For Robert Barty, seeing his daughter Ash win the Australian Open final wasn't what mattered most. It was how she conducted herself that counted.
At the behest of Barty, Robert made the mad dash to Melbourne Park for Saturday's final only after the top seed won her semi and he insisted Saturday night's result was secondary to the family.
"If she plays well, she plays well. If she behaves, that's even better," he told AAP on Sunday.
Barty, 25, beat American Danielle Collins in a two-set thriller, claiming her place among tennis royalty's most exclusive club with a third grand slam crown on three different surfaces.
Among active players, only Barty and the sport's four 'GOATs' - greatest of all-time contenders - Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have snared majors on clay, grass and hard courts.
Barty and Williams are the only two of that esteemed club to have won their first three slams on the three surfaces.
Robert Barty said his daughter's two sisters Ali, 28, and Sara, 30, are "Ash's biggest fans".
Ash Barty relies on the support of her family when she's on the road. Source: AAP
"They will do absolutely anything to make her life as normal as possible...
"They know just how tough it when she's out on the road, alone, and away from her family and she really does miss her family."
Barty's coach Craig Tyzzer says the world No.1 is "a much better person than she is a tennis player" - and that's what makes Barty's parents most proud.
"You get all these people come and say 'gee, your daughter's the No.1 tennis player in the world' but it's even better when people say 'God, she's such a lovely girl'," Barty's father said.
"First and foremost, she's my daughter and I love the fact that she always puts others first.
"It's quite easy from a tennis perspective for her to say, because it's such a lonely sport, I've won the Australian Open, I've won Wimbledon - but she doesn't.
"It's always 'we' and the royal we is the whole team because she knows what it takes to get her on the court from everyone in the team."
'Pretty amazing': Barty humbled after win
Typically humble, Barty is crediting childhood coach Jim Joyce for helping her claim her third grand slam crown.
"I feel very humble to be in such a select group," Barty said in the jubilant aftermath to her 6-3 7-6 (7-2) win on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night.
"To be honest, I don't really feel like I belong with those champions of our sport.
"There's still work to be done, without a doubt. I'm still very much learning and trying to refine my craft and trying to learn every single day to get better and better.
"It's amazing to be able to have this experience and this opportunity on three different surfaces and be really consistent across the board.
"Ultimately, that was one of the biggest challenges that Jim set out for me when I was young, to be a complete player and be really consistent across all surfaces and be able to play on all surfaces.
"So to have a grand slam title on each surface is pretty amazing. I never probably thought it would ever happen to me.
"So very, very lucky and very humbled and privileged to be able to be a part of it."
Ash Barty celebrates championship point in her match against Danielle Collins. Source: Getty
The 25-year-old said it was also "surreal" to follow in the footsteps of the country's legends who graced the courts before her to win grand slams.
"As Australians, we're extremely lucky to have the tennis history and the rich history that we do, particularly here at the Australian Open," Barty said.
"But across all grand slams, we've had champions that have stemmed back years and years and years and have really set the platform for us to come through and try and do what we do and try and create our own path."
Indigenous sporting greats cheer on Barty
Barty, a proud Ngarigo woman, paid a special tribute to her Indigenous idol and mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley and fellow Queenslanders Pat Rafter and Samantha Stosur for blazing a trail for her and teaching her how to conduct herself with such grace on court and off.
"There are a few that are closer to home for me, and obviously more of their stories I've been more invested in just because I know them more as a person," Barty said.
"Those people that come to mind, Pat Rafter and Evonne, in the way that they handled themselves on the court.
"For me, there's just no-one better. Recently you've had your Dylan (Alcotts), Sam (Stosurs), who are really able to just enjoy the experience and bring so many different people to tennis, bring so many different walks of life to this beautiful sport that we play.
"I'm a very, very small part of that.
"I'm still trying to figure out what I'm doing myself, but to be a very small part of an amazing history in tennis as an Australian is really, really neat."
Barty celebrated courtside with former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua after championship point before Goolagong Cawley was called down from the stands to present the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
"Hell of a surprise," Barty said of seven-time grand slam singles champion Goolagong Cawley's role in the ceremony.
"To be honest, I'm really glad that I didn't know because I think I would have been under the pump, I would've been feeling it.
"I haven't seen her since this time last year so we've got a few more hugs to celebrate. Unbelievable to see her."
Cathy Freeman's 400m gold medal run in 2000 inspired a generation of Australians, with Barty just four years old at the time.
The Olympic legend was caught on television grabbing her mobile phone to capture Barty's crowning moment.
"Looking up at the end, seeing Cathy, she is an inspiration. She's been an inspiration to so many people all around the globe," Barty said.
Ash Barty with Cathy Freeman and Evonne Goolagong-Cawley following her Australian Open win. Source: Tennis Australia
"But for our heritage, for our family, she is just the best. To be able to share that tonight with Evonne Goolagong and Cathy, a night I will never forget."
Wheelchair wizard Dylan Alcott and Richmond AFL triple-premiership captain Trent Cotchin, who has become close with Tigers fanatic Barty in recent years, were on hand to congratulate the champion in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena after she exited the court.
Barty also thanked the adoring crowd for their raucous support over a fortnight when she did not drop a single set.
"As an Aussie, the most important part of this tournament is being able to share it with so many people and you guys today in the crowd have been nothing shy of exceptional," Barty said.
"This crowd is one of the most fun I've ever played in front of and you guys brought me so much joy out here today.
"You relaxed me, you forced me to play my best tennis and against a champion like Danielle I know I absolutely had to bring that today."
Barty said being the player to break the country's 44-year Open singles title drought only made her Melbourne Park triumph even sweeter.
"It's absolutely incredible," she said.
Ash Barty shakes hands with Danielle Collins of the United States after winning the Australian Open title. Source: Getty
"As Aussies, we're exceptionally lucky to be a grand slam nation. To get to experience to play at home is really special, and to be here as a champion of the tournament is really exciting.
"The expectation was that I would always come out and give my best, and that's all I've ever done.
"I have been close before, but I think now that we've been able to achieve this, you guys don't need to talk about it any more."
