Ash Barty wins drought-breaking Australian Open title

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.

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 — and briefly flirting with taking up a professional cricket career after three first-round exits at the majors in 2014.

The usually reserved Barty let out a yell of sheer delight when she finally ensured she was the first Australian singles champion here since Chris O'Neil won the women's title in 1978.

"Yeah, it was a little bit surreal," she said from Melbourne. "I didn't quite know what to do or what to feel, and I think just being able to let out a little bit of emotion, which is a little bit unusual for me, and being able to celebrate with everyone who was there in the crowd, the energy was incredible tonight."

WATCH | Barty ends Australian drought with final victory:

Barty now has Grand Slam singles titles on three surfaces, adding the hard courts of Melbourne Park to her titles on grass at Wimbledon last year and on clay at the 2019 French Open. Serena Williams is the only other active player on the women's tour with majors on all three surfaces.

"This is just a dream come true for me," the 25-year-old Barty said. "I'm just so proud to be an Aussie."

Evonne Goolagong Cawley, a tennis icon with seven Grand Slam singles titles and a trailblazer for Indigenous athletes from Australia, was a surprise guest to present the champion's trophy to Barty, who