To paraphrase Robert Frost, two roads diverged in a wood and Ashleigh Barty took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.
That divergence reared its not-so-ugly head in September 2014. The then-18-year-old took a lengthy break from professional tennis in an effort to refresh herself mentally.
Not many players can leave the women’s tour for 18 months, play professional cricket for half of that period, return to the sport and rise to number five in the rankings.
But that is exactly what Barty did.
Junior tennis coach Jim Joyce began teaching Barty just before she turned five. Joyce said even then, the big thing that stood out with the youngster was her hand-eye coordination.
In his 40 years of coaching the sport, he said it was as good as he had ever seen. This probably explains why she was a dab hand at cricket too.
And how did she achieve all this success? By possessing a game full of variety, craft, and all-court tennis – a talent that seems to be dwindling in both the men’s and women’s game these days.
(Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Three-time Roland Garros champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicari said as much.
“She’s definitely the player that nobody wants to play because she has the variety – she can play spin, slice, hard, drop shot, coming into the net or staying back.”
Rod Laver has hailed her as a future grand slam champion.
Because of her short stature and vast array of shots in her arsenal, she has been compared to five-time grand slam champion Martina Hingis by David Taylor, one of the Swiss star’s former coaches.
Fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis said that Barty “plays different”, in that she comes to the net, uses her slice well and, as a result, that makes things awkward for her opponents.
Barty’s slice backhand is arguably the best in the game.
Her forehand can be an absolute brute, which has been evident on the clay at this year’s French Open, she can create sharp angles with ease, and she is very adept at the net.
Perhaps most impressive of all, Barty hit 297 aces in 2018 – the fourth-highest on tour.
She ranked at number seven for first serve points won (71.6%), fourth for serve points won (63.5%), and fourth for service games won (78.7%). She is posting equally impressive numbers in 2019.
Somehow, Barty chalked up these numbers despite being just under 5’6.
When she is competing against the likes of Petra Kvitova, Naomi Osaka, Kiki Bertens and Karolina Plisokva, who range from 5’11 to 6’1, it makes these stats all the more impressive.
With their longer reach, their increased likelihood to clear the net due to their height and with their greater power and geometry of their serve, taller players can take the game out of their opponents’ hands.
Barty does not have that luxury, yet is one of the game’s best servers. She is excellent at picking her spots and has a superb kick serve to boot.
There is no question the 23-year-old is going from strength to strength.
(Imaginechina via AP Images)
In 2019, the Aussie has risen to a career-high ranking of five, and claimed her first Premier Mandatory event by winning the Miami Open in March.
She’s earned six top-ten wins this year and she reached the quarter-finals in two consecutive grand slams.
Clay is not her favourite surface, but she has a fantastic opportunity to reach her maiden slam semi-final.
Barty has dropped just one set so far, and that was against Serena Williams’s conqueror, Sofia Kenin.
Fourteenth seed Madison Keys stands in her way, in what is a very winnable match tonight.
Even if she falls at this upcoming hurdle, Barty is a breath of fresh air in the game.
Too often we see identikit players who effortlessly crunch the ball from the baseline, but the moment a hint of variety is on display, they become discombobulated.
So win or lose, Barty is great for the game. If only there were more players like her.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Rafael Nadal has hailed the brilliance of Alex de Minaur, calling him "a great player" after the Australian forced the Spanish legend to say…
The clay season promises to be one of high level and tight margins. With the Monte Carlo open just around the corner, it will…
In incredible scenes, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final clash with Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells was halted abruptly due to a "bee invasion." Less…
Marathon man Jordan Thompson has finally clinched his first ATP Tour title, with the Australian upsetting Norwegian Casper Ruud to lift the trophy in…
Alex de Minaur has earned the perfect 25th birthday present, booking a place in the final of the Rotterdam Open with an emphatic revenge…
While watching the recent Australian Tennis Open I became obsessively fixated on the same thought. Why has no one done a television biopic or…
