Ash Barty set to break the world’s top 5 after reaching French Open semi-final
Three years ago Ash Barty’s tennis hiatus came to an end and she re-entered the WTA rankings at No 623. Now, she’s into her first grand slam semi final and posied to break the world’s top 5. Leo Schlink documents the rise and rise of Australia’s tennis darling.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
When Ashleigh Barty decided to return to tennis in 2016, there was one overriding stipulation.
She was adamant, succeed or fail, she would do it her way.
Channelling her inner Frank Sinatra, Barty switched back to her first sporting love after a brief and enjoyable cricketing cameo determined her second tennis tilt was on her terms.
“When I came back, it was my decision, we did it my way, and, yeah, it’s paying dividends,” the Queenslander said after vaulting into the French Open semi-finals.
“It’s remarkable. Feels like just yesterday that we started, jumped on the plane to come over here to start again.
“So much has happened in between.
“I have grown as a person and obviously as a player, as well.
“But I have had some heartbreaking moments. I’ve had some amazing moments.
“But all in all, I have enjoyed every single minute. I think that’s been the biggest thing, that I haven’t had one ounce of regret.”
Coached by Victorian Craig Tyzzer and mentored by life coach Ben Crowe, Barty has fashioned an extraordinary comeback.
At 23, her pure tactical instincts, improved fitness and incredible hand-eye coordination marks her out as the most watchable woman in the sport.
While many despaired she would be lost to the sport after succumbing to home sickness and taking an indefinite break in 2014.
The prodigy who won Wimbledon juniors as a 15-year-old but tumbled into a mental rut subsequently rediscovered her love fortennis after an 18-month sabbatical.
“Oh, it was always the goal is to come back and try and put myself in a position where I’m playing against the world’s bestand competing against the world’s best,” she said, reflecting on a renaissance from world No 623 to the top-five.
“But when I had my time off, I think it was just a gradual progression of missing the competition, missing what I loved.
“I love this sport, and I’m very lucky to be in the position I am now.
“With an amazing team around me, we’re enjoying it, having a lot of fun, having some amazing results.”
Crowe’s introduction to the Barty unit led by manager Nikki Craig and the refreshingly understated Tyzzer was a masterstroke.
Barty’s changed mindset has unlocked massive potential.
“I think mostly it’s quiet in my mind,” she said of watershed Roland Garros achievement.
“I’m not one that spends too much time on-site. Usually I come in and kind of do what I need to do and get out pretty quickly.
“It’s been nice to be here when I have needed to be, to play, to prepare, and have loved every single minute of that.
“But also, I feel like I have done a really good job of switching off this week.
“Enjoying that quiet time, enjoying the other sports and interests that I have that are going on around the world at the moment to make sure it’s not always just about tennis, not always about me.
“Always keeping contact with my family and keeping that very normal.
“I think, yeah, it’s just been a really relaxed, quiet tournament in my mind.”
Assured of a rise to world No 4, Barty could leave Roland Garros as Australia’s first woman’s champion since Margaret Court in 1973 with a ranking of No 2.
A strong run at Wimbledon could see her become Australia’s first women’s world No 1 since her idol Evonne Goolagong in 1976.
“I think my consistency over the last 18 months has been so much better than it had previously throughout my career,” Bartysaid.
“I think we have approached this clay court season to really enjoy it. I think that was first and foremost.
“I feel like I’m learning every single match.
“It’s been an incredible few months to start off the year and definitely just riding that wave at the moment.
“It’s been an incredible tournament. I’m in a position now where I really, really just get to enjoy the next few days.”
REACHING THE SEMI-FINAL - Match report
Update: Ashleigh Barty rates her French Open quarter-final demolition of Madison Keys as the best claycourt display of her career as the laidback Queenslander covets drought-breaking Roland Garros success.
“It’s probably the best I’ve played on clay,” Barty said after surging past stunned Keys 6-3 7-5 to reach her maiden grand slam semi-final.
“I was really happy with the way I executed and got the job done.
Ash Barty books spot in Roland Garros semi-final with dominant win over Madison Keys
French Open 2019 | Novak Djokovic joins Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in Big Three reunion
“To be in this position now is incredible. I’m very happy and excited about the opportunities.”
Three years to the day on returning to the sport ranked world No 623, Barty has secured a rise to No 4 in the world.
And her success is partially due to a strong Richmond connection.
