World No 1 Ashleigh Barty won the Wimbledon women’s singles title by beating Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7(4/7), 6-3 in three sets to lift her maiden Grand Slam title. By doing so she became the first Australian player to lift the singles title since 1980. The game that lasted around two hours saw Barty on the attack all the time as she didn’t let her foot off the gas.

In the first set, Barty got the first 13 points, a feat that even left the commentators in awe. However, it was in the 11th minute of the first set that Pliskova got her first point. At this point, Barty was leading her 3-0. With ruthless forehands, Barty was getting points with ease.

There were five breaks in the first seven games. Pliskova held her nerve and broke Barty to trail her 2-5 in the first set. But it was only a matter of time that the Australian held her serve and took the first set 6-3 in just over 30 minutes.

Throughout the first set, Pliskova looked out of sorts as Barty played her usual games, leaving Pliskova dumbfounded and committing unforced errors. A little inspiration here and there did see Pliskova get some points but it was Barty who reigned supreme.

In the second set, Pliskova held her serve to get up on the board and lead 1-0. But a break again saw Pliskova trail Barty 3-1 in the second set. Barty looked confident and in focus as compared to Pliskova who still seemed to struggle. Barty beautifully used her backhand slice and powerful forehands to make Pliskova run all over the court.

However, Pliskova clawed her way back in the match, broke Barty to draw level at 3-3 and then held her serve to lead Barty 4-3 for the first time in the final. The commentators pumped, the audience pumped and Pliskova was pumped.

“We’ve got a final on our hands,” said the commentators on air.

The second set was a tough battle as neither of the players looked like giving in. At one point, the set was level at 5-5 after Barty held her serve. Pliskova too put her backhand to work as she got points under her belt with ease and made Barty falter.

A vital break for Barty in the second set saw her leads Pliskova 6-5 in the second set. The Australian then served for the title. But Pliskova had other plans in her mind as she took the set into a tiebreak.

Pliskova won the tie-breaker dominantly and took the second set 7-6(7/4). This was the first time since 2012 that a women’s final has entered the third set.

The third set saw Barty get back to her old self. First, she held her serve and then broke Pliskova and then again held her serve to extend her lead to 3-0 in the third set.

But in the end it was Barty who held her nerve and proved that she is the World No 1 as she took home the title.