Less than a week after winning her first grand slam title at the French Open, many pundits are already backing Australia’s Ash Barty to win the Wimbledon Championships next month.
At Roland Garros the 23-year-old prevailed during what was a lacklustre women’s draw. On route to victory, she scored wins over Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova. Then in the final, she cruised to a 6-1, 6-3, win over Marketa Vondrousova. Becoming the first player from her country to win the French Open since Margaret Court back in 1973.
“It’s been an incredible couple of weeks, that’s for sure.” Barty said following her win in Paris. “I think any time I can play my brand of tennis, I know that I can match it against the best in the world.”
“For the last fortnight, the stars have aligned for me. I have been able to play really good tennis when I’ve needed it.”
The clay has never been Barty’s favourite surface. She hadn’t won a singles title on the dirt until Paris this year. 12 months ago, she told reporters, ‘a week on the clay is a week closer to the grass season.’ Now ranked two in the world, nine-time Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova believes the Australian has what it takes to conquer the All England Club.
“There’s no doubt that Barty can win Wimbledon – grass allows her to make use of all the shots and options that she has in her game. Whatever Barty did on clay, she can do even better on grass. She has all the shots.” Navratilova wrote in an article for wtatour.com.
“I would actually say Barty has more options than any other player in women’s tennis.” She added.
It was at Wimbledon, where she won her first and only grand slam title at junior level. In 2011 she defeated Irina Khromacheva to win the girls title at the age of 15. Becoming only the second player from her country to do so after Debbie Freeman back in 1980. However, on the professional tour Barty to yet to go beyond the third round.
“Barty’s slice is more effective on grass than it is on clay. Players on the WTA Tour have a hard time handling slice, because most of them don’t want to be inside the baseline. Also with the ball skidding through low, they’re hitting a defensive shot from inside the baseline which makes them vulnerable.” Navratilova explained.
“Barty’s also a great volleyer – she can even throw in a serve-and-volley play once in a while, and mix it up, maybe chip and charge on a second serve. All of this variety can really get into an opponent’s head and create confusion and some cheap mistakes on her opponent’s side.”
Another backer is Pat Cash, who won the Wimbledon title back in 1987. Speaking about the 23-year-old during an interview with The Daily Mail, Cash believes Barty will be a ‘real threat’ in grand slam tournaments over the foreseeable future.
“She hasn’t been that successful yet in singles yet, but there’s no reason she shouldn’t be. She got the final of the (2013) doubles,’ he said.
‘Her serve has significantly improved in the past three to six months. The sliced backhand is very effective on the grass. She’s the best volleyer on tour. She has a grass-court game – clay is her worst surface so it looks pretty good for her!”
Former doubles specialist Renee Stubbs believes her compatriot will peak on the tour in two to four years time. Saying that there is more to come from her. Stubbs is currently the coach of Karolina Pliskova.
“Ash has a very good chance at Wimbledon. She can play on every surface and always says she is strongest on grass, although it was no surprise to me she won the French Open, as I always thought she could be great on clay.” Stubbs told Omnisport earlier this week.
“There is no question she can win another slam. She is only going to get better and better and I think she will peak at 25, 26, maybe 27.
“She has so many shots to choose from and I think when you are an all-court player like that, you get better as you get older.”
Barty is set to begin her grass-court season next week at the Nature Valley Championships in Birmingham.
Barty’s 2018 grass season
- Nottingham – defeated Naomi Osaka and Joanna Konta on route to her first WTA title on the surface
- Birmingham – R2 (lost to Julie Goerges)
- Eastbourne – QF (lost to Caroline Wozniacki)
- Wimbledon – R3 (lost to Daria Kasatkina)
