‘Room at the top’ for talented Barty
PAUL MALONE LEADING coach Darren Cahill believes a top-five ranking is in Ash Barty’s future after receiving a first-hand view of the Australian No.1 this year.
Cahill, who resigned late in the season from his role as coach of world No.1 Simona Halep, compiled a winning game plan against Barty in two matches in America in August.
The former coach of Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi came out of the exercise believing Barty can end Australia’s wait since 2011 for a Grand Slam singles winner.
Barty ran the world No.1 closer in their second match, taking a 6-4, 7-5 loss in Cincinnati, two weeks after a 6-4, 6-1 defeat in Montreal.
Asked how close Barty, the world No.15, was to winning a Grand Slam title in such an open era of women’s tennis, Cahill said: “I’ve had the privilege of watching Ash over the last two or three years and coaching against her. I know exactly what she is capable of.
“There is a place in the top five waiting for Ashleigh. I’ve known her since she was 14 or 15 and I’ve seen her progression.
“A lot of it when you get to her level is between the ears and I’ve no doubt if she keeps doing what she has been doing with (coach) Craig Tyzzer, she will get there and she is capable of winning majors. If you can make the top five, you can win majors.’’
Cahill and Halep had to deal with the expectation that she would be a precocious majors winner, as Grand Slam chances came and went before her French Open win in June.
“Simona was 26 … before she won a Grand Slam tournament and people had been expecting her to do it two or three years earlier,’’ Cahill said.
“Sometimes it’s a breakthrough effort. What Ash has been able to accomplish in the THANASI Kokkinakis is waiting to hear about an Australian Open wildcard but is prepared to play qualifying if required as he looks to climb back up the world rankings.
The 22-year-old dropped from world No.69 to 152 after suffering serious shoulder and pectoral injuries over the past two years as well as a cracked kneecap in April.
That came just after Kokkinakis upset then world No.1 Roger Federer in the second round of the Miami Open in the biggest win of his career.
Tennis Australia has three discretionary wildcards for the main draw, as well as one on offer this week for the winner of the Australian Open wildcard playoff at Melbourne Park.
Kokkinakis decided against the play-off, feeling he wasn’t quite ready for five-set tennis.
“I’m just trying to do what’s best for me – I’m starting off at the Brisbane International so I know I’ve got some guaranteed matches there and I will go from there. “ past two years has been remarkable considering where she came from, being out of the game (after having a break and playing cricket). Sometimes being out of the game gives you a different perspective and makes you … appreciate the competition and look forward to the training.’’
Barty, who is starting her 2019 season at Perth’s Hopman Cup from December 30, won one of her seven matches this year against top-10 opposition, taking down Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber in China in October.
“I have to keep putting myself in the position to play them,” Barty said. “It’s been an extremely consistent year and to finish top 15 is something I am very proud of.’’