Given we have been making global headlines this week for all the wrong reasons it makes Barty’s success all the more welcome.
Her straight-sets win against American Madison Keys in the quarter-finals means the 23 year old is now just one game away from making the final.
🎾👏😍 She's done it! Ash Barty moves into her maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open!
🇦🇺 @ashbar96 defeated Madison Keys in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.
📷:AP @rolandgarros #RolandGarros2019 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/AsaBPAhZhs
— ABC Grandstand (@abcgrandstand) June 6, 2019
If Barty wins her semi-final match she will become the first Australian to reach the French Open finals in Paris since Samantha Stosur nine years ago.
Along with Stosur Barty is the first Australian to reach the top 10, in a decade.
Final four 🙈🇫🇷🎾 @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/gbU69l9Vhp
— Ash Barty (@ashbarty) June 6, 2019
We’ll be cheering for her to go all the way and take home to French Open grand slam title but whether Barty wins from here or not, is irrelevant.
She’s already given Australians plenty to revel in: by getting as far as she has, by playing with such precision and dignity (not just this week, but always), by coming back in matches from being down.
She’s already a true champion, and this week we need one.