"Nobody knew": How Ash Barty's huge surprise was pulled off
The planning behind Ash Barty’s huge surprise following her Australian Open win has been revealed, with master of ceremonies Todd Woodbridge sharing how he was sworn to secrecy.
The world No. 1 received the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup from dear friend and tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who emerged from the Champions’ Walk during the celebration ceremony.
“We have a special guest to present the finalist’s trophy,” Woodbridge announced at the time.
“Would you please welcome a 13-time grand slam champion, four-time winner here at the Australian Open. She is a champion of our game. Put your hands together for Evonne Goolagong Cawley!”
🖤💛❤️
The moment Evonne Goolagong Cawley crowned @ashbarty the #AusOpen women's singles champion 🏆#AO2022 pic.twitter.com/ASBtI8xHjg— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2022
The surreal moment was greeted by an eruption of applause from the crowd, while a beaming Barty bowed her head in disbelief.
“Obviously I was sworn to secrecy because I did the presentation and I had to announce that (Goolagong Cawley) was about to walk onto the court,” Woodbridge said while appearing on 2GB’s Wide World of Sports radio.
“The card that had that line in my notecards that I held … wasn’t handed to me until I had just about walked up on the stage, even though I knew it was coming, in case someone saw my notes.
“Nobody knew. It was absolutely brilliant.
“I was staring down the camera from the MC position and I had the stand right behind it and as soon as I said her name everybody stood up.
“It was really quite an incredible moment.”
Barty previously paid tribute to Goolagong Cawley while playing at Wimbledon last year, wearing a white skirt with a scalloped hem in a nod to the outfit Goolagong wore when she won the singles grand slam at the All England Club in 1971.
The then-19-year-old would go on to win four Australian Open singles titles between 1974 and 1977.
Barty’s maiden Australian Open title win saw her defeat American Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6, (7-2) to become a three-time singles major champion.
Woodbridge had nothing but praise for her Melbourne Park campaign, noting that even her “wobble” was followed by some hard-hitting play.
“Goes through the tournament without losing a set, and then in the final has a bit of a wobble where her opponent came at her, lost her forehand for a little while and then at 5-1 down says, ‘OK, enough’s enough. I’m going to start taking this back on’,” Woodbridge said.
“And then whacks forehand winners for the next six games, gets back in and wins it.
“Just one of the best Opens I have been at because of the fact that we had that Aussie winner.”
Image: Getty Images