Australia’s Ashleigh Barty says she “couldn’t be more rapt” to play for her first Wimbledon title on the 50th anniversary of her idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s maiden win.
Top seed Barty faces Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova on Saturday.
It is the first time since 1977 that both women are playing in a Wimbledon final for the first time.
“To give myself a chance to create some history that’s almost like a tribute to her is really exciting,” said Barty.
“It’s a really special anniversary for Evonne.”
World number one Barty has been wearing a scallop-hemmed dress at the championships as a tribute to the one Goolagong wore when she won the title in 1971.
The pair spoke before the tournament, although Barty says she has not been in contact with Goolagong during the fortnight.
“I’ve just been kind of floating my way through and just kind of enjoying the opportunities I’ve had here this week,” said Barty, who is bidding for her second Grand Slam title after winning the 2019 French Open.
“I couldn’t be more proud to be in a position to wear an outfit inspired by her. I couldn’t be more rapt to have that opportunity to win on Saturday.”
Barty, 25, has only dropped one set on her way to the final and produced her best display yet in a straight-set win over Germany’s 2018 champion Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals.
She is the first Australian to reach the women’s final since Goolagong lifted her second title at the All England Club in 1980.
The run has come after Barty feared she might not even be fit to play in SW19. She was managing a hip injury at the French Open which led to her retiring from her second-round match at Roland Garros.
“To be honest, it was going to be touch-and-go,” said Barty, who won the junior Wimbledon title in 2011.
“If you told me a month ago we’d be sitting in this position, I really wouldn’t have thought that we would even get close. I think it’s pretty special what we’ve been able to do the last month.”