Ash Barty’s world No.1 streak set to claim more famous records

Ash Barty is about to pass one of her greatest admirers on the successive weeks at world No.1 list, leaving just three legends in front of the Australian champion.

Ash Barty is breaking records. Picture: Instagram

Ash Barty is moving up the totem pole of world tennis No.1’s to the point where her marathon reign is set to eclipse a graceful great who has become fascinated by her story.

Barty is scheduled to play in the Indian Wells tournament in California next month in her first outing since winning the Australian Open cemented her standing as the No.1 women’s player in the world with a Sydney Heads-wide gap in rankings points to No.2, Aryna Sabalenka.

Longevity wise, there are two sets of lists which define the reigns of world No.1s and Barty is set to claim some big names on both of them.

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In the total number of weeks spent at No.1 category, her 116 weeks over two stints now ranks her eighth and next week she will join Belgium’s underrated seven Grand Slam winner Justine Henin on 117.

Far ahead though they are, this leaves just the iconic figures of Steffi Graf (377 weeks), Martina Navratilova (332), Serena Williams (319), Chris Evert (260), Martina Hingis (209) and Monica Seles (178) ahead of Barty.

But the other category – most weeks in a row – will feature a poignant moment next month when Barty advances from her current run of 109 weeks in succession past the great American Evert who once had a 113 week run as one of her seven stints as No.1.

Ash Barty is breaking records. Picture: Instagram

While Barty’s three Grand Slams by no means compare to Evert’s stunning 18 single Slam career, her lengthy reign at the top of the rankings is surging into rarefied air for after Evert, only Graf and Williams (186 weeks) and Navratilova (156) have had longer unbroken runs.

Evert has become a close follower of Barty’s to the point where she last year made Barty her first interview in a one-on-one podcast series and did her own research tracing back to Barty’s junior days in Springfield, specifically asking about the impact of her first coach Jim Joyce.

“I was 5’6 (a similar height to Barty) and because of that used to say my serve was not one of my strong points – after watching Ash I have no excuses,’’ Evert said on social media.

“This is what impresses me about Ash. Her serve, her forehand, her agility, and especially the fact she shakes the umpire’s hand after every match.”

Ash Barty with tennis legend and fan Chris Evert. Picture: Christophe Archambault/AFP

Such is Evert’s status, the trophy given to all world number ones, with a special individual diamond inserted on the top of a large tennis ball depicting the holder’s unique place in the tennis galaxy, is named The Chris Evert Trophy.

Barty’s popularity has spiralled to unprecedented heights since her Wimbledon and Australian Open successes with her father Rob now working full-time looking after her personal affairs.

“The demands on Ash’s time are just crazy,’’ Rob Barty recently told News Corp.

Barty’s run at No.1 is far from over given she has 8330 rankings points compared to next best Sabalenka’s 5563 (winning a Grand Slam is worth 2000) and at age 25 is entering the peak years of her career.

Originally published as Ash Barty’s world No.1 streak set to claim more famous records