Ash Barty made history on Saturday night prevailing over American finalist Danielle Collins with a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) win on Rod Laver Arena.
She became the first home hope to win an Australian Open singles title in 44 years.
And she joined the most exclusive club of tennis heavyweights, winning a third grand slam crown on three different surfaces.
The 25-year-old is now one of the five active players who have won majors on clay, grass and hard courts: Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
A proud Ngarigo woman, Barty celebrated her ‘dream come true’ alongside her Indigenous idol and mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley who made a surprise appearance at Melbourne Park to watch the final.
Being handed the trophy by Goolagong Cawley made the occasion even more treasured for Barty who is the second Indigenous Australian Open champion after her.
“To be able to experience that together on such a big occasion, on such a beautiful court, and in a tournament that means so much to both of us,” Barty said.
The moment captured the imagination of the nation, reflected in record-breaking viewership ratings.
According to Nine, the tournament broadcaster, the trophy presentation garnered an average audience of 2,838 million among major metropolitan viewers, higher than the match itself.
This would make it the second most watched program of 2021, only to be surpassed by the AFL grand final.
TV ratings also elevated the whole match to one of the most viewed events of the past year, with over three million of the peak audience viewers tuning in from the five major metropolitan cities, while Nine’s records – kept since 1999 – suggest Barty’s triumphant win was the most watched women’s final.