Former Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic believes Ashleigh Barty can go deep at Wimbledon

Former World No.4 and retired Australian tennis player Jelena Dokic believes compatriot Ashleigh Barty has a great chance of winning Wimbledon, despite the latter recently withdrawing from the French Open due to injury.

“She’s got the type of game where she is aggressive, but she does not play extra risky tennis," said Dokic. "She has a lot more shape and safety, she has Plan B, C, D and E, I would even say.”

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Dokic is well-known for being the only qualifier to beat a World No.1 at Wimbledon, when she trounced Martina Hingis 6-2 6-0 in 1999, at the young age of 16. Nonetheless, she believes that Barty has the all-around game necessary to lift the title at the All England Club.

"Her game is so well suited to grass. And not just her game, but her head and her mindset, because she’s such a smart player,” said Dokic. "If it doesn’t work from the back, she can come in. She can mix it up. Also upset the rhythm of her opponents. Worst case scenario, she will still serve pretty well."

Although Barty was forced to withdraw from the French Open due to injury, Dokic believes that the World No.1 is still one of the favorites, provided she is fully healthy.

"If Ash is 100 per cent physically going into Wimbledon, which we don’t know, but if she is, I still give her a great chance of getting far into the tournament," added Dokic. “I think it’s just a matter of time before she goes really deep, and I actually wouldn’t be surprised if it happens this year, even with her injury and the uncertainty of it."