ASHLEIGH BARTY made it an Australian double in the junior Wimbledon finals by winning the girls’ singles title yesterday.
After 17-year-old Luke Saville’s victory over Britain’s Liam Broady on Saturday, 15-year-old Barty triumphed in two tight sets against Russian Irina Khromacheva on Court One, 7-5 7-6 (7/3).
Left-hander Khromacheva was being supported by former Wimbledon runner-up Justine Henin and made a bright start, building up an early 4-1 lead.
The hard-hitting Muscovite, 16, who is now based at Henin’s coaching academy in Belgium, could not cling to her advantage though and soon the set was back on serve and from 5-5 it swung Barty’s way.
The Queenslander then looked like finishing off Khromacheva quickly, as she breezed into a 4-1 lead over the third seed in the second set.
But as in the first set, when Khromacheva had pulled clear, the pair were soon tied at 4-4 again.
Khromacheva looked like forcing a deciding set when she broke serve to lead 6-5. However, Barty responded to set up a tie-break.
Backed from the stands by Saville, she seized the initiative by claiming an early mini-break with a smart lob, and was able to power on to claim the title.
