At a time when Australian tennis is looking for a role model, Ashleigh Barty might just be the one.
Despite losing the Wuhan final over the weekend to France’s Carolina Garcia 6-7 7-6 6-2, Barty took a number of high profile scalps along the way to her first Premier five tournament final, one of the most prestigious WTA events on the tour outside the majors.
On her way, she eliminated Johanna Konta, Karolina Pliskova and reigning French Open champion, Jelena Ostapenko, all ranked in the world’s top ten while also beating former top ten player, Agnieszka Radwanska. Her ranking has improved to 23, guaranteeing seeding at the Australian Open while also picking up USD235,000 in runners up earnings.
But for Barty, you get the feeling that it’s never been about the money, at least if recent history is a guide. After turning professional at just 15 in 2010, in September 2014, Barty announced she was taking a break from tennis and there was no return date set. Her love for the game was gone. Rather than continue to play for the prize money, she left the tour.
After a season with the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League, in early 2016, she re-discovered that love for tennis and made her first steps in a comeback bid. While she excelled in doubles with Casey Dellacqua, the singles results didn’t come and she ended 2016 ranked 271.
To say this year has been much better is an understatement. Her first WTA tournament win in Malaysia earlier in the year, a loss in the final to Petra Kvitova in Birmingham on the grass and her solid US hardcourt this season culminating in a third round loss in the US Open to eventual champion, Sloane Stephens, signalled that Barty was finding the tour a better place to be.
However, her run through last week in China has announced her arrival as a serious contender on tour. She is 21. She has been around and about the tour for some time but she is only 21. If she wants it, there is a lot more to come.
Women’s sports is growing exponentially in Australia and with role models like Sam Kerr, Sharni Layton and Ellyse Perry, you can understand why. Ashleigh Barty may have never sought the limelight but, with more results like Wuhan, she will shortly join the list. She has a wonderful temperament, a modesty not often seen in tennis and a down to earth nature.
These are qualities that most parents want to see in their kids and Barty will no doubt get a lot of media attention over the Australian summer as we hope that an Australian can go long into the second week at the Australian Open.
We’ve seen many Australian players falter at their home open given the additional pressure involved, and for this reason, we hope that the expectation placed on Ashleigh is a realistic one. If it is, and she is just left to play, she has showed she can compete with the best.
A break through week is sometimes just a good week. But, with Ashleigh Barty, last week had been coming for much of the year. Her ranking now guarantees a seeding in the Australian Open, her confidence is high and she hopefully is in for a great summer of tennis in Australia. Win or not, we may have finally found someone that we can cheer for without any fear of those cheers being unwarranted.
Torchbearer
Guest
One of the great Aussie sport stories of the year...has gone under the radar. Another great Indigenous sportsperson to add to the impressive list.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
I have been following her fortunes ever since she won junior Wimbledon when she was 15. I just looked that up again and see that she beat Madison Keys on the way to that title. And I was really impressed by her doubles performances and results with Casey Dellacqua - the finals of 3 majors. I think that what impressed me most was the fact that she seemed to have no real weakness. I agree with Simoc that she doesn't have a killer shot, but she does seem to have a great attitude. Her height would seem to be a drawback - she'd be giving away 6 inches or more to the likes of Pliskova, but then I haven't seen anybody getting too comfortable with her serve. She optimises every inch she has and has a very sound service action. But I think the most impressive thing about her is that she had the great good sense to "quit" tennis when she was feeling stressed by the grind. At the time I wondered whether she would ever come back. But I also thought of the number of women players who had burned out when still young (Jelena Dokic,for example). And it appears it was a great decision. She has come back, and she is apparently motivated. And presumably bigger and stronger. Let's hope Australian fans don't put too much pressure on her. We should just watch and support her and hope she gets to the top. For her sake.
Simoc
Guest
Barty reminds me of the early Hewitt as she plays out every point to the best of her ability. The only thing I haven't seen is a solid weapon winner. She has everything else though especially determination. I remember seeing her in the cricket diving full length towards the boundary along the ground to maybe save a run. That is not something you see often from female cricketers. Good luck Ashleigh!