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The two top-ranked WTA players, Ashleigh Barty and Aryna Sabalenka, make their comeback this week in Adelaide. With opposing speeches.
Ashleigh Barty in practice Sunday in Adelaide.
AFP
Exempted from the 1st round of the WTA tournament in Adelaide, Ashleigh Barty said Monday that she should be patient for her return to competition after four months of absence. The Australian, at the top of women’s tennis for the 102nd consecutive week, ended her season in September to return to Australia after falling in the 3rd round at the US Open.
“I can’t wait to try to put everything together the best I can,” said the 25-year-old, who recently got engaged. Over the next two weeks, I will have to be patient with myself. It’s been a while since I played a competitive match, but I feel good, I feel ready, ”said Ashleigh Barty, who dreams of winning her first Australian Open later this month.
Huge pool
According to her, the results recorded in 2021 showed that there was now a huge pool within the women’s circuit, including US Open finalists, Britain’s Emma Raducanu and Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, both aged 19. year.
“There is really a lot of depth and you have to give your best every time so that you can compete with everyone and give yourself a chance to win the big titles,” said Ashleigh Barty, who became the was the first Australian to win at Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be nervous in a Grand Slam semi-final again”
His runner-up in the standings, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, said on Monday that she would consider her 2022 season successful only if she managed to win her first Grand Slam title.
The world No.2, who won 10 WTA singles titles, had never made it past the knockout stages of a Grand Slam tournament until last year, where she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, losing each time after close matches in three sets.
Aryna Sabalenka in training Sunday in Adelaide.
AFP
The 23-year-old said her nerves got the better of her on both occasions, but she was determined to see it through this year. “These two lost matches in the semi-finals were the small step towards making this dream come true,” added Sabalenka. “I don’t think I’ll ever be nervous in a Grand Slam semi-final again,” she said.
For her entry into the competition, Sabalenka will face in the second round the Slovenian Kaja Juvan, 100th in the world, who beat the French Chloé Paquet 6-4, 6-2.
(AFP)