The Wimbledon women’s singles kicked off today, and there has already been a plethora of news surrounding the tournament – not only in the form of Naomi Osaka and her withdrawal from the competition, but also surrounding Ash Barty who has been locked in as the No. 1 seed.
This morning on Instagram, to celebrate the kick off, the Women’s Health-favourite shared a post on Instagram giving us major nostalgia vibes: the athlete, who is set to compete next week, revealed the collection she will be wearing while fighting for her ranking, explaining that the design was inspired by her tennis idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
The set comes from Fila’s Trailblazer collection, an exclusive offering that pays homage to the former Fila brand ambassador and multiple Grand Slam champion and commemorates the 50th anniversary of Goolagong Cawley’s incredible triumph in London in 1971. Barty will wear the Trailblazer collection to showcase the profound impact that her compatriot has left on the sport and in Indigenous communities across Australia.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQf9Rz8BDzc/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQf9Rz8BDzc/
“It’s hard to put into words how much of an impact Evonne has had on the culture of tennis in Australia and on me personally, I don’t think there is anyone more iconic in our sport,” Barty said. “I am very proud to wear this commemorative collection from Fila in celebration not only of her momentous victories on the court, but also her incredible legacy off of it.”
“Wow, it just blows my mind,” Hall of Famer Goolagong Cawley said. “What a wonderful thing to do, what a wonderful honour. It’s truly fantastic.”
The collection features crisp, clean whites, fused with details inspired by an on-court look Goolagong Cawley wore back in the day. Think a Racerback Tank featuring a stretch interlock fabric and laser-cut flowers at the back. a traditional 13.5” skort with laser cut scalloped hem and laser-cut flowers at the front and side, and a pant and track jacket combo perfect for the pre-match warm up.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CQghFEVHIZl/
Barty has always looked up to Cawley, aiming to repeat Goolagong Cawley’s 1971 feat of backing up a French Open title with Wimbledon. Barty, a Ngaragu woman, and Goolagong Cawley, from the Wiradjuri people, have been close since Barty’s junior career, with Goolagong Cawley inspiring and encouraging her through the up and down times since.
“Evonne sent me a text a couple of days ago and said this was her first slam and spotted her name on the trophy,” Barty told reporters at the post-match press conference in Paris.
“It’s amazing how she’s created this path for indigenous tennis in Australia and I think now it’s becoming more nationwide.
“There’s more opportunities for kids to play tennis, both male and female, and I hope we can continue to create those opportunities and let kids know that this is an option for a career. And even if it’s not, it’s a sport that they can play for life.”
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