Ash Barty is first Aussie to win Australian Open since '78

Ashleigh Barty of Australia poses with the championship trophy after winning the women's singles final match against Danielle Collins of the United States at Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 29, 2022. Xinhua

Ashleigh Barty becomes first Aussie to win Australian Open singles title in four decades

By Adam Stites | Last updated 1/29/22

Hometown favorite Ashleigh Barty won the Australian Open on Saturday, becoming the first Australian to win a singles title at the tournament since 1978.

Barty, 25, beat Danielle Collins (6-3, 7-6) to complete a dominant sweep of the competition during her time in Melbourne. Barty entered as the top seeded player in the women's singles draw and never lost a set en route to the championship.

Emotional @ashbarty

THAT'S how much it means #AusOpen • #AO2022• #AOpresscon pic.twitter.com/okPrLBtvV3
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2022

The last Australian to win the tournament was Chris O'Neil in 1978, while the last on the men's side was Mark Edmondson in 1976. The winningest singles champion is Australia's Margaret Court, who won the tournament 11 times.

Barty is now a three-time Grand Slam champion. She previously won the 2019 French Open and 2021 Wimbledon. Barty advanced to at least the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in the last three years, but failed to advance past the semifinals.

Collins was the No. 27 seed in the tournament and played in her first ever Grand Slam final. She made the semifinals at the Australian Open in 2019.

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