Angelique Kerber backs Ash Barty to handle the pressure of being world No.1

Three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber understands the burden that comes with being world No.1 and is confident Ash Barty can handle life at the top.

Angelique Kerber at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane. Picture: AAP

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Former world No.1 Angelique Kerber has backed Queenslander Ash Barty to cope with the pressure of being at the top of women’s tennis.

Kerber, the winner of the 2016 Australian Open, is among the pack chasing Barty after a tough 2019 in which she slid to 20 in the world rankings.

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The 31-year-old German said her time as world No.1 was often challenging due to commitments both with and without a racquet in her hand.

“The first thing to deal with the pressure with everything around, not only playing tennis, you have to do much more things off the court, which I was really trying to enjoy,” Kerber said.

“But you have to schedule your day a little bit different to when you are like 20 or 30 in the world.

“(And) you have to improve every single tournament, every single year, because even if you win a Grand Slam (tournament), everyone is looking forward to beating you.

“It’s even harder to work to improve a few things, and having the motivation to go out there playing again from zero, playing every single point.”

Angelique Kerber at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane. Picture: AAP

But Kerber was in no doubt Barty had the temperament and dedication required for a world No.1 player.

“She’s always a tough opponent, and she’s a great player and a great person as well and I’m really happy for her that she reached the No.1 spot,” Kerber said.

“She put a lot of effort in and she worked hard. Of course it’s always a tougher year to start the year as the No.1 player but I think she will deal well with that.

“It’s for sure a completely different situation. She has the pressure, all the expectations, especially here in Australia, so it will be for sure not easy, but I know her and she will do her best.”

Ash Barty practices in Brisbane. Picture: AAP

Starting at the Brisbane International, Kerber said she would relish the task of closing the current rankings gap between her and Barty.

“Now I’m a little bit not (under) the focus so it’s always good to focus more on what you do on court,” she said.

“The year is just starting and this is the first tournament and … what counts is to have good matches against good opponents before going to Melbourne (for the Australian Open).

“It’s much nicer to be here than in Germany. I returned to play against the best players and starting from the first match to have a good opponent, and having the best preparation.”