Ash Barty presents the 2020 AFL premiership cup to Trent Cotchin.Credit:Getty Images
Cotchin and Tigers coach Damien Hardwick were delighted on Friday after Barty had claimed a straight setssemi-final win over German Angelique Kerber,becoming the first Australian woman sinceEvonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to reach the Wimbledon final.
“It is an incredible achievement making it through to a Wimbledon final. It’s on my bucket list just to attend,let alone play in a final. To say that I am incredibly proud of her is an understatement,” Cotchin said.
“But I think what makes me most proud about Ash is the fact that she just,obviously,has amazing talent and shows such a will to compete and often even when the chips are against her sometimes. “But I just love the person she is and the lessons she is teaching the world everyday when she shows up as a human being,not a human doing.”
Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin was all smiles watching Ash Barty in action at the Australian Open last year.Credit:Getty Images
Hardwick joked on Friday that he would send Barty a message or two about her technique before the Queenslander faces Czech Karolina Pliskova.
“It’s very exciting,especially Wimbledon,it’s such a prestigious event,” he said.
“She is a proud Tiger and has been a part of our premiership runs. I will send her a few tips about how to get that backhand going and that sort of thing.