Tennis legend Margaret Court says contemporary players need to be more adaptable

Australian tennis legend Margaret Court says modern players are too “robotic” and can’t adapt. But Ashleigh Barty is a cut above — here’s why she’s backing the Aussie star.

Tennis great Margaret Court says today’s players are too robotic. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

Tennis legend Margaret Court says contemporary players are too robotic and need to be more adaptable if they want to win championships.

But she admits, Ashleigh Barty could just be breaking the mould, backing the newly crowned French Open champion to become World No. 1.

Her comments come as Barty eyes the final of the Birmingham Classic and provisional top seed at Wimbledon.

Ashleigh Barty on court in Birmingham this week. Court says her variety is great. Picture: Morgan Harlow/Getty Images

Naomi Osaka’s 6-2 6-3 loss to unseeded Kazakh Yulia Putintseva means that Barty will move to No.1 in the world rankings next week if she wins the Birmingham final — a feat she almost achieved last year when she made the final.

Speaking to The Bucket List with Beefy and Diana Simons on SEN1377+, Court said Barty was a showcase of vintage style — a slow slice and calculated play — straight out of the 70s.

“I always feel if that type of game came back in again we would have a lot more champions,” Court said.

“I think when you look at players they are so sort of robot or so formula.

“(Barty) has a variety. If something is not working she has something to fall back on.

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“She can hit through the ball, she can slice the ball. She has played a lot of doubles. She has a good volley, a good serve and a good all round game but she can also change her game which a lot of girls can’t do.

“I think it’s such an asset to her to do that. It’s sort of the 60s and 70s game and you can use that on any surface.”

Court said Australia’s failure to create decent champions in recent years was probably because most of our top athletes opted for team sports.

Originally published as Tennis legend Margaret Court says contemporary players need to be more adaptable