Barty fires warning to her rivals: 'I'm still trying to refine my craft'

What would Ashleigh Barty's advice for the girl in the photo holding her racket and trophy be knowing her journey now? "Be patient, have fun, trust your gut every day of the week."

Barty's dream came finally true after she ended Australia's 44-year wait for a home winner at the Australian Open by beating American Danielle Collins in the final on Saturday.

Jim Joyce was the coach that discovered her as a four-year-old in Queensland, mentoring and coaching Barty into becoming a tennis superstar.

She's now the complete player having become just the second active female player to claim Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces, alongside 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.

But a humble Barty believes there is still work to be done alongside her current long-time coach Craig Tyzzer, who has successfully turned the former cricketer and disillusioned tennis talent to all-conquering champion.

"I feel very humble to be in such a select group. To be honest, I don't really feel like I belong with those champions of our sport. I'm still very much learning and trying to refine my craft and try and learn every single day and get better and better," said the 25-year-old.

"I think being able to have that balance and understand that I'm very lucky and fortunate to be able to do what I do, I get to play a sport that I love for a living, I get to compete, work hard, and I think I just see that as an opportunity. There are so many different things that I get to experience as a tennis player, and I'm very fortunate to do that."

Having also won the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon last summer, Barty is the first Australian since her mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who fittingly presented the trophy to her on Saturday, to win more