WIMBLEDON: It is ironic to think that Ash Barty might have never become world No.1 if she hadn’t have taken a break from the sport.
A Wimbledon junior champion at 15, the Australian was tipped to be the next big thing in the sport. The expectations intensified a year later when she reached the final of the Australian Open doubles tournament. Firmly in the spotlight, it all got too much for Barty as she stepped away from the sport. Something she once thought would be a permanent decision.
During the break, Barty found another talent. Playing for Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) between 2015-2016, before rediscovering her passion for tennis again. An unorthodox, but effective route in her journey to become world No.1.
“I think one of the most special things that I experienced in cricket was the people that I met, friendships that I created with a different set of friends, athletes from a different sport,” Barty explained during her Wimbledon press conference on Saturday.
“It’s given me a really nice perspective about how other athletes go about their business, how they train, prepare. Now I’ve come back to tennis, in my sport.’
“I feel like I’ve got my balance right, I’ve got my mix right.”
Barty is currently on a 15-match winning streak on the WTA Tour. Her latest triumph occurred in the third round at The All England Club where she thrashed Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-1. Impressively winning 23 out of 25 points behind her first serve. Since the start of the French Open, the only players to have taken a set off her are Amanda Anisimova and Sofia Kenin.
The resurgence of the 23-year-old has earned her praise from Serena Williams. A player she could play in the quarter-finals of the tournament next week. After her win over Julia Goerges, Williams said she was an admirer of her rivals ‘tactical game’ on the tour.
“I’ve always from the day I played her in Australia had a tremendous amount of respect for her game. I just thought she’s just a beautiful player.” She said.
“She has a great technique. I love that. I’m really a technical player. I like when people, you know, have a beautiful game and they do the right techniques. It’s so right up my alley.”
Refusing to be content with her current form, Barty admits that there is still room for improvement in her game. She is aiming to win back-to-back titles at the French Open and Wimbledon this year. Something that has only ever been achieved by seven women in the Open Era. The last to do so was Williams back in 2015.
“No matter whether I win a match or lose a match, I’m still extremely hungry and driven to try to do well, to try and grow and develop as a player and a person, trying to take as much as I can from every single match, learn from every single match, then keep going forward and keep striving to be better.” She stated.
Alison Riske will be the person who she played on Manic Monday, where all of the fourth round matches take place at Wimbledon. Barty is the first player from her country to reach the fourth round since 2010.
