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Champion Threads: Ash Barty's winning outfits donated to State Library

By Tom Jordan, Queensland Memory | 13 June 2022

Three of Ash Barty's iconic Grand Slam outfits are now part of the collection at the State Library of Queensland.

The former no.1 Tennis player has recently donated the outfits in which she won the 2019 French Open, the 2021 Wimbledon tournament, and the 2022 Australian Open. State Library is proud to have the opportunity to preserve and display these three historic outfits.

Ashleigh Barty was born in Ipswich, Queensland in 1996 and began playing tennis aged four years old. She enjoyed early success and won the Wimbledon girls single's title in 2011 at the age of 15. After a break from tennis in 2014, Barty pursued a career in professional cricket, before returning to tennis in 2016. The following year saw her crowned the US Open doubles champion. In 2019 Barty went on to win her first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open and reached the rank of number 1 in the world for the first time that same year. In 2021, after winning five major titles that year, Ash Barty's successful Wimbledon campaign culminated in her becoming the 2021 Wimbledon women's singles champion, the first Australian woman to win the title since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980. In January 2022, Ash Barty won the Australian Open Women's singles championship, the first Australian woman to win the title in 44 years. Barty joined Serena Williams as the only active player to win major titles on three different surfaces. Ash Barty announced her retirement from tennis in March 2022, still ranked world number 1.

2019 French Open

A black and white tennis outfit

Black and white FILA outfit worn by Australian tennis champion Ash Barty for her winning final at the 2019 French Open. 33139 Ashleigh Barty French Open 2019 outfit and photograph. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

The win was Barty's first Grand Slam singles title. She became the first Australian to win the French Open singles title since Margaret Court in 1973, and the first Australian to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sam Stosur at the 2011 US Open.

2021 Wimbledon 

White tennis outfit with flowers cut into the fabric

White, scallop-hemmed skort and top made for Australian tennis champion Ash Barty to wear during her successful 2021 Wimbledon campaign. 33067 Ashleigh Barty Wimbledon 2021 skort and top, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

The dress pays tribute to Barty’s fellow Indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley and commemorates the 50th anniversary of Cawley’s historic first Wimbledon singles title in 1971. The scallops and floral features of Barty’s outfit were inspired by the outfits designed for Goologong Cawley by renowned British couturier Ted Tinling. While the flowers on Goolagong Cawley’s outfits were embroidered with coloured thread, the flowers on Barty’s skort and top were laser cut from the fabric. The outfit features the logos of Barty's sponsors, Fila, UKG and Jaguar and the top has been signed on the front by Ash Barty.

The world number 1 women’s tennis champion wanted her historic outfit to be preserved and accessible for future generations. At the time of her donation to State Library, Ash said: “This outfit is very special to me for a number of reasons. I am so proud to have won Wimbledon wearing an outfit inspired by my mentor Evonne, it really was a dream come true. I hope the display at State Library is something my home community and all of Queensland can enjoy.”

This image shows Barty in top form during her Wimbledon campaign in 2021.

Ash Barty in action at Wimbledon

Wimbledon 2021 outfit and photograph supplied by FILA on display in the Talbot Family Treasures Wall, State Library of Queensland. Photo by Joe Ruckli, 2021

The Outfit and photograph are currently on display at the Talbot Family Treasures Wall on level four of State Library.

2022 Australian Open 

white and Navy tennis outfit belong to Ash Barty

Navy and white outfit worn by Australian tennis champion Ash Barty for her winning final at the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne, 29 January 2022. 33385 Ashleigh Barty Australian Open 2022 skort and top. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

Ash Barty's latest Grand Slam outfit was donated by the world number one in May, 2022.  In a 6-3 7-6(2) victory against American Danielle Collins at Rod Laver Arena, Ash Barty, ranked world number 1, became the first Australian to win an Australian Open women's singles title in 44 years. The outfit features the logos of Barty's sponsors, Fila, UKG and Jaguar.

All three of Ash Barty's tennis outfits will be on display at the Talbot Family Treasures Wall on Level 4 for State Library's Extra Ordinary Day on the 18th June. For more details, you can find the program here.

 

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