Ash Barty said it was ‘really cool’ to be involved in celebrating a brand new initiative that has began at the Australian Open this year.
Wednesday at Melbourne Park marked the inaugural First Nations Day at the tournament which celebrates the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A topic close to Barty’s heart. The reigning Wimbledon champion has Aborigine roots with her father, Robert, coming from the Ngarigo community of indigenous people. Following her first round win at the Australian Open she described herself as a ‘proud Ngarigo woman, a very very proud Indigenous woman.’
“It was really cool. It was nice for me to be a part of it in a way that I feel most comfortable I suppose. Out on the tennis court is how I express myself as an athlete, it’s how I’m able to express myself as a person as well,” Barty told reporters on Wednesday.
“On a day we’re bringing cultures together, bringing people together, it was really nice for me to go out and enjoy that.’
“I just met a few of the kids that have come down from Alice Springs and all around Australia, which is amazing for them to come and experience the Australian Open on a really special day for our culture and our heritage.”
On the court Barty was in ruthless form as she stormed past Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-1, in less than an hour. Dropping only three points behind her first serve as she hit a total of 21 winners against 14 unforced errors. She has dropped only three games in two matches played so far at the Grand Slam.
“I felt like I wanted to try to use my experience a little bit today, get off to a quick start. I felt like I was able to do that. I served well. I was able to find plenty of forehands and control the match quite well, so pleased with that one.” Said Barty.
This year the 25-year-old is seeking to become the first home player in more than 40 years to win the women’s title at the Australian Open and one of only four to do so in the Open Era. Following in the footsteps of Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, and Chris O’Neil.
One particular area of Barty’s game that she hopes will help take her to the title is her serve. Something which she has been working on during the off-season.
“I’m not the biggest girl out there, but I know I’ve got a sound technique and I know if I can get my rhythm right and use it effectively, it can be a weapon,” she explained.
“I think Tyz (her coach Craig Tyzzer) and I put a lot of emphasis on my serve, I always have as a kid. I was always serving baskets and baskets of serves to try to create that weapon, try to create a really sound shot.’
“I think I’ve just been able to find some good rhythm and a big part of that is protecting my second serve when I need to do as well. I thought I’ve done a pretty good job of that over the last half dozen matches or so.”
Awaiting Barty in the third round will be Italy’s Camila Giorgi who is seeded 30th in the draw. Giorgi defeated Tereza Martincová 6-2, 7-6(2), in her second round match. It is the fourth time in her career she has reached the round of 32 in Melbourne.
“She has the ability to hold baseline, to control the center of the court, be super, super aggressive off her serve and first shot, particularly off her return,” Barty said of her next opponent.
“It’s going to be a match where I’m going to have to serve well, bring in variety, make sure I can cover the court, neutralize the best that I can.”
Barty leads Giorgi 3-0 in their head-to-head but one of those wins was via retirement.
