Ash Barty taps into elite company

Ash Barty will tap into a network of elite Australian athletes as she seeks to further her credentials as a grand slam contender

Ash Barty on the Gold Coast to support her friend Steph Gilmore Picture: Nigel Hallett

Ash Barty will continue tapping into a network of elite Australian athletes as she seeks to further her credentials as a grand slam contender in coming months.

After claiming the biggest title of her career in Miami last weekend, the 22-year-old ventured to Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast yesterday to support a key member of that network, seven-time world surfing champion Steph Gilmore.

The new world No 9 and Gilmore are both mentored by Ben Crowe, a professional mind coach.

Barty, who counts Richmond captain Trent Cotchin among her confidantes, believes she can learn a significant amount from the champion surfer despite the difference in their disciplines. “It is an opportunity for me to learn from other sports,” Barty said. “Steph, in particular, what she has done for women’s sport in Australia is absolutely phenomenal and to see how she handles herself and goes about it is the biggest thing. When you meet genuine people, authentic people, they are absolute role models.”

Given their respective excellence, it is likely Barty and Gilmore will be teammates at the Tokyo Olympics next year, a prospect that excites the right-hander.

“That would be pretty neat, wouldn’t it?” Barty said. “I know that surfing is being introduced and of course, for me, representing my country is one of the best things that I can do and playing in the Olympics is certainly up there and hopefully I can give myself an opportunity next year to do that.”

Quizzed about her own surfing prowess, Barty made it clear she prefers the firmer footing a hard court presents.

In the short term, this preference is critical, for the reigning US Open doubles champion will lead Australia against Belarus on the surface in a Fed Cup semi-final at Brisbane in a fortnight.

There could be a distinct maroon tinge to the Australian side for the tie against the powerful Belarusians as Australia seeks to reach its first final since 1993.

Kimberly Birrell and Priscilla Hon were both members of the youthful squad that edged the US in an away tie in February, while Sam Stosur has been in outstanding form on the doubles circuit this season and would bring experience and expertise if selected.

“It is our first semi-final in five or six years, I think,” Barty said. “For us, it is an opportunity. You don’t get to play Fed Cup at home often.

“For us girls who are from Queensland in the team, it is an opportunity for us to play in front of our family and Belarus are definitely a nation in the world that have been dominant.”

But adapting to a less certain footing following the Fed Cup will be the key to Barty continuing to ride the wave that has carried her into the top 10 for the first time.

Doubles great Todd Woodbridge stated this week his belief Barty, similarly to Stosur over the past decade, could excel on clay given the variety of her game and the excellence of her movement.

The Australian Open quarter-finalist is capable of generating significant power on her forehand, is blessed with stunning versatility on her backhand given the variety of her slice and quality of her double-hander, is clearly adept at the net and now boasts a serve with which she can dictate.

Barty demonstrated last year she is capable on the surface.

She reached the semi-finals of an event in Strasbourg a week before the French Open, and took sets off Serena Williams at Roland Garros, Maria Sharapova in Rome and Caroline Wozniacki in Madrid.

By virtue of her top 10 status, Barty has the luxury of concentrating on the bigger events this year and will target Madrid and Rome en route to Paris.

“It has been a while since I have been on clay … but I think I have the game, on clay, to be able to do some damage,” she said.

“I am obviously more comfortable on hard court purely because I play on it more often … but this clay court season, in particular, is an opportunity for me to go out there and try to learn more about myself on that kind of surface.”