BARTY READY TO TAKE OFF ON QUEST

AFTER staying at home last year because of the pandemic, Ash Barty is planning on returning to a full overseas schedule in a bid to retain her No.1 ranking.

The 2019 French Open champion is set to spend most of the year away from Australia, basing herself in Europe, where COVID-19 is still a major issue.

Barty’s coach Craig Tyzzer confirmed on the eve of her Australian Open quarterfinal that plans were advanced for a very different 2021 season.

“We’re planning on going to the Middle East.,” Tyzzer said. “We’ve entered Doha, Dubai and Miami and we’ll head off to those tournaments.

“Because of the quarantine arrangements here, we won’t come back for a while. We’ll be away for a while if we go.

“We’re hoping that we’ll set up some sort of base somewhere — probably in Europe — where we can at least switch off and relax and spend some time away from tennis, maybe a bit of golf for Ash. We’re yet to finalise anything in that regard. But yeah, we’re planning on being away for a while.”

Barty elected not to defend her French Open crown last year, preferring to spend time with family and friends in Brisbane.

The Tokyo Olympics are also on the radar should they go ahead in July.

“She’s down to play, she’s pretty keen to play and we’re hoping for her that it goes ahead,” Tyzzer said.

“She’s very excited. She was disappointed last year that she didn’t get to play. Hopefully it will happen this year and we’re still getting information that it is still on.

“But she’s keen to play, and obviously we’ll go.”