open in 46 years after demolishing Czech Marketa Vondrousova in two sets in Paris on Saturday. 

Barty, a Ngaragu woman, has previously been mentored by tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley, from the Wiradjuri people, and the pair have been longtime friends. 

But the text message Barty received from the 67-year-old Grand Slam champ which all but saved her tennis career has now been revealed. 

In 2014, Barty, then 18, took a break from tennis after suffering depression from the high pressure of the WTA tour. 

The last Australian to win a French Open singles title was Margaret Court in 1973

Barty, 23, made history as the first Australian to win the French Open in 46 years after demolishing Czech Marketa Vondrousova in two sets in Paris on Saturday 

Goolagong Cawley reached out to Barty to support her through her difficult time, texting her ‘Hey, darl, good decision. Go and wet a line,’  which is a fishing term used to express enjoying life.  

Barty then tried her hand at cricket for two years, before coming back to tennis three years ago. 

The tennis champ shared the encouraging text message she received from Goolagong Cawley more recently. 

‘Evonne sent me a text a couple of days ago and said this was her first slam and spotted her name on the trophy,’ Barty said at a press conference in Paris.     

Ash Barty (right), a Ngaragu woman, has previously been mentored by tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley (left) , from the Wiradjuri people, and the pair have been longtime friends

Ash Barty (right), a Ngaragu woman, has previously been mentored by tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley (left) , from the Wiradjuri people, and the pair have been longtime friends

Goolagong Cawley reached out to Barty to support her after she gave up tennis for three years in 2014 due to depression, texting her 'Hey, darl, good decision. Go and wet a line.'  Pictured: Newcombe Medal at Crown Entertainment Complex in November 2018

Goolagong Cawley reached out to Barty to support her after she gave up tennis for three years in 2014 due to depression, texting her ‘Hey, darl, good decision. Go and wet a line.’  Pictured: Newcombe Medal at Crown Entertainment Complex in November 2018

‘It’s amazing how she’s created this path for indigenous tennis in Australia and I think now it’s becoming more nationwide.

‘There’s more opportunities for kids to play tennis, both male and female, and I hope we can continue to create those opportunities and let kids know that this is an option for a career. And even if it’s not, it’s a sport that they can play for life.’

In turn, Goolagong Cawley and her husband Roger stayed up all night watching Barty’s win and exchanging international calls, and passing on their congratulations to the new star in Paris.

‘Ash has already heard from me and knows how happy I am for her and her lovely family,’ Goolagong Cawley told SBS. 

Barty's win is her first singles Grand Slam title, although she won the doubles at the US Open last year

The 23-year-old defeated Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-3 in the final in Paris on Saturday

Ash Barty poses for a photo with the winners trophy during Day fifteen of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros

Goolagong Cawley has mentored Barty for the past five years, and the two of them regularly speak on the phone and text each other.   

The 67-year-old has had a decorated career in tennis. She took out a number of Grand Slam titles, won the Australian Open four times, and also won the French Open.   

She went on to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Hall of Fame, but then lost all contact with the sport once she retired, and stopped watching the game altogether. 

Barty tried her hand at cricket for two years, before coming back to tennis three years ago. Pictured: batting for Brisbane Heat in the Women's Big Bash League in December 2015

Barty tried her hand at cricket for two years, before coming back to tennis three years ago. Pictured: batting for Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League in December 2015

But then in 2011, up-and-coming youngster Ash Barty reignited Goolagong Cawley’s love of tennis when she won the girls’ title at Wimbledon at the age of just 15. 

Goolagong Cawley watched Barty compete at the Australian Open, and saw her as an inspiration for other indigenous players. 

‘I just saw one game and I thought, ‘that’s it, she’s got it’,’ Goolagong Cawley said at the time, ‘It was great to see somebody play with so many skills.’  

On International Women’s Day this year in March, Barty said Goolagong Cawley inspired her in both tennis and life since she was a kid. 

‘Evonne’s outstanding achievements and her passion for helping the indigenous community are two things I admire. I feel grateful for our friendship.’  

Goolagong Cawley herself has had a decorated career in tennis. She took out a number of Grand Slam titles, won the Australian Open four times, and also won the French Open. Pictured: playing at the Wimbledon Championship in 1980 in London

Goolagong Cawley herself has had a decorated career in tennis. She took out a number of Grand Slam titles, won the Australian Open four times, and also won the French Open. Pictured: playing at the Wimbledon Championship in 1980 in London

 

 

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