World No. 1 Ash Barty is deep into her Australian Open preparations
As successful as Ash Barty was in 2019 with four titles, a meteoric ascent to No. 1 and a 57-13 win-loss record, the all-court wizard is taking nothing for granted ahead of her home Grand Slam.
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Ash Barty is making no promises ahead of next month’s Australian Open as expectations build around the world No.1.
The French Open champion is in the early stages of a campaign designed by coach Craig Tyzzer to have the Queenslander peaking for the January 20-February 2 Melbourne Park grand slam.
As successful as Barty was in 2019 with four titles, a meteoric ascent to No. 1 and a 57-13 win-loss record, the all-court wizard is taking nothing for granted.
“There shouldn’t be any assumptions,” she said.
“There are no certainties in sport and I think that is the beauty of sport.
“Anyone can be beaten on any given day and it is about preparing and doing the best you can do on that day.
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“I can’t wait to play in front of the Aussie crowd again and go out there and give it my all.
“Regardless of whether I win or I lose, I think the Aussie public love the fact when Aussie players come out and just give it a crack.
“That is what I can promise. I will go out there and give it my best and whatever happens, happens.”
Barty will try to become the first Australian singles champion since Chris O’Neil in 1977.
Refreshed by a short break after a season which featured a maiden major triumph as well as titles at the Miami Open, Birmingham and the WTA Finals, Barty will contest Brisbane and Adelaide en route to Melbourne.
Yet to formally outline 2020 objectives, Barty and Tyzzer are working on unspecified aspects but the pair will not deviate too much from a proven formula.
“Nothing is gonna change for us,” Tyzzer, the WTA coach of the year, said.
“We are not looking at doing anything different.
“What we did last year was pretty successful so we are going to stick to similar things.
“We have a few things we are working on tennis wise and we will also do a few things differently with her strength and conditioning but pretty much stick to the same program that we have used all the way through.”
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Barty, 23, will continue to play doubles because she enjoys the format and is aware of the value it brings to her singles.
She will partner Kiki Bertens in Brisbane and Julia Georges at the Australian Open. Georges and Barty are likely to combine a more events through the season.