‘I never have to prove anything to anyone,’ Ashleigh Barty after winning the Miami Open

‘I never have to prove anything to anyone,’ Ashleigh Barty after winning the Miami Open

Ashleigh Barty

World No.1 Ashleigh Barty defeated an injured 8th seed Bianca Andreescu, 6-3, 4-0 to successfully defend her Miami title on Saturday. She became the sixth woman to defend a Miami Open crown.

Barty sealed her successful return to US soil on Saturday by earning her third straight Top 10 win in Miami. She knocked off World No.8 Aryna Sabalenka, No.5 Elina Svitolina, and then No.9 Bianca Andreescu in the final. 

Barty is the first No.1 seed to win the Miami Open since Serena Williams in 2015. The Australian will remain at World No.1 after her title defense.

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I thoroughly deserve my spot at the top of the rankings: Ash Barty

Ashleigh Barty

The Australian faced a lot of criticism over her retaining the World No.1 spot despite not playing any match last year.

“I never have to prove anything to anyone,” Barty said after the final.

“I know all the work that I do with my team behind the scene. I know there has been a lot of talk about the ranking, but I didn’t play at all last year and I didn’t improve any of my points whatsoever.”

“The year we had in 2019 was incredible for us, and to be able to build on that now since the restart for us has been great. But certainly in my eyes we come out here and do the best that we can regardless of what anyone is saying. So I never feel like I have to prove anything to anyone.”

Barty will next play the Volvo Car Open at Charleston starting next week. This will be the first event of the Clay season in the women’s circuit.

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