Wimbledon 2019: Aussie champion Ash Barty snubbed again
A day after Channel 7 made the strange decision to broadcast Nick Kyrgios’ match over Ash Barty’s, comes news the world number one has been handed a fresh insult at Wimbledon.
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Wimbledon’s court assignment is under renewed fire after Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty were all snubbed from centre court duties in favour of lesser players.
While Federer and Williams will contest second-round matches on Court 1 as Barty makes the trek to Court 2, Brits Cameron Norrie and Johanna Konta have been granted centre court status.
An Aussie attack on Kayo tonight with Ash Barty, Nick Kyrgios, Alex De Minaur and John Millman all in action as are two of the all-time greats in Serena Williams and Roger Federer. Sign up at www.kayosports.com.au to start your 14-day free trial and start streaming immediately.
The surprising move from the All England Club comes on the back of the Seven Network’s controversial decision to leave coverage of the top seed’s first-round match against China’s Zheng Saisai and focus on the all-Australian battle between Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson on Tuesday.
The classy Barty shrugged off the unpopular move of Seven to take off their screens action showing Australia’s best female player since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in her first match as world No.1.
“If people can watch my matches, great,” Barty said after her first-round win. “If they can’t, they can’t. That’s up to the broadcasters, not me.”
Kyrgios also believes Australia have the right to watch Barty ahead of him and said the 23-year-old deserved to have the whole nation behind her. “What she’s doing is incredible. I knew as soon as she got her head right and wanted it enough, the sky’s the limit for her,” Kyrgios said. “I knew deep down she was always capable. When she took that year off, came back, she seemed to be refreshed. Now she’s winning grand slams. It doesn’t surprise me at all. “I’m happy that she’s got all the support. She deserves it.”
Norrie opens the program against Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori before Konta continues the charisma-free theme by taking on Czech Katerina Siniakova.
In a repeat of their 2014 meeting, Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios will do battle on the most famous court in the sport.
Court 1 will host three All England Club champions — Petra Kvitova against Kristina Mladenovic, Federer versus Jay Clarke and Williams plays Kaja Juvan.
Barty opens the Court 2 slate against Alison van Uytvanck from 8pm (Australian eastern time).
The French Open champion and world No 1 played her first match on Court 1.
John Millman (Court 14 v Lasjo Djere) and Alex de Minaur (Court 18 against Steven Johnson) also play from 8pm.
- with Ian McCullough AAP
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