Ashleigh Barty's break - not easy for parents either
Ashleigh Barty is currently at the top of the WTA world rankings. It didn't look like it a few years ago.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jun 03, 2020, 01:48 pm
It has been a little over five years since Ashleigh Barty had had enough of tennis. The expectations of the teenage girl at the time in her native Australia were too high, especially since Barty and fellow countrywoman Casey Dellacqua had reached three grand slam finals in doubles in 2014. The current number one in the WTA world rankings did not feel up to the increasing pressure, took a break that brought them to cricket. It's not an easy situation for parents either, as Father Rob explained in an online workshop a few days ago.
"Ash was sad all the time. She wasn't herself on the court, ”said Barty senior. "I told my wife that we have to make sure Ashleigh is happy. Were we disappointed? of course we were because we love to watch tennis and because we are into this sport. But seeing Ash happy and having fun with her sisters was so much better than feeling bad playing tennis on the court. ”
Barty wins French Open 2019
Since returning to the WTA tour, Ashleigh Barty has been running extremely smoothly. Especially the year 2019 could hardly have gone better - Barty won the Premier Mandatory tournament in Miami, then surprisingly won the title in Roland Garros. Towards the end of the season, the triumph at the WTA Finals followed. Only the win in the Fed Cup final in Perth was denied: Then on the second day she lost her single against Kristina Mladenovic, and then alongside Samantha Stosur also the decisive double.
The current season started quite well with the tournament win in Adelaide after the early end in Brisbane. At the Australian Open, however, Barty was beaten in the semifinals by the eventual winner Sofia Kenin.