Thank you for joining us on the coverage, we will wrap up the live with the match report. More to follow on the site.
Ashleigh Barty wins her second Grand Slam after three-set win over Karolina Pliskova
9.10 pm: The winning moment for Ash Barty!
Some post-match reactions:
STAT: Ash Barty is the first top seed to win a Major since Simona Halep at RG in 2018 and the first to win women’s singles final at Wimbledon since Serena Williams in 2016. In fact, Serena was the only other player to achieve that feat (she did it thrice) since 2010 till Barty today.
Zenia D’Cunha: Ash Barty’s #Wimbledon win script feels written in the stars. Top seed.. No grass warm-up due to injury... 10 years since her junior title as a 15-year-old... 50 years since fellow indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s first win... wearing a dress as a tribute to her Fitting.
Question: “Talk us through the match point”
Barty: “I can’t remember it!”
BARTY IS CHAMPION — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 Pliskova: “DESTINY FULFILLED” says the commentator as Barty wins the match on her serve and sinks to her knees.
MATCH POINT: She was broken while serving for the match in the second set and she faces another break point after a big missed volley on forehand. But the Aussie takes it to deuce and now has a match point.
Third set — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), 5-3 Pliskova: Big ace! A 165kmph bullet to hold serve from Pliskova and she will make Barty serve for the championship. There was a wonderful net exchange between the two in that game too that got the crowd going.
Pliskova serves to stay in the championship.
Third set — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), 5-2 Pliskova: First real show of emotion in a while from Barty as she induces the error from Pliskova with a good first serve-forehand combo at 30-30 after Pliskova played a superb point earlier. The Aussie holds serve and pumps her fist. One game away - again!
Third set — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), *4-2 Pliskova: Barty hits a nice forehand winner in that game but Pliskova holds at 15 to stay in this match.
Third set — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), *4-1 Pliskova: Karolina hits the cleanest forehand winner of the match in that game but summing up her final, makes enough errors to give Barty a crucial hold.
Third set — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), *3-1 Pliskova: Hint of a pressure on Barty’s serve at 40-30 from 40-0 but she holds serve. Pliskova gets on board in the decider with a hold next.
Third set — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), *2-0 Pliskova: Oh dear. It’s been a rollercoaster for Pliskova and this is reminiscent of how she played in the first set. Three errors to start her service game including a double fault. Saves one break point with a forehand winner, but makes another HUGE ERROR at the net to gift Barty the break just like she did in that crucial game in the 2nd set. This one is directly on break point, so it’ll hurt even more. Missed a straightforward forehand volley.
Third set — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4), 1-0 Pliskova: Service hold from Barty to start the third set in a game that went to deuce. That could have been another huge momentum shift if Pliskova had managed to break serve.
STAT: This is the first women’s final to go to the decider since 2012 – when Serena Williams beat Agnieszka Radwanska
Ashish Magotra: The roar from Pliskova in the tiebreak. She is in this and very much alive. We are going into the decider. First set to Barty and second to Pliskova.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 6-7(4) Pliskova: WE HAVE A MATCH ON OUR HANDS!
Second tiebreak Barty 4-7 Pliskova: One set point saved on her serve but a double fault gives Pliskova the second set! FIGHTBACK IN LONDON!
Second tiebreak Barty 3-6 Pliskova: Still set points for Pliskova but Barty saves the one on Pliskova’s serve with a patient rally.
Second tiebreak Barty 2-6 Pliskova: Well, we have a new contender for the point of the match! Barty played a good point, and had the control with the drop. Pliskova plays a superb backhand lob and seals the point with the smash in front of the loudest cheers of the day perhaps. Set point on her serve!
Second tiebreak Barty 2-4 Pliskova: Pliskova returns well and there is a mini break of serve for the Czech! Well, well, well.
Second tiebreak Barty 2-3 Pliskova: Oh what a time for a lucky net chord! The ball drops on the other side to make it 2-2 for Pliskova. She stays in this. And then a massive roar to hold the next point! On serve still.
Second tiebreak 1-1: Both players trade minibreaks to start the breaker.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 6-6 Pliskova: Imagine the nerves for Barty too! Pliskova breaks back in the nick of time and we have a tiebreaker.
Ash Barty, serving for the title.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 6*-5 Pliskova: Oh dear. Pliskova goes up 40-0 and then misses a backhand volley a bit too casually. Will that be crucial?! She could have had that game there... and sure enough Barty wins four points from there! A forehand goes long to give Barty a break point and the crowd tries to rally behind Pliskova. And she drops the game! Slicing her way to a big break of serve.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 5-5 Pliskova: No nerves there from Barty, solid hold. Pressure back on Pliskova.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 4-5 Pliskova: Irrespective of how this ends, Pliskova might have sealed the contest for the point of the match. Barty plays a brilliant approach shot, a forehand slice to the corner of the baseline but the Czech star returns with kind to hit a sensational backhand down the line. Gets the crowd going! An ace in that game too. Barty to now serve to stay in the set.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 4-4 Pliskova: Perhaps the most crucial service hold of this match for Barty. Felt like momentum was going over to her opponent but she plays a solid game to hold at love.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 3-4 Pliskova: What a transformation, the commentator says! That’s a dominant service hold by Pliskova, she is pushing a little ahead from the baseline and dictating tempo now. Barty on the backfoot.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 3-3 Pliskova: AND PLISKOVA BREAKS BACK! A fist bump too, as she breaks Barty to love to bring the second set back on serve. Potentially a massive moment in the match. There was a superb return winner in that game from the Czech.
