Day Twelve: The Championships - Wimbledon 2021
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 10: Ashleigh Barty of Australia poses with the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy and the Ladies’ Singles Board after winning her Ladies' Singles Final match against Karolina Pliskova of The Czech Republic on Day Twelve of The Championships - Wimbledon 2021 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 10, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by AELTC/Thomas Lovelock. - Pool/Getty Images)

Ash Barty lived out her childhood dream by becoming a Wimbledon champion 50 years after her mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley achieved the feat for the first time on the sacred turf.

Barty was challenged by Czech, Karolina Plisokova but the Aussie's spirit and determination prevailed 6-3 6-7 6-3 to become the 15th Australian to win the Wimbledon Grand Slam.

Barty raced out of the blocks to win the first 14 points of the match over a clearly anxious Pliskova.

The Australian's synonymously strong forehand was too much for a fearful Plisokova in the first set, but things took a turn in the second when the 29-year-old Czech began to play with the confidence that has made her a mainstay at the top of the women's game.

Barty was unable to regain momentum in the second set as the pressure of the occasion began to show on the usually ice-cold Queenslander.

Heading into the decisive third set, it appeared Plisokova would continue her momentum but as Barty has been able to do in her career she refocussed during the break and set about using her lethal forehand to place the ball out of the Czech's reach.

Barty broke down in tears after the match when asked about former Wimbledon champ and close friend Goolagong Cawley.

The 25-year-old will party long into the night and then turn her attention to her beloved Tigers who will hope to turn their fortune around against Collingwood today at the MCG.

If the Tigers need any motivation today it would be to make their number 1 ticket holder proud and emulate her determination to overcome barriers in their path for success.

https://twitter.com/Richmond_FC/status/1413877050339774474?s=20

Richmond sits 12th on the ladder after recent defeats to St Kilda and Gold Coast and all hope of a hat trick of premierships looks to be over with a lack of confidence and injuries curtailing their chances in September.

However, Damien Hardwick's pre-game ritual to tell his players a story could centre on Barty today and motivate the Tigers to a victory over their arch-rivals.