Barty not looking at tough draw
NEW world No1 and Wimbledon top seed Ashleigh Barty says she has not even glanced at the All England Club draw, which considering the obstacles in her quarter, is just as well.
The 23-year-old, who last week became the first Australian woman to reach the top of the rankings since 1976, must survive a rough-looking path if she is to claim back-to-back grand slams having won her first at last month’s French Open.
If she gets past China’s Zheng Saisai tomorrow she could face Russian twice grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, then 2017 Wimbledon winner Garbine Muguruza and then potentially 13th seed Belinda Bencic.
After that, it could be a quarter-final against either seven-time champion Serena Williams or 2018 winner Angelique Kerber.
Whoever is placed in front of her, Barty, who says she has recovered from the arm ache that forced her to pull out of the Eastbourne event last week, will just stick to the process that has worked wonders in a stunning year.
“I haven’t looked at the draw,” she said. “I mean, I’ve seen my first-round opponent. Flicking through on social media, you see people that are in certain quarters. I couldn’t tell you where they are in any kind of direct way.
“I don’t know if I’m the favourite for Wimbledon. I think I need to try and get through this first round first and foremost.
“Obviously the process that we’ve been going through, has been working. There’s no need for me to change that.”
Of the injury scare, she added: “It’s been good. It’s been a really good couple of days. It was nice to stay off the court for a few days, started hitting again on Thursday.” |