After being sidelined from the Tour for almost two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ash Barty might be returning back to action sooner than expected.
The grand slam champion has indicated that she might play in a series of domestic events in her country that are currently being planned by Tennis Australia (TA). All WTA tournaments have been suspended since March and it is likely that the resumption date of July 13th will be delayed further. Due to the suspension, countries around the world are in the process of setting up their own events to give player’s some match practice.
“We’re right in the thick of that and we’ll soon be rolling it out,” TA chief Craig Tiley told The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald on April 24th.
“We’ve got one competition which we’re going to be announcing and rolling out and, who knows, it may become a new normal for us at that time of the year, which could be pretty cool.”
The full details about the events are yet to be disclosed to the public. Barty has told the Australian Associated Press that she will not make a final decision about whether or not to participate until more information is provided. Australia recently announced a three-stage plan to lift their lockdown and restart the economy by July.
“There are a lot of details that need to be worked through,” Barty told The AAP.
“I’m interested to see what TA’s plans are but I’d have to understand all the details before I make a decision.
“We are lucky to be at that point in Australia that we can think about tennis coming back in some form.”
During the lockdown, 24-year-old Barty has said she has been able reflect on what was a breakthrough 2019 season for her. Last year she won four WTA titles, including her maiden grand slam trophy at the French Open, as well as the Tour Finals. In June she became the first Australian woman to reach No.1 since Evonne Goolagong Cawley back in 1976.
“I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the last year in particular and how special it was – 2019 was just incredible for my team and I,” she said.
“Remembering all of those special moments has made me hungry to get back out there and compete again.”
Barty currently heads the WTA rankings with a 2641-point lead over second place Simona Halep. She started 2020 by winning 11 out of 14 matches played. Winning her 13th WTA title in Adelaide before reaching the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and Doha Open.
