As far as reunions go, there could be few more touching and emotional.
Ash Barty had not seen Evonne Goolagong Cawley for 12 months.
During that time, she had joined Goolagong Cawley as a Wimbledon champion, yet was unable to enjoy the opportunity to celebrate her victory with her idol, mentor and close friend.
Barty was of the understanding Goolagong Cawley would not be at Melbourne Park on Saturday night to watch her Australian Open final against Danielle Collins.
But after defeating Collins 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) to become Australia's first women's singles winner in 44 years, the world number one was in for a shock.
"I thought she wasn't coming," Barty told reporters after winning her third major singles crown.
"I'd spoken to her earlier in the week, and she was staying at home and not being able to travel down this year. So to have that surprise was amazing. I can't believe Craig (Tiley) kept it a secret.
"It was really special just to be able to give her a hug. It's the first time I've seen her in 12 months.
Barty is the second First Nations woman to win the Australian Open following Goolagong Cawley's four victories between 1974 and 1977.
The significance of the achievement meant so much to Barty.
"To be able to experience that together on such a big occasion, on such a beautiful court, and in a tournament that means so much to both of us, I think it was really nice to have her there just as someone to lean on when I wasn't really sure what to do," she said.
"She's an amazing human being, and I'm very lucky to be able to call her a friend. I'm very lucky to be able to give her a hug in some of the biggest moments in my life."
Along with the presence of Goolagong Cawley, Barty was deeply moved to be able to celebrate her victory with her family and support team.
Not everyone close to Barty was able to join her when she broke through to win the 2019 French Open, nor when she triumphed at Wimbledon last year.
It meant a lot to the 25-year-old to share a hug first with her mum and then her dad, once they had the chance to catch up after the presentation ceremony.
"Because I was gutted when mum and dad, and some of my team couldn't be there in Paris and in London.
"I think to be able to have almost everyone here was really, really special, and to do it at home and to be able to do it with them, to experience it with them was really special.
"Mum was always going to be the first one that I gave a hug to."
Barty's humility
As Barty impressively worked her way through the main draw at Melbourne Park, the anticipation she would break Australia's title drought in women's singles grew with each win.
Not since Chris O'Neil in 1978 had an Australian lifted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, and it seemed this past fortnight it was Barty's championship to lose.
After Saturday night's win, Barty did not want to dwell too much on the achievement of ending Australia's barren run in women's singles in Melbourne.
She instead spoke of how humbled she was to represent a country with such a rich tennis history.
"I think I'm a very, very small part of that," Barty said.
Barty's coach Craig Tyzzer said he was in awe of how Barty had handled the pressure of winning her home major.
"There's a massive sense of pride in Ash and her ability to do what she's done," he said.
"Sometimes I just think I'm not sure how she walks out there and does it with the expectations, with the nation right behind her, and everyone wanting her to win.
"You can't walk around the corner and hear that it's 44 years, or how long it's been since someone has won it.
"It's an amazing feat. It's phenomenal. To be part of it is amazing, but I'm thrilled every day to work with Ash. What she does never surprises me, but I'm just glad that I'm part of it."
Tyzzer has played a crucial role in what Barty describes as the "second phase" of her career.
She returned to tennis in 2016 after deciding to take a break from the game.
Her hiatus, which began in late 2014, included a switch of sports to cricket, before she came back to tennis with renewed purpose.
Barty paid tribute to Tyzzer and her "team" for helping her reach the career heights she has achieved.
"I think it's just been an incredible journey over this past 20 years of hitting a tennis ball but particularly the last five or six years in this second phase of my career," she said.
"I think being able to surround myself with amazing people who have invested so much time and effort and love into my career, and for them to be able to support me and to be able to experience it with me is really cool.
"I think finding what we love to do and being able to then go out and compete and try and break down some of the barriers and try and achieve new things is really exciting for us always."
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2022-01-29 19:32:30Z
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