ASHLEIGH RETAINS MIAMI TITLE
Aussie star also continues her reign as World No 1
ASHLEIGH Barty insisted she is a worthy World No 1 on Saturday after defeating Bianca Andreescu to retain her Miami Open crown.
The 24-year-old Australian star served notice of her determination to be a force this season with a 6-3, 4-0 victory as Bianca retired with a foot injury in the second set.
Ashleigh — who had already been assured of holding on to her No 1 ranking before Saturday’s final — has faced sniping from some players over her continued presence at top spot.
The Queenslander has benefited from a tweak into the way rankings are calculated which takes into account the disruption caused by last year’s pandemic shutdown.
However, Ashleigh shrugged off the criticism on Saturday following her Miami win, rejecting a suggestion that her latest title “proved” she deserved her No 1 status.
“I never have to prove anything to anyone,” said Ashleigh.
“I know there has been a lot of talk about the ranking, but I didn’t play at all last year and I didn’t improve any of my points whatsoever.
“Yes, I didn’t drop, but I didn’t improve any. I didn’t play any at all. There were girls who had the chance to improve theirs, so I felt like I thoroughly deserve my spot at the top of the rankings.”
Ashleigh, the 2019 French Open champion, has held the No 1 ranking since September of that year, despite skipping the rescheduled US and French Opens in 2020 to remain in Australia.
Ashleigh added that she was unfazed by critics who have suggested that Naomi Osaka — winner of last year’s US Open and this year’s Australian Open — was more deserving of No.1 status.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I can’t control what anyone else thinks or what anyone else says. I feel like we deserve to be top of the rankings,” she said.
“It’s just what people say and I can’t change their opinion, so it doesn’t stress me out at all.”