Ashleigh Barty has high praise for Swiatek's performance this season - "She has been a level above the rest and it's been amazing to see her flourish"

Former World No.1 Ashleigh Barty recently spoke about Iga Swiatek’s dominance during the 2022 season.

Ashleigh Barty, who announced her retirement from tennis earlier this year after lifting her third Grand Slam title at the 2022 Australian Open, recently launched her autobiography, "My Dream Time: A memoir of Tennis & Teamwork".

In an interview with the Guardian, the 26-year-old, who stepped down while at her peak – ranked World No. 1 for 114 consecutive weeks, gave her views on her successor to the throne – Iga Swiatek, who assumed the top position by default after the Australian removed herself from the rankings.

Barty remarked that the Pole’s rise to the occasion was amazing to witness and called her "a breath of fresh air".

"She is a breath of fresh air and she has completely and utterly dominated this season," said Barty. "She has been a level above, a head above the rest, and it has been amazing to see her flourish."

The 2022 Australian Open champion also revealed that she would be present in Melbourne during the 2023 Australian Open, where she will take on a new undecided role.

"I’m finalizing what we’ll be doing but, yeah, it’s cool,” she said. “It’s crazy to think that it is only a couple of months away, honestly. The year has flown by. But we will be here for bits and bobs."