Highlights, Marketa Vondrousova vs Ashleigh Barty, French Open 2019 women's final: Barty wins first-ever Grand Slam title

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

.@ashbar96 will rise to @WTA World No.2 on Monday, the highest-ranked Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley on December 6, 1976. pic.twitter.com/cZ0ChIVO4J

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) June 8, 2019

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

Ash Barty last year: “Every week on clay is a week closer to grass."

Ash Barty this year: Roland Garros champion.

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) June 8, 2019

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

The 2019 French Open champion, Ashleigh Barty speaks

Thank you Marketa to you and your team. You were brilliant and I’m sure you’ll be in more Grand Slam finals.

Thanks to the FFT for making some good changes to the tournament this year. It is always a pleasure to come here and play.

Lastly, to my team. This one’s for you. Thank you for sticking with me for the past three years. Let’s go out and celebrate tonight.

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

The 2019 French Open runner up, Marketa Vondrousova speaks

First of all, congratulations to Ash. You gave me a lesson today, so thank you.

You’re an amazing player and such a nice person, you deserve this. Even though I didn’t get the win, I really enjoyed my time and I’m really happy.

Thanks to FFT and all the sponsors, you made some changes to the venue and made it a lot more enjoyable for us.

Thanks to my team. Hi mom! You guys have worked really hard, and it’s amazing what we did here and I’m really grateful for you.

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

Never letting go.

@ashbar96 | #RG19 pic.twitter.com/ipLDB1TpfA

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2019

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

As she waits for the organisers to set up the podium, Barty gets a few moments alone and the fact that she is a Grand Slam champion finally dawns upon her as tears form in her eyes. 

Meanwhile, Chris Evert, a seven-time winner here at Roland Garros is welcomed by a loud cheer as she joins the presentation party.

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

Congratulations to #RG19 champion, @ashbar96! The first major win is so sweet. Proud of you! 🇦🇺 https://t.co/pQ4VLUQCHS

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 8, 2019

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

Barty climbs to a career-best World No 2 ranking after her win.

New WTA Top 10

1. Osaka
2. Barty (+6)
3. Pliskova (-1)
4. Bertens
5. Kvitova (+1)
6. Kerber (-1)
7. Svitolina (+1)
8. Halep (-5)
9. Stephens (-2)
10. Sabalenka (+1)

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 8, 2019

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

Barty gives a quick interview after her win

On her win: I played the perfect match today and it has been a crazy two weeks. 

On today’s match: I was very nervous. Marketa played very well and she had an amazing tournament herself.

On becoming first Australian woman since Court to win French Open: It is a special place for Australian players. Sam came close to winning here so it’s nice to win the title here.

Ashleigh Barty is the 2019 French Open champion!

Barty becomes the first Australian woman to win the French Open singles title since Margaret Court in 1973! She is also the first tennis player turned cricketer turned tennis player to win a Grand Slam (this is unverified, of course).

Ashleigh Barty beats Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 6-3 to win the 2019 French Open!

Vondrousova takes a 40-15 lead but Barty battles her way back to get to deuce. A fortunate net caught gives Vondrousova a game point. But my word, what stunning defence from Barty at the baseline on the next point! With Vondrousova at the net, she returns a couple of volleys before smashing a backhand passing winner down the line. And Ashleigh Barty finishes the job with a powerful smash at the net!

Barty vs Vondrousova 6-1, 5-3*

Barty with a quick-fire love-hold to get within a game of her first Grand Slam title.

Barty vs Vondrousova 6-1, *4-3

Vondrousova drops two points but gets the hold. Barty still on top in this match.

Barty vs Vondrousova 6-1, 4-2*

Barty plays two really delicate drop shots on the first and last points of the game to get the hold. Vondrousova, though, looks in good knick. But time and games are running out for the young Czech player.

Barty vs Vondrousova 6-1, *3-2

Vondrousova gets an easy love-hold to win her second game of the match.

Barty vs Vondrousova 6-1, 3-1*

Barty races to a 40-0 lead. At game point, she advances to the net but can’t return a powerful Vondrousova forehand passing shot. However, that’s the only point she loses on her serve.

Barty vs Vondrousova 6-1, *2-1

Vondrousova comes up with a clutch ace down the T to save a break point. She is still having trouble getting past Barty’s defence and is yet to play her favoured drop shot. Barty moves Vondrousova around in the next rally to bring up another break point but the Czech serves her way out of trouble. She gets a second game point and finally gets the hold with two brilliant forehands.

Barty vs Vondrousova 6-1, 2-0*

At 15-15, Barty plays an inch-perfect slice and then follows it up with a lob that Vondrousova smacks wide. A Vondrousova forehand error brings up two game points but loses both. Two more follow but she loses both. Vondrousova gets a break point but Barty saves it with a smash at the net. Barty finally gets the hold at the fifth time of asking.

Barty vs Vondrousova 6-1, *1-0

Barty is in total control here. She breaks Vondrousova to win the first game of the second set.

Ashleigh Barty wins the first set 6-1 against Marketa Vondrousova

Barty wastes no time in wrapping up the first set to take a 1-0 lead in the final. This has been a quick and clinical start from the eight seed. Vondrousova, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by the occasion given her shaky start but she started playing her fearless brand of tennis once she got into a rhythm. Barty, however, was well on her way to winning the set by then.

Barty vs Vondrousova *5-1

Barty races to a 40-0 lead. Vondrousova saves one break point with a crisp forehand winner and then a second off a Barty backhand error. Barty looks to play a drop shot from behind the baseline but she can’t clear the net and Vondrousova saves three break points. Barty brings up another break point with a powerful passing winner and then gets the break back on the next point. The Australian will now serve for the first set.

