Barty party over but future’s bright
ASHLEIGH Barty’s grasscourt singles campaign closed earlier than she wished, but the Queenslander is optimistic the foundation stones have been laid for future glory.
Touted by several astute judges as a potential future Wimbledon champion, Barty is in the throes of her first full season back since returning from a foray into cricket.
Eliminated 7-5 7-6 (10-8) from the All England Club on Monday night by world No.5 Elina Svitolina, Barty says maturity and a better understanding of life on the circuit are now strengths.
“I think I’m just more mature,” Barty said. “Obviously it’s a very different lifestyle to what people think. I think I’m learning to enjoy the lifestyle and embrace the lifestyle a little bit more.
“When you’re travelling week in and week out and you’re on an airplane every week in a different country most weeks, I think I have learned to deal with that better. I was sort of on tour for a couple of years and I just learnt from that.”
A rare talent, 21-year-old Barty has been regularly compared to Martina Hingis and it took all of Svitolina’s class to survive the Australian, who won junior Wimbledon as a 15year-old.