Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Pliskova LIVE: Wimbledon final updates as Barty eyes 2nd Slam
Ashleigh Barty is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her childhood idol by winning Wimbledon today, 41 years on from Evonne Goolagong Cawley. The last Australian woman to win Wimbledon, Barty has paid tribute to Cawley throughout the tournament with her skirt and top, similar to the one worn by her compatriot in her victorious 1971 final.
With today marking the 50th anniversary of Goolagong Cawley’s first triumph, Barty said: “To give myself a chance to create some history that’s almost like a tribute to her is really exciting. It’s a really special anniversary for Evonne.”
Looking to deny her is the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova, the former world No 1 who is only into the second Grand Slam final of her career.
She lost the 2016 US Open final but is hoping to go one better this time around in what is by far her best run at SW19. She had never previously progressed past the fourth round of this tournament.
“I think I still half can’t believe it,” Pliskova admitted of her Wimbledon run thus far.
“Coming into this tournament, the dream was to make the second week because I was not in the second week for a while. I never thought about maybe going into the final.”