Barty vs Vondrousova 4-1*

Barty goes 0-30 down with a couple of forehand errors but fights her way back into the game to 30-30. Vondrousova gets her first break point. She pulls out the drop shot but Barty pounces on it to restore parity in the game. Barty gives another break point with a forehand wide. She open up the court nicely and carves a clean forehand winner to save another break point. A double fault brings up a third break point in the game. Vondrousova finally gets the break and gets her first game of the match.

Barty vs Vondrousova *4-0

Vondrousova looks to draw Barty in with a drop shot and the Australian gets to it and caresses a winner down the line. The Czech teen then sends an easy putaway to the net and follows it up with a service winner. At 30-30, Vondrousova once again plays a drop shot but Barty is on it in a jiffy and slices a backhand which Vondrousova can’t return. Vondrousova saves the break point but then overcooks her backhand to give Barty another one. Once again the Czech turns to the drop shot and it works this time as Barty returns wide. The Aussie gets a third break point off a Vondrousova backhand error and another error gives Barty the break.

Barty vs Vondrousova 3-0*

Barty races to a 40-0 lead hitting a clean forehand winner and an ace down the T on the way. She completes the love-hold with another forehand winner.

Barty vs Vondrousova *2-0

Barty takes a 30-0 lead. She nets her backhand at the third point but then gets a double break point as Vondrousova double faults. The Australian hits her forehand long to lose one gets the break after Vondrousova hits wide on the next point. Good start for the eight seed!

Barty vs Vondrousova 1-0*

Barty completes an easy hold to 15 with an ace.

Barty vs Vondrousova *0-0

Barty will get us started in the 2019 French Open women’s singles final!

Ashleigh Barty vs Marketa Vondrousova LIVE!

The two finalists are out to rapturous applause from a full-house Court Philippe Chatrier. It is a big day for both of them with a first Grand Slam title in sight.

The magnificent Coupe Suzanne Lenglen!

What they're playing for today...#RG19 pic.twitter.com/WEsg4k4lgz

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2019

Ashleigh Barty’s robustness meets teen Marketa Vondrousova’s big-match mettle in women’s singles final

Barty has won both the pair’s previous outings – on grass at Birmingham in 2017, and on hard courts last year at the Cincinnati Masters. But Vondrousova stretched the Australian on each of those occasions and clay could mean a different ball game altogether.

Experience will be on Barty’s side in the women’s singles final, but if anyone can pull off the seemingly impossible, it is Vondrousova.

Anuradha Santhanam previews the final here .

Once a tennis want-away, Ashleigh Barty embraces the game and pressure to enter maiden Slam final

There were no wild celebrations for the 23-year-old, who became the first Australian since Samantha Stosur (2011 US Open) to make a Grand Slam final. “It’s all incredible, I can’t believe it, and I can’t wait to be in the final,” an excited Barty said in the courtside interview. Having once turned away from the game and its pressures, Barty is now embracing them whole-heartedly.

Deepti Patwardhan writes on Ash Barty’s semi-final win here .

Marketa Vondrousova’s moment of reckoning arrives on back of her unyielding tenacity and sublime skills

A combination of skill, physicality and the ability to strategise is crucial, and for Vondrousova, she has been able to stay balanced while those around her have crumbled. Sometimes, that is the most important thing. And at only 19, it is something Marketa Vondrousova appears to have mastered. Majorly.

Read Anuradha Santhanam’s profile of the 19-year-old Czech teen Marketa Vondrousova here .

Women’s final to start shortly!

There’s no time to breathe! Up next is THE match of the day. Eighth seed Ashleigh Barty takes on 19-year-old Marketa Vondrousova in a women’s singles final no one could have predicted.

Dominic Thiem ​beats Novak Djokovic to reach the final!

Thiem (🎥@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/yiPzX1sHOb

— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) June 8, 2019

Dominic Thiem ​beats Novak Djokovic to reach the final!

Thiem ends Djokovic’s dream of a second Nole Slam and also the World No 1’s unbeaten run at Grand Slams to set up a repeat of last year’s Roland Garros final with Rafael Nadal. It is also the 25-year-old’s first win in five sets and he also becomes the first Austrian to reach the final of more than one Grand Slam.

Dominic Thiem ​ beats Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 to reach the final!

Djokovic overcooks his backhand to lose the first point. He serves and volleys to win the next point. Thiem absolutely murders the ball with his forehand return to get to 30-30. Djokovic defends well at the net to win the next point but then hits his backhand for deuce. Djokovic flounders once again on game point to bring Thiem back in the game. Thiem gets his third match point after Djokovic can’t get the ball over the net off his forehand. Thiem smashes in a forehand winner to bring down the World No 1 and reach his second Roland Garros final!

Djokovic vs Thiem 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, *5-6

Thiem shows off his silken touch to play a delicate drop shot on his way to getting a vital love-hold. He has punctured Djokovic’s momentum a bit there.

Djokovic vs Thiem 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 5-5*

At 30-0, Thiem plays a sublime backhand to win his first point. Djokovic then hits his backhand wide. Thiem defends very well to return Djokovic’s smash but then a shot later his backhand hits the tape and loops wide. Thiem hits a forehand which Djokovic challenges confidently and the umpire comes down to confirm it. Djokovic is pumped.

Djokovic vs Thiem 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, *4-5

Djokovic wins the first point with a well-taken volley. Thiem lands a powerful backhan right on the line. He races to a double set point and faults on his first serve. But loses both through errors. He overcooks his forehand to give Djokovic a break point and then slams his backhand into the net to be broken! This match is not over yet!