Second set — Barty 6-3, *3-2 Pliskova: Too little too late for Pliskova? Two big serves (one ace) from 30-30 to hold serve for the Czech. Barty still has the break.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 3-1 Pliskova: Barty holds serve at 30, seals that game with an ace. This is ending in a hurry.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 2-1 Pliskova: OH DEAR! Pliskova starts this game with TWO double faults and then makes two more errors and Barty has the break in the second set too.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 1-1 Pliskova: Service hold from Barty as well. Still not the highest quality tennis match this, it must be said.
Second set — Barty 6-3, 0-1 Pliskova: She needed that. A service hold to start the second set by Pliskova.
FIRST SET STATS: Barty leads 6-3
First set, Barty 6-3 Pliskova: Perhaps fittingly, the set ends with an unforced error from Pliskova and Barty, by virtue of playing the cleaner among the two, takes the first 6-3 in less than 30 mins.
First set, Barty 5-3 Pliskova: And Pliskova finds her serve finally! A hold at love with a couple of her booming first serves landing well. Match heating up now.
STAT: That was the first winner of the match for Karolina Pliskova to break Ash Barty when serving for the set! Five breaks of serve in the opener now.
First set, Barty 5-2 Pliskova: Shot of the match so far, as Barty hits a forehand crosshourt passing winner with Pliskova trying to charge in. 15-15. Double fault from the Aussie now. Pliskova makes a superb return to get the next point and have two break points. And Pliskova seals the break with a searing forehand return winner. Five breaks in the set now!
First set, Barty 5-1 Pliskova: Better point construction from both players in that game, and Barty has another window at 30-30 to break. And a couple more errors from Pliskova and Barty has another break! To serve for the set now.
First set, Barty 4-1 Pliskova: Well, there is the spark for Pliskova. The good news for Pliskova is that there is only way she can go from here. She was incredibly calm in the semi-final when Sabalenka was dominating too. Just a question of settling down and she has her chance there. Now Barty’s serve broken to love! Four errors to the count from Barty and Pliskova has a smile on her face.
First set, Barty 4-0 Pliskova: A loud cheer from the Centre Court crowd as Pliskova wins her first point of the final after 14 straight points for Barty. But the Aussie has 2 more break points in this game. Pliskova then plays her best point of the day so far with a solid rally, inducing an error. But then it is a double fault on the second break point and Barty is running away with this.
Well, that’s one way to start a final!
1st game: Barty holds at love
2nd game: Barty breaks at love
3rd game: Barty holds at love
12 STRAIGHT POINTS.
First set, Barty 2-0 Pliskova: Early pressure for Pliskova as Barty hits a couple of winners to go 0-30. And then a steady rally ends in an error from Pliskova, giving three break points. And Barty hits a winner via the net chord. Broken in the first game after just 4 breaks of serve in the entire tournament before this.
First set, Barty 1-0 Pliskova: Well, what a way to start the final. A service hold to love by Barty and that should straight away ease any nerves.
06.38 pm: Ash Barty to serve first. Here we go.
A proud moment for any tennis player: walking on the Centre Court for a final.
06.31: Players are on the court and we are minutes away from the final! Ain’t nothing like a Wimbledon final.
06.28 pm: The players are making their long, traditional walk to the Centre Court past the honours boards. Moments away from entering the arena. Reminder that 100% occupancy is allowed for the match tonight. Should be a cracking atmosphere.
STAT ALERT: Barty vs Pliskova is the first final since 1977 when both women are playing their Wimbledon singles final.
Paths to the Wimbledon women’s singles final on Saturday (x denotes seeding):
Ash Barty (AUS x1):
1st rd: bt Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 6-1, 6-7 (1/7), 6-1
2nd rd: bt Anna Blinkova (RUS) 6-4, 6-3
3rd rd: bt Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 6-3, 7-5
4th rd: bt Barbora Krejcikova (CZE x14) 7-5, 6-3
QF: bt Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-1, 6-3
SF: bt Angelique Kerber (GER x25) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3)
Karolina Pliskova (CZE x8)
1st rd: bt Tamara Zidansek (SLO) 7-5, 6-4
2nd rd: bt Donna Vekic (CRO) 6-2, 6-2
3rd rd: bt Tereza Martincova (CZE) 6-3, 6-3
4th rd: bt Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) 6-2, 6-3
QF: bt Viktorija Golubic (SUI) 6-2, 6-2
SF: bt Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x2) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
Zenia D’Cunha: Karolina Pliskova was a favourite at last two Wimbledon editions for her serve & game style But her results dipped to put her outside Top 10 This flying under the radar seems to have worked as she problem solved her way to a Slam final after 5 years.
Read her piece here.
Almost an underdog, Pliskova finally works her way back into a Grand Slam final
06.10 pm: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the first singles final in two years at the famous courts of Wimbledon! The women’s singles title clash is a tantalising one in prospect. We are all so used to upsets in the draw in recent times, that it feels pretty significant to have the current world No 1 take on the former world No 1: it’s Ash Barty vs Karolina Pliskova tonight in London.
The 25-year-old world number one produced her best performance of The Championships so far to beat 2018 champion Angelique Kerber 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). Barty will play former world number one Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in Saturday’s final. Barty had never progressed further than the fourth round at Wimbledon despite having form on grass as she was junior champion in 2011.
Pliskova came from a set down to beat powerful Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. She has never doubted herself despite dropping out of the top 10 – she is ranked 13 – after being a regular since 2016.
A first appearance in a Wimbledon final has justified that self-belief – and dropping her first set of The Championships will be a minor irritant.
Pliskova had never been beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon but showed great resilience in coming from behind to beat Sabalenka.
She managed to get over the disappointment of both failing to take any of the eight break points that she secured in the first set and losing it to battle it out toe-to-toe with Sabalenka.