Brisbane International tennis: Venus Williams to join Ash Barty among women competing in January
After reaching the pinnacle of tennis and leaping over the grand slam hurdle in 2019, Ash Barty’s return to the Brisbane International will serve as the ideal preparation for her biggest goal.
Tennis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tennis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ash Barty’s return to the Brisbane International will serve as the ideal preparation for her biggest goal – winning the Australian Open.
That’s the opinion of former world No.4 Jelena Dokic, who says there is no better way for Queenslander Barty to finetune her Open assault than by playing in Brisbane in January.
World No.1 Barty skipped the tournament this year to represent Australia in the Hopman Cup.
Ash Barty just became Australia’s $10 million girl
Will Brisbane tennis fans cop reduced format of Brisbane International?
But with nations team event shelved until at least next year, Barty will come home to head a crackerjack BI field.
“It’s the tournament you want to play leading into the Australian Open,” said Dokic, who will be part of the Channel 9 commentary team.
“I wanted to play here rather pretty much than anywhere else. Even at the end of my career I played in it four times in row.”
Dokic tipped Barty to build on her breakthrough 2019 season, which included winning the French Open and the season-ending WTA finals.
“There’s not much more, other than more grand slams, than she could have won this year. She reached world No.1, and ended the year world No.1 which speaks of her consistency,” Dokic said of the 23-year-old Ipswich product.
“I’m sure she has little things she wants to improve in her game, but she’s dealt with pressure so well this year, even after winning the grand slam tournament (in France).
“Maybe she didn’t win every tournament this year, but she was in the semis and the finals consistently, whereas some grand slam champions in the last few years have struggled with that.
“She’s dealt with pressure also in Fed Cup extremely well.”
Dokic said a key to Barty’s success in 2019 was reaching the Australian Open quarter-final.
“That was her first (grand slam tournament) quarter-final appearance in her career,” she said.
“That’s why I think she can do well again at the Australian Open and potentially win. I think that would be incredible.
“I’m sure her biggest goal now after reaching world No.1 and winning a grand slam tournament is for sure is to win the Australian Open.”
But before that, Barty wants to win the International – which runs from January 6-12 – for the first time.
It’s a task easier said than done, with the field including world No.2 Karolina Pliskova and reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka.
Tournament director Mark Handley said: “We have six of the top 10 female players in the world confirmed to compete, we have 19 of the top 30, we have six (current and former) world No.1s on the list and we also have 19 grand slam singles titles between them.”
Originally published as Brisbane International tennis: Venus Williams to join Ash Barty among women competing in January