“She deserves to be No.1!” Todd Woodbridge BACKS Ash Barty to win the Australian Open
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Ash Barty
Todd Woodbridge, former World No.1 in doubles, believes that Ash Barty’s aura is intimidating her opponents, and she is winning her matches before she has even stepped on court. Barty breezed past her previous opponent, Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-0 in just 63 minutes. Pegula was the first top-30 player Barty has played this tournament.
Woodbridge said Barty’s consistency and has made her a leader in women’s tennis and she deserves the World No.1 ranking.
“What I’ve noticed with ash is that she’s starting to build an aura, she’s starting to win matches almost before she has walked out on to the court. The players are starting to think, actually no, I can’t be there. The guile, the spin, all the things have been talked about a lot here at this Open, have been showcased,” he said talking to WWOS.
“At the last match, Jessica Pegula had no idea what to do, she had lost all the structure of the things she does well. In terms of her next opponent , against Madison keys, she’s gotta play somebody who is tall, strong, powerful and has this ability to potentially hit through Ash, that’s dangerous. But Ash in essence has become one of these great players that we talk about in the women’s game. It’s not a one off, she’s got the No.1 now, does she deserve it? She’s showing that she is the leader in women’s tennis at the moment through her consistency, and the variation that she brings to the game, cause she’s good to watch.“
The two-time Australian Open winner also said that the weight of holding the No.1 ranking isn’t bothering Barty at the moment and her title win at the Wimbledon last year has helped her in handling the expectations.
“It only becomes an issue when she puts it on herself. And it seems at this Australian Open, she has managed to not be worried about that. She’s been relaxed. As we get to the semis and finals. Now it’s just about being positive and aggressive in court, not getting a little bit tentative, and think about what might be. But I believe by winning Wimbledon last year, she can handle the expectations of what required of her to get through this weekend.”
Ash Barty looking to end Australia’s 44-year old title drought
Barty will be bidding to be the first Australian in 44 years to win the Australian Open. In fact the last person to at least make it to the finals was Lleyton Hewitt, back in 2005.
Barty has been in impeccable form this year, she hasn’t dropped a set so far at the tournament and has lost only 17 games across the five matches she has played. She will now be facing unseeded Madison Keys in the semi-final and will be looking towards replicating the form she has showed thus far, and inch closer to her maiden Australian Open title.
Also read: “Rafa plays on Rod Laver Arena because he deserves to be there,” Mats Wilander Defends Rafael Nadal
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T Rushitha
(360 Articles Published)