Ash Barty ends 44-year wait for home champion at Australian Open 2022

Ash Barty will no longer need to overthink the 1970s when she prepares for the Australian Open.

The top-ranked Barty recovered from 5-1 down in the second set to beat Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the final on Saturday night, ending a 44-year drought for Australian women at their home Grand Slam tournament.

Barty is the first Australian women's singles champion since Chris O’Neil in 1978. She was the first homegrown player to reach the final since Wendy Turnbull in 1980.

The pressure is off the 25-year-old Aussie, who has made a remarkable career comeback after taking time off — missing every Grand Slam tournament in 2015 and '16.

Barty now has Grand Slam singles titles on three surfaces, adding the hard court at Melbourne Park to her win on grass at Wimbledon last year and on clay at the 2019 French Open.

Barty joins Serena Williams as the only active players on the women's tour with majors on all three surfaces.

Barty hadn't dropped a set and had only conceded one service game through six matches, against American Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round.

Ash Barty, left, of Australia embraces ex player Casey Dellacqua, who played an important role in her life, after defeating Danielle Collins of the US in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships. (AP Photo)

Supporters of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai wear T-shirts as they pose for a photo during the women's final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne. (AP Photo)