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Ash Barty's beautiful tribute to Aussie legend in Wimbledon outfit

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Ash Barty, pictured here in her Wimbledon outfit.
Ash Barty's Wimbledon outfit will pay tribute to Evonne Goolagong. Image: Instagram

Ash Barty will pay a beautiful tribute to Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon to honour the 50th anniversary of the Aussie legend's triumph at the All England Club.

It's been half a century since Goolagong Cawley and John Newcombe both won the Wimbledon singles titles in 1971 - a feat that no Australian pair has managed since.

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Barty will pay tribute to her idol when Wimbledon kicks off on Monday by wearing the same-style dress that Goolagong Cawley donned en route to the title 50 years ago.

The outfit has been specially designed by both players' sponsor FILA.

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"It's hard to put into words how much of an impact Evonne has had on the culture of tennis in Australia and on me personally," Barty said on Friday.

"I don't think there is anyone more iconic in our sport.

"I am very proud to wear this commemorative collection from FILA in celebration not only of her momentous victories on the court, but also her incredible legacy off of it."

Evonne Goolagong, pictured here after her triumph at Wimbledon in 1971.
Evonne Goolagong celebrates her triumph at Wimbledon in 1971. (Photo by Harry Dempster/Daily Express/Getty Images)

Barty is just the second Australian to reach World No.1 since her Indigenous hero, friend and mentor Goolagong Cawley scaled the summit in 1976.

Goolagong Cawley said she was touched by Barty's tribute.

"Wow, it just blows my mind," Goolagong Cawley said.

"What a wonderful thing to do, what a wonderful honour. It's truly fantastic."

Fans also fell in love with the outfit and the meaning behind it.

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Goolagong Cawley beat defending champion Margaret Court 6-4 6-1 in the 1971 final as a 19-year-old, claiming the first of her seven grand slam singles titles.

She returned to capture a second title as a mother in 1980, with Goolagong Cawley and three-time champion Court remaining all these years later the only two Australian women to win Wimbledon.

Barty is a slight favourite over Serena Williams to break the long drought this year.

Newcombe's final triumph over American Stan Smith in 1971 was no less significant than Goolagong Cawley's - just more dramatic.

"I'd played great throughout the tournament and beaten Ken Rosewall quite easily in the semi-finals, which was something special," Newcombe told AAP.

"I'd played a very good first set against Stan and was sort of on top in the second but couldn't get the break.

"Then he managed to break me to win the second and then he went on to win the third set.

"I could see the way Stan was walking - he had a very cocky walk when he got on top of me. I could see he thought he was probably preparing for his Wimbledon victory speech.

"Anyway, I regrouped completely and the fourth set I led 5-0, 40-love on serve and I hadn't lost a point on my serve all set.

"He got back to deuce on that game but I served it out and broke him halfway through the fifth.

"He was a tough guy to put away."

with AAP

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