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Will Swanton is a sportswriter who’s won Walkley, Kennedy, Sport Australia and News Awards. He’s won the Melbourne Press Club’s Harry Gordon Award for Australian Sports Journalist of the Year.

Will Swanton

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Tennis

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 12: Alex De Minaur of Australia celebrates winning the Mens Singles Final against Andreas Seppi of Italy during day seven of the 2019 Sydney International at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on January 12, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Demon in the detail when it comes to Open schedule

Alex De Minaur’s criticism of the Australian Open draw was ill considered and unreasonable.

Will Swanton

Tennis

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 12: Ashleigh Barty of Australia plays a forehand shot in her Womens Finals match against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic during day seven of the 2019 Sydney International at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on January 12, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Barty embraces Open soap opera

Ash Barty is not intimidated by either her opponents or sense of occasion as she begins her Australian Open campaign.

Will Swanton

Tennis

Alex de Minaur and Ash Barty will lead the local hopes at the 2019 Australian Open. Picture: AAP

Ash and Alex our best chances to break big dry

Over the past four decades, 266 Australian players have made 1119 attempts to be a homegrown winner of the Open.

Will Swanton

Tennis

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2018, file photo, Ash Barty of Australia hits a forehand to Angelique Kerber of Germany in their women's final singles match at the Sydney International tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia. Barty is one of the women to keep an eye on at the Australian Open, Jan. 14-27, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

Boosted Barty through to final

Ash Barty has reached the final of the Sydney International with a tense three-set victory over World No. 9 Kiki Bertens.

Will Swanton

Tennis

Ashleigh Barty of Australia plays a return shot to Elise Mertens of Belgium during their quarter final match at the Sydney International tennis tournament at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre in Sydney, Thursday, January 10, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Burden of favouritism sits well with rising local stars

Ash Barty has become the world No 15 and Alex De Minaur the No 29. They’re expected to win more often than not.

Will Swanton

Tennis

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 10: Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan shows disappointment during day five of the 2019 Sydney International at the Sydney Olympic Tennis Centre on January 10, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

‘Shortest’ match in years

There are different ways to promote tennis matches. This was a unique one.

Will Swanton

Tennis

A mighty young woman with a killer backhand at the head of a generation of role-models

Ash Barty is one of the mighty young women at the forefront of the boom in women’s sport in Australia.

Will Swanton

Tennis

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 09: Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates winning match point in her 2nd round match against Simona Halep of Romania during day four of the 2019 Sydney International at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on January 09, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Barty’s time to shine

After disposing of World No 1 Simona Halep, Ash Barty is the hot favourite ahead of her quarter-final showdown this afternoon.

Will Swanton

Tennis

Barty stuns top-ranked Halep

Ashleigh Barty has beaten World No.1 Simona Halep in straight sets to stamp her credentials as an Australian Open contender.

Will Swanton

Tennis

Barty’s quest for the big blue room

Next week Ash Barty will return to Melbourne Park, and surely Rod Laver Arena, as Australia’s best chance to win the Open

Will Swanton

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/will-swanton/page/188