Dress code is an integral part of the Wimbledon experience, from the “predominantly white” rule for players (a regulation which will mark its own 60th anniversary in 2023) to the fun of spectators dressing up for the occasion.

But when Ashleigh Barty opens her 2021 Championships campaign in a distinctive scallop-hemmed outfit, she takes on to Centre Court a symbolic celebration of one of the most impactful stories in the history of tennis.

Barty’s exclusively designed Trailblazer collection commemorates the 50th anniversary of Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s fairytale first Wimbledon singles title in 1971, when the carefree 19-year-old from the small town of Barellan in New South Wales emphatically beat defending champion Margaret Court in straight sets.

Goolagong Cawley’s achievement in the all-Australian final hit the front pages worldwide, illustrated with that soon-to-be-iconic image of her in crisp tennis whites with scallop trim. A splash in The New York Times announced the arrival of a talent whose feline athletic grace and intuitive play was a joy to watch.

“With a four-game burst at the start and a streak of six games in a row to end it, the amazing youngster won 6-4, 6-1 from the three-time Wimbledon champion, who has taken more major titles than any other woman. Of all the reputations that have been shattered here over the past fortnight, this was the most formidable.”

It was a tremendous on-court achievement, of course, but the 50th anniversary of the fulfilment of her “impossible dream” resonates much further than the tennis hall of fame.

As Barty says: “Evonne truly embodies what it means to be a trailblazer, and her inspiring career has paved the way for young indigenous women such as myself to see a future for themselves in tennis.”

For signifying social progress, her distinctive scallop-detailed dress ranks with Suzanne Lenglen’s sleeveless, low-necked shirt and calf-length skirt, and with the wing-collared menthol-green and sky-blue nylon dress adorned with rhinestones and sequins worn by Billie Jean King in her 1973 'Battle of the Sexes' victory over Bobby Riggs.

The daughter of an itinerant sheep-shearer, and one of eight children in the only indigenous family in Barellan, the young Goolagong Cawley read about a magical court in a place called Wimbledon in a princess magazine.

When she learnt this greensward paradise actually existed, it fired her passion. At night, she dreamt of playing on the hallowed turf in London; by day, she hit balls against the wall, the water tank, an apple crate board.

It would be an understatement to say life was difficult for indigenous people in rural Australia in the 1960s. Opportunities were scarce; racism rife. Caught peering through the fence at a neighbour’s court, Goolagong Cawley was invited to play and her natural talent was immediately evident to her townsfolk.

She was soon on her way to Sydney to receive lessons from coach Vic Edwards, arriving with a dress made by her mother from bed sheets, and with equipment funded by locals in her hometown. By the time she arrived at her dream location of Wimbledon, she was heralded as La Belle Evonne, a special talent who was put straight on to the show courts.

Notably for our era, when young stars find the pressure of global fame hard to process, Goolagong Cawley was always totally relaxed, win or lose. A legacy, perhaps, of her mother’s approach: she would never ask her daughter if she had won a match, only if she had had fun.

Ash Barty describes herself as “a proud Ngarigo woman” who cherishes her shared heritage with the seven-times Grand Slam winner. She speaks humbly and emotionally about the honour of wearing the Trailblazer collection to showcase the profound impact that her countrywoman has left on tennis and in indigenous communities across Australia.

“It's a really special anniversary for a lot of Australians, but for indigenous Australians in particular I think this is a really special one,” said Barty, who is only the second Australian to hold the world No.1 ranking, after her mentor and the National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador for Tennis Australia.

“It is my honour to wear this commemorative collection from FILA in celebration not only of Evonne’s momentous victories on the court, but also her incredible legacy off of it. For me to be able to wear an outfit inspired by her iconic scallop dress, an image that inspired me and our generation of indigenous youth, is amazing. I hope that my version of it, my outfit, can do the same for the next generation of indigenous youth coming forward.”

For the record, Barty’s interpretation of the look includes a racerback tank featuring a stretch interlock fabric and laser-cut flowers at the back worn with a traditional skort with laser-cut scalloped hem and laser-cut flowers at the front and side.