But Goolagong Cawley, an Indigenous Australian with an elegant game, is the former champion whose story spoke most powerfully to Barty. Her father Robert is part of the Ngarigo people, and Barty has embraced that heritage as well as Goolagong Cawley’s long-running project to bring tennis and inspiration to Indigenous youth. On Saturday, their paths converged again as Barty won the Wimbledon singles title on the same patch of grass where Goolagong Cawley won for the first time 50 years ago. “They are connected by culture, and Ash’s win connects the generations,” said Billie Jean King, who lost to Goolagong Cawley in the semifinals in 1971 and was in the Royal Box on Saturday. She said her team did not tell her how long the odds were on a quick recovery.

Source: New York Times July 10, 2021 19:58 UTC