Ashleigh BARTY

It’s a strange thing, but the world’s best women’s tennis player often seems to fly under the radar. Perhaps it’s because Ashleigh Barty is so modest and down to earth, or perhaps it’s because she lacks the fiery tempers and big-name contracts of some of her rivals.

Barty is of indigenous Australian heritage, fiercely proud of her Ngarigo background, and backs programmes to help the development of young indigenous players. She knows full well how important that is: she’s devoted to her own mentor and inspiration, the great Yvonne Goolagong. Barty was the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon since Goolagong thrashed Chris Evert back in 1980.

And yet back in 2014, after early success, including winning Junior Wimbledon, Barty was fed up, lonely and depressed. “I kind of lost my way a little bit,” she recalls. She quit tennis and spent two years playing cricket in Australia’s Big Bash League – all with the approval of Goolagong who texted her, “Hey Darl. Good decision. Go wet a line.”

And that break was clearly exactly what she needed, because since returning in 2016 she’s risen steadily to the top. Even when she loses

– though that’s rare enough – she maintains her composure. As she says, “The sun will rise again tomorrow.”