Ashleigh Barty on tournament planning - "Nothing is certain"
The world number one Ashleigh Barty lets the tournaments come this year. And sees the task of having to defend points relaxed.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 25, 2021, 11:53 am
Two dates seem to be fairly fixed for Ashleigh Barty in the coming weeks: First, the title defense is due in Miami at the end of March, where the Australian won the 2019 final against Karolina Pliskova . And at the start of the European clay court tour, Barty is at the top of the entry list for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart - ahead of Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka . But otherwise? Everything in limbo.
"We're planning the best we can, but nothing is certain at the moment," said Barty this week in Adelaide, where she had to say goodbye after her first match with a loss to Danielle Collins. Barty went to the WTA Tour 500 tournament as the defending champion, but with Collins had caught an opponent who had shown strong tennis in recent weeks. And which traditionally plays well in Australia.
Osaka moves closer to Barty
Barty, who withdrew from the tournament in Doha due to a thigh injury, still holds the top position among women. In the coming weeks, however, there is a risk that some points will be dropped. Nivcht only in Miami, but above all in Roland Garros, where the 24-year-old celebrated her greatest career success in 2019. "That doesn't put me under any additional pressure," said Barty. "I can't influence what the others do. When you say that you have to defend points, it's a very negative way of looking at things."
Ashleigh Barty is still leading the WTA charts. Naomi Osaka, however, who won her fourth Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne a few days ago, will be able to score almost full in the coming weeks. On the other hand, the Japanese has always had a hard time on the European sand. But that also applied to Ash Barty - until the French Open 2019.