Barty needs to defy Wimbledon form to live up to top billing

Ash Barty will have to continue breaking new ground if she is to live up to her status as favourite for the Wimbledon crown.

Ashleigh Barty with the Birmingham Classic trophy after reaching world No 1

Ash Barty will have to continue breaking new ground if she is to live up to her status as favourite for the Wimbledon crown.

During Barty’s surge to the No 1 ranking she has been able to tick off new milestones on a regular basis. That is a trend the Queenslander will need to continue given she has won only two singles matches from her three previous visits to Wimbledon as a senior player, though she did win the girls’ singles in 2011.

Awarded a wildcard into the tournament the following year, the now 23-year-old was beaten in straight sets by former US Open finalist Roberta Vinci.

The all-court star was beaten in qualifying at her next three attempts before earning direct entry for the first time in 2017, where she fell in a tough opening round to 4th seed Elina Svitolina. Last year proved a breakthrough when she reached the third round for the first time before falling to Russian Daria Kasatkina, who has been a top 10 player.

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As the freshly minted world No 1 demonstrated over the past week in Birmingham, she is clearly an outstanding grass court player with a winning record of nearly 80 per cent on the surface.

In a stunning season, she added that title to successes in the Miami and French Opens, and she also reached a quarter-final at the Australian Open and the final of the Sydney International.

Tracy Austin, who held the top ranking for 21 weeks in 1980, is among those predicting consistent success for Barty in coming years, believing she is “not even close to her peak”.

“(This is) just the beginning. Much more to come,” Austin wrote on social media.

WTA Tour chairman Steve Simon is also certain there is further greatness in store for Barty. “I am confident we are witnessing a true champion in the making whose accomplishments are only beginning,” he said.

In Australia, the TAB has installed her a $5.50 favourite ahead of seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams at $6. Reigning US and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka and dual All England club winner Petra Kvitova are listed at $9.

In Britain, bookmakers cannot split Barty from Williams, who is seeking to level Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 majors.