Rest and no recreation for Barty

Ashleigh Barty is confident right arm soreness won’t derail ambitions to land the ‘Channel Slam’.

Ashleigh Barty with the WTA World number 1 trophy during day 1. Picture: Getty Images

Ashleigh Barty is confident right-arm soreness won’t derail ambitions to become the first player since Serena Williams to land the “Channel Slam’’ ahead of Wimbledon next week.

The French Open champion is aiming to become the first ­Roland Garros winner to advance to the Wimbledon crown since 2015 and she is determined a recurrence of bone stress won’t compromise her goal.

Formally crowned world No 1 at Birmingham before reluctantly withdrawing from this week’s Wimbledon prelude at Eastbourne, Barty won’t practise until tomorrow to alleviate a chronic condition.

“I’ve had it (arm issues) since I was 16,” Barty said. “The next couple of days are very quiet for me, to be honest.

“I’m not going to be on court probably until at least Thursday.

“It’s management, a week that we’re used to, having to monitor how we hit.

“Everything is quite normal.”

Barty followed the same path before her French Open breakthrough, triumphing at Roland Garros after withdrawing from Strasbourg.

The Queenslander is certain she has enough matches under her belt after spearing to the Birmingham title without dropping a set.

“I would have loved to have played here in Eastbourne and had a few more matches just to refine everything. But, look, we’re in an awesome position,’’ she said.

Barty said she would forgo playing golf with her boyfriend Garry Kissick to avoid jarring the arm and would use medication only as a last resort.

“At the moment, it’s just rest and if we need to we can use medication to help it out,” she said.

“A lot of it is just rest from hitting tennis balls.

“We pulled out of the doubles (in Birmingham) to give it the best chance to be ready for singles, but it is time to let my body rest and manage it as best we can to make sure we’re ready for next week.

“It’s an injury I have had since I was 16 years old and it’s just certain times of the year I need to be careful. When I have a heavy week I have to just make sure I’m doing the right things to let it settle and build it back up.”

Barty said she was still struggling to come to terms with her status as world No 1.

“A little bit of disbelief, if I am honest. It was kind of the perfect ending,” she said of a match where her parents Robert and Josie, Kissick and her childhood coach Jim Joyce were courtside.

“I did exactly what I wanted to in that game and I was in full control of it. It was a really high-quality match throughout and I was really happy to be able to ­finish.

“It’s been an amazing reception from the whole world.

“It’s mind-boggling to me and I’m still in disbelief about just where we are and where we’re sitting. It’s been an incredible month.”

Herald Sun