A dedicated Tigers’ supporter, Barty was indirectly alerted by Trent Cotchin to life mentor Ben Crowe, who has changed the immensely talented right-hander’s mindset since Wimbledon last year.
“I’ve just found this tournament incredibly quiet,” Barty said, alluding to an uncomplicated attitude.
“I don’t spend a lot of time onsite here. I get in and get out as quickly as possible.
“I speak to my family and keep things normal.
“I like to follow the other sports, too.”
One of the first things Barty did on banishing Keys was to check Australia’s World Cup cricket score against West Indies at Trent Bridge.
Hailed by Wimbledon champion Pat Cash as the “smartest player” in the women’s game, Barty faces 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final.
The unseeded American rocked defending champion Simona Halep 6-2 6-4, leaving world No 8 Barty as the highest-ranked surviving contender.
Halep anointed Ashleigh Barty to emerge as her Roland Garros successor, the Romanian declaring the coveted Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy as Barty’s to lose.
“I know Barty has a big chance also because she’s very talented and she feels the ball,” Halep said.
“She played also well in the previous tournaments on clay, so I think she has the game to win the tournament.”
Barty, 23, will on Friday night clash for the first time with fearless Anisimova, the youngest player to reach the Paris semis since Nicole Vaidisova in 2006.
Ranked No 51 in the world, Anisimova is one of two teenagers left in semi-final reckoning.
Czech 19-year-old Marketa Vondrousova, who plays Sydney-born Briton Johanna Konta, is the other.
Barty is the only player left in contention ranked in the top 25.
Konta sits 26th, Vondrousova 38th.
Barty is two wins away from ending Australia’s 46-year French Open drought after storming into the Roland Garros semi-finals.
The Queensland conjuror eased past US 14th seed Madison Keys 6-3 7-5 with a signature display of slices, measured power and unflappable temperament to advance to the last four.
She is the first Australian since Sam Stosur in 2016 to reach the Paris semis and the 11th in the sport’s Open era (post-1968).
Barty will play unseeded Amanda Anisimova, the US 17-year-old who shocked defending champion Simona Halep 6-2 6-4.
Briefly lost to cricket before returning to tennis three seasons ago, Barty’s grand slam fairytale will deliver a minimum payday of $950,000 – and a rankings rise to world No 4.
The Ipswich right-hander joins the elite of the Australian women’s game in progressing this far.
It is her first major semi-final, continuing a stunning rise under coach Craig Tyzzer and mento Ben Crowe.
Over the past 51 years, only eventual champions Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong and eight Australian women have advanced to the final four at Roland Garros.
And while dual champion Lesley Bowrey (1963, ’65), Karen Krantzcke, Dianne Balestrat, Wendy Turnbull, Nicole Bradtke and 2010 runner-up failed to lift the title during that time, the door is open for Barty.
Barty’s quest to become to Australia’s first grand slam champion since Sam Stosur (2011 US Open) appeared inevitable as Keys struggled for rhythm from the outset.
The hard-hitting American was regularly unhinged by Barty’s beguiling variety.
And, serving at 3-4 (30-40), she was punished on a rare foray to the net as Barty rifled a backhand winner into open territory.
Barty sealed the set after 27 minutes, clinching a precious lead with her fourth set point.
Keys inability to come to terms with Barty’s testing returns meant the American was under building pressure.
Keys dug in during the early stages of the second set, but had to weather another crisis in the fifth game when Barty created a break point.
The American unloaded a massive body serve, cramping the Australian to survive.
It was the briefest reprieve.
Two games later, Keys cracked as Barty’s defensive scrambling created more opportunities.
Keys obliged by pummelling a backhand long, gifting the Australian another service break.
Barty cruised to within two points of victory (30-30) but couldn’t close out the match, netting a forehand as Keys mounted a desperate counter-push.
The American held a game point to take the lead, but imploded with more butchered groundstrokes and, fatally, a double fault.
This time, there was no mistake as Barty won the biggest major match of her career in 69 minutes.
Originally published as Ash Barty set to break the world’s top 5 after reaching French Open semi-final
America’s Cup women gearing up for new fight after shock loss
Shocked Australian sailors hugged and cried when bundled out of the women’s America’s Cup. A quick reset and they were gearing up for a new fight - and another crack at winning the event
Surf star’s special Coolangatta Gold moment ahead of 40th anniversary
She was once dubbed the fittest woman in Australia but there’s no going back to the race that made her famous for surf star Hayley Bateup - not even for a special anniversary.