World No.1 tennis player Ashleigh Barty lost in straight sets to Sofia Kenin in Thursday's Australian Open semifinal - but she put on quite a show, leaving track superstar Cathy Freeman and others in awe.
Australia's most celebrated Indigenous athlete was a special guest at Melbourne Park on Thursday to watch Barty attempt to become the first Australian woman since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 to reach the Australian Open final.
"I can confidently say on behalf of Aussies and particularly the Indigenous community we're very proud of her," Freeman said at Thursday's Inspirational Lunch.
Freeman praised the world No.1's temperament and attitude ahead of her semi-final, then was front and centre at Rod Laver Arena hours later as Barty succumbed to a 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 loss to Kenin.
Cathy Freeman along with her mother Cecelia, and Margaret Court. Source: AAP
"She's an amazing role model,' Freeman said.
"She seems to have a really good head on her shoulders, really community-minded, not too overawed by the success she's having - it's wonderful."
Freeman's defining gold medal victory in the 400m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics proved an inspiration to young girls, athletes and the Indigenous community.
Barty, a proud Ngaragu woman, is now making her own mark on the Australian sporting landscape.
Cathy Freeman was a star at the 2000 Olympic Games. Source: DIG
"I think the impact that she can have on everybody but particularly young girls is quite profound," Freeman said.
"Her achievements and her story will get onto the psyche and into the blood of so many young girls around not just Australia, but the world, it's very cool."
Having reached the pinnacle of her sport on home soil, Freeman kept her advice to 23-year-old Barty simple.
"Its really important to just trust in your own, trust in yourself and trust in your training and your preparation," Freeman said.
"And just know that we're there for you as keen sporting enthusiasts and (a) crazy champion-loving population."
Barty reacts
The Barty party may have come to an end but the 23-year-old Australian was quick to put her life back in perspective, coming to the post-match press conference with her newest niece.
"Yeah it's disappointing, but yeah it's been a hell of a summer. If you told me three weeks ago that we would have won a tournament in Adelaide and made the semis of the Australian Open I'd take that absolutely every single day of the week," she said.
The crowd was full of well-known faces - taking the time out to watch the high-profile Australian come so close to a maiden Australian Open final.
"It's time for an Aussie to step up and, you know, Ash has stepped up she's number one in the world, she's won the French Open," Ms Turnbull said.
And Australian comedian Rebel Wilson was another who had her back, win or lose.
Tennis Australia President Jayne Hrdlicka (left) and Australian actor and comedian Rebel Wilson. Source: AAP
"I'm really excited, obviously I've been watching the whole tournament hoping that Ash would make it to the semis because that was the day I was coming," she joked.
"It's so awesome to see that she got through, she's been playing amazing, she's number one in the world and there hasn't been an Australian champion for so long."
with additional reporting from AAP
