Nobody remembers Barty when someone asks about Australian tennis. Nobody can blame her too. Nick Kyrgios, irrespective of what he has achieved in the game, is the first time that comes to everyone’s mind. Maybe, because Barty doesn’t give in to the glamour of the sport. She sits there, does what she does very well: Win matches.
She has this beautiful ingredient that makes her more of a household name, that approachable girl next door. On the court, Martina Hingis-ish play frustrates her opponent but off the court, it doesn’t even matter. Most of the opponents are her fans too. They love watching her, cheers for her.
This is probably because Barty knows what she is doing, and she knows it is just her job. Unlike other stars, she likes to keep her life away from the game and thus, missing a season or two might hurt but doesn’t kill her.
When the pandemic took over, Barty’s careful decision to stay at home in Australia had everyone separated. Everyone poured in their opinion, but Barty seldom cared. She was seen cheering for Richmond Football Club, a club she has been cheering for right from her childhood.
She was enjoying the game just like everyone else. There were fist pumps, cries of c’mon and claps. She was World Number one at that time. Had it was anyone else, they would’ve got anxious as the camera kept following them.
The camera and interviews never stop though. Every time she attends the press conference, her career switch would become the topic of discussion, and she would put on a smile, answer the same question million times. Sure, in the future, she would answer that very question a million times more. Barty has always been that way.
Ridiculously grounded, Barty’s speeches are always precise, well expressed just like her game, something that keeps on giving. No matter what was the topic. Even if it is about explaining her injury.
Weeks ago, Barty picked up an injury that forced her to miss the tournament, and she wasn’t 100 per cent sure of Wimbledon. For someone who had already miss out on a couple of Grand Slam, missing this would hurt more. She smiled and wanted to take one match at a time and wanted to treat every single match as her last. Maybe, that was the miracle mindset she needed to get through matches.
With every single match, the size of the bandage reduced and right before the final, it was more of a mental battle that kept her awake. She was chasing history, a childhood dream, a dream that her fans and the whole nation carried along with her. The responsibility made winning more than just a job now, and there were emotions involved. After almost two hours of battle, she outperformed Pliskova to give people what they had wanted.
This is today. Tomorrow, you might find her among the crowd, sipping the beer, crying out loud, and rooting for her favourite team just like everyone else.
