Aussie tennis champion Ash Barty joins elite company with incredible milestone

Ash Barty has yet another reason to celebrate, with a major milestone rounding out what has been a stellar year for the Aussie champion.

Ash Barty has had a year to remember in 2021. Picture: Michael Klein

Ash Barty has become the first Australian in history to spend 100 weeks atop the WTA Tour women’s singles rankings.

Barty is only the eighth woman overall to achieve the feat since the inception of the WTA rankings in 1975, joining the elite company of Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles and Justine Henin.

The 25-year-old’s 100 weeks have been non-consecutive, with Naomi Osaka briefly usurping her in 2019.

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After a career-best year, in which she won her second grand slam at Wimbledon and also lifted the trophy at the Melbourne Summer Series, Miami Open, the Cincinnati Masters and the Stuttgart Open, Barty looks set to claim her fourth consecutive John Newcombe Medal.

Barty won her second career grand slam title at Wimbledon this year. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Tennis Australia on Monday announced the award, which honours the most outstanding elite tennis player in the country, would return in 2021 having been scrapped last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, the John Newcombe Medal will be awarded at a remote ceremony on December 17.

Barty late last month announced that she would withdraw from all remaining tournaments this year in order to focus on her preparation for the Australian Open. The decision means she will miss the WTA Finals in Guadalajara, Mexico, which begin later this month.

“I wanted to let everyone know that I won’t be competing in any further tournaments in 2021, including the WTA Finals in Mexico,” said Barty in a statement.

“It was a difficult decision but I need to prioritise my body and my recovery from our 2021 season and focus on having the strongest pre-season for the Australian summer.”

Originally published as Aussie tennis champion Ash Barty joins elite company with incredible milestone