Ashleigh Barty dedicates maiden Wimbledon title to her hero Evonne Goolagong Cawley

On the 50th anniversary of Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s first Wimbledon singles title, arguably her biggest fan won her first title at the championships.

Ashleigh Barty wore, as she has throughout, an outfit designed to honour her hero and as she sealed the title, she sank down and then peered out from under her cap as if she could not quite dare to see what Centre Court looks like when you have just won the tournament you had dreamed of winning as a youngster. “I hope I made Evonne proud,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Barty scrambled immediately up into the stands to hug her team after what was an absorbing if curious final. The two first-time finalists took turns to be beset by