Ashleigh Barty party heading to South Australia as headline act of Adelaide International in January
In a major coup for the inaugural event, world number one tennis player Ash Barty will be the headline act at the $2 million Adelaide International this January.
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World number one tennis player Ash Barty will be the headline act in Adelaide this January as top flight international tennis returns to South Australia after a break of 12 years.
The 23-year-old Queenslander who picked up the French Open singles crown in June joins Wimbledon champion Simona Halep in committing to the brand new WTA Adelaide International the week immediately before the 2020 Australian Open.
“I want to play the new tournament in Adelaide,” Barty said. ”I feel it’s going to be fantastic.”
Many of the world’s best players are expected to participate in the 32 player main draw at the $2 million prize money tournament which will be played in tandem with the equally new ATP men’s event.
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Intriguingly, Barty who turned professional aged 14 before taking a year out to play professional cricket instead four years later, has never played tennis in Adelaide, but did reach the last four in her second ever pro tournament, in Mount Gambier in 2010.
She has, though, played professional sport in Adelaide.
“I have not played tennis in Adelaide, but I did play cricket (the WBBL for Brisbane Heat) at Adelaide Oval next door. I saw Memorial Drive but my experience in Adelaide is limited to the cricket.”
Former Davis Cup captain and born and bred South Australian, John Fitzgerald, said SA should not underestimate how important the tournament will be to the state and grassroots tennis.
“This current crop is the face of tennis, top players coming here that means everything. To have Ash and Simona Halep is an amazing coup.”
Ash the person is as impressive as Ash the player he said, decency and civility to the fore.
Federation Cup captain Alicia Molik is a huge Barty fan too.
“Australians love fighters and like to feel they know the person. Ash is the girl next door, she is approachable.”
Do not underestimate Barty’s achievement in reaching the summit of world tennis said Fitzgerald.
“It’s a rare beast that gets to number one in the world and Australia has got one. I don’t know what more we can expect from a small population. It’s not the same as it was in the ‘60s because more countries are providing many more players.
“This will be a special event for Adelaide, it will be a joy to go there to watch the best players in the world. I am just delighted to have it in our own backyard.”
Adelaide International tournament director Ali MacDonald expects many of the world’s best players, men and women, to feature at the Memorial Drive event.
“Typically, this week before the first grand slam provides an incredibly competitive cut-off. Some of the matches that will be played during the first rounds will be like matches you will see in Melbourne during the second week,” he said.
“With around 100 players coming to Adelaide, it will be great to see some of the match-ups in the early rounds when all the courts are used across the site. Fans will be able to walk around and see world class tennis up close and jump from match to match.”
Canadian teenage sensation Felix Auger-Aliassime was announced earlier this week as the first confirmation for the men after regular Adelaide visitor Halep was announced last month.
Barty, who will lead the Australian in the Federation Cup final against France next month, moved into the third round of the Beijing Open yesterday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Russian Yulia Putintseva.
The Adelaide International runs from January 12 to 18. Tickets go on sale on Thursday.