Anniversary of Ash Barty’s Australian Open Title

29 January 2022

On 29 January 2022, Ash Barty won the Australian Open women’s singles title. The Ngarigo champion defeated Danielle Collins 6–3, 7–6, becoming the first Australian singles champion at the tournament in forty-four years.

A home Grand Slam achievement

The Australian Open’s contemporary match report records the date and result. Barty recovered from 5–1 down in the second set before winning the tiebreak. This anniversary marks the final itself, rather than a later retirement announcement or retrospective article.

Achievement and the longer sporting story

The victory was a distinct achievement from Barty’s Wimbledon title in 2021, which is marked separately in this calendar. Both belong in an account of her career without being merged into one generic sporting anniversary.

The date can celebrate First Nations excellence while recognising the work and relationships behind elite sport. It also provides an opportunity to learn about earlier players and the barriers they encountered, including Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s place in Australian tennis history.

Celebrating an individual does not mean asking her to represent every Aboriginal person or treating sporting success as proof that racism has ended. A useful anniversary activity can hold pride in achievement alongside attention to inclusion, access and the responsibilities of sporting organisations.

Reflecting and learning

Read the contemporary match account and compare it with a later reflection. What does each reveal about preparation, pressure and the significance of winning at home?

Start with the sources below and distinguish the original event from later interpretations and commemorations. When using this date in a classroom or workplace, allow time for questions and further reading. First Nations peoples have diverse histories and perspectives; this brief introduction does not speak for every community.

Sources and further reading

• Brilliant Barty breaks local drought with title — Australian Open
• Barty: Australian Open title brilliant way to finish — Australian Open

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.