Ash Barty’s transformation from likeable young girl to grown woman

She’s Wimbledon champion, world No.1, she’s getting married — the likeable young girl who first played majors as a teenager has become a grown woman.

Ash Barty swaps tennis balls for a cricket ball as she trains in Adelaide on Monday

Before Ash Barty nicked the crown and plonked it next to the Wimbledon trophy and carton of XXXX on the mantelpiece at Ipswich, Serena Williams was asked about the knack of winning close matches. This was prior to Margaret Court’s record giving Williams the heebie-jeebies. She just sort of shrugged and said: “Well, I’ve played a lot of tennis.”

The interviewer rolled his eyes. Well, thanks for that. But it was a more revealing remark than he realised. What Williams was saying was this. She had played so much tennis that no situation was unique or daunting to her.

How did she know she could come back from any deficit? Because she had done it before. How did she know she could turn a handy lead into a thunderous win? Because she had done that before. There was no shot he hadn’t hit. No feeling she hadn’t felt. Why did Williams feel so comfortable in any circumstance during a game of tennis? Well, she’d played a lot of tennis.

Barty starts her year at the Adelaide International on Tuesday. She might fare rather well this summer. Why? Because she’s reached the stage of her career where she’s played a lot of tennis. More than 300 WTA matches over a decade. It’s invaluable.

The first match of her January jaunt will be alongside her mate Storm Sanders in doubles. I suspect we’ll see an increased air of authority. Barty’s had time to catch her breath and celebrate after travelling more miles than the Leyland Brothers last year. Her achievements have sunk in and the confidence-solidifying reality is this: she’s played some bloody tremendous tennis in the Past year.

The 25-year-old aimed up. She grew up, I suspect. She won Wimbledon. Became the undisputed world No.1 after plenty of folks thought she was a false queen. The French Open was no fluke after all. She grabbed an Olympic medal. Joined Steffi Graf, Williams, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert as the only women to be No.1 for three consecutive seasons. Faced all kinds of on-court complications. Negotiated off-court troubles while on the road for nine months in a Covid-complicated world. She handled it masterfully, and I bet she matured. I bet. If nothing else, she’s getting married soon. It’s no longer kids’ stuff. A likeable young girl is becoming a grown woman.

Her dominant 42-8 record last year carried some fine print. She was 14-3 in three-set matches. Those matches and tournaments, including Wimbledon, and her entire season, could have gone either way. How do you stay calm in three-setters? By playing a lot of three-setters.

Barty and Sanders face third-seeded Americans Coco Gauff and Caty McNally. It’ll be very watchable. Doubles gives Barty the chance to cut loose. She’s always had a touch of class. I expect increased gravitas. She’s become a living legend of Australian sport in the past year. The world’s best player. The face of a global sport. She’s among our most inspirational Indigenous athletes. There’s something rather lighthearted and jolly about her, but there’s something increasingly deep-and-meaningful in there, too.

Barty is likely to face Gauff in her first singles match of the year on Wednesday. You couldn’t get a more appealing fixture if you rigged the draw. Gauff is a 17-year-old American phenomenon whose ranking of world No.22 belies the fact she can hit the ball as sweetly and forcefully as anyone in the top 10. She’s mini-Serena for combativeness and competiveness. She’d love nothing more than to take Barty down. Gauff’s only downside for now? well, relatively speaking, she still hasn’t played a lot of tennis.

Barty has mastered the art of talking everyone up while downplaying her own chances. She’s seamless in press conferences because she’s done a lot of press conferences. Her Q and A in Adelaide on Monday was typically harmless.

“There are fresh challengers every year, regardless of who is what spot on the ranking list,” Barty said. “There were certainly a number of breakout players through 2021. Girls really stepped up and were able to play really consistent seasons, which is exciting to see for the women’s game.

“You’ve obviously seen those girls who have been at the top for a very long time. Some had a rough run with injury, others had pretty solid years. It feels like it’s just good competition. Genuinely, there is really good depth and you have to bring your best, time and time again, to be able to compete with everyone and give yourself a chance to win the big titles.

“I want to try and make sure there are no holes in my game. We just continue to do the work each and every year, like a lot of the girls do. Obviously, the more you play someone, the more you understand how they play, but they also get the same sense with you.

“A lot of the time it’s about match-ups. For me, I’m just trying to be the most complete player I can be and bring the best out of myself. I think you just need to enjoy and work your way through the first couple of weeks because it’s not often you’re playing your very best tennis right at the start of the year. You have to work your way in, earn that right.

“I’m looking forward to that challenge, starting here in Adelaide, of trying to find my groove and really enjoy being out on the match court again